Cracked skin on the heels of your feet

It would seem that cracks on the heels of the feet are banal, but how much suffering and unpleasant moments are associated with them. They do not appear out of nowhere. Such a defect cannot appear on delicate, well-groomed and elastic feet. It is preceded by dryness, peeling, roughening of the skin. Why does this happen?

Epidemiology

To know the statistics of cracked heels, you need to keep records of this problem in a medical institution. Since most often people fight them themselves or go to beauty salons, there is no exact data on this matter. Nevertheless, you often hear about such a nuisance, especially from women during menopause, when the hormonal background changes.

Causes cracked heels

The condition of the heels is most often a reflection of internal factors. This may indicate:

• lack of vitamins A, E, F (polyunsaturated fatty acids), iron;
• dermatological disease, in particular fungal infection;
• pathologies of the digestive organs;
• hormonal disorders;
• endocrine diseases, including diabetes mellitus.

Read about other causes of cracked heels here.

Risk factors

Several factors contribute to the roughness of the skin on the heels, followed by the formation of cracks:

• lack of foot care or improper organization of it;
• violation of drinking regime;
• walking barefoot (not only in the summer outdoors, but also a tendency towards such a form of self-expression as barefooting);
• tight, uncomfortable shoes;
• the artificial material from which it is made does not allow the epidermis to "breathe", synthetic socks.

Pathogenesis

The epidermis is the outer multilayered part of the skin, which includes 5 types of epithelium. The most superficial one is formed by horny scales as a result of keratinization of deeper cells. Protein substances, keratins and fats, enter the horny layer, due to which the skin acquires elasticity and strength. It is constantly renewed and is a kind of protective mechanism. Violation of this process leads to thickening of the epidermis, microdamage.

Symptoms cracked heels

The first symptoms are noticeable coarsening of the skin of the heels. Instead of the pink delicate skin covering, a rough gray one appears, with signs of peeling. If measures are not taken immediately to improve it, it simply breaks, very painful cracks appear.

Complications and consequences

The consequence of the violation of the integrity of the skin of the heels is significant discomfort when walking, since the weight of our entire body is directed to the foot. In addition, any infection, including fungal, can get into open wounds.

For patients with diabetes, cracks are dangerous because they can lead to complications such as "diabetic foot", which can lead to amputation of the limb.

Diagnostics cracked heels

Since there are some reasons for cracks in the heels that are not at all harmless, you should first consult a dermatologist for a primary diagnosis. After doing certain laboratory tests (general blood and urine tests, sugar levels), he will assess the need for a more in-depth examination.

Differential diagnosis is carried out between skin and internal pathologies.

Treatment cracked heels

Depending on the cause of the appearance of cracks in the heels, treatment occurs in two directions: removal of the keratinized layer and direct healing of damage and therapy of internal disorders, if such are diagnosed.

The main thing in eliminating the problem of cracks is regular heel care, including the use of both medicinal creams and ointments, as well as cosmetic ones.

First of all, before performing any manipulations with your heels, you need to soak them well in warm water with the addition of soda, boric acid or decoctions of medicinal herbs (repeat the procedure 2-3 times a week), use a foot file or pumice to remove the keratinized layer, wipe thoroughly, and then lubricate with a moisturizing and nourishing agent.

What can be used for this? Ointments based on Vaseline and beeswax are effective. They soften the skin well, making it smooth and soft. Bepanten and Lamisil are also used to get rid of cracks.

Bepanten - its active substance is dexpanthenol. The ointment stimulates skin regeneration, normalizes cellular metabolism, accelerates indirect cell division, makes collagen fibers stronger. It has virtually no side effects, except for rare cases of allergy.

Creams with urea have a good therapeutic effect; it is used as a moisturizing component, a conductor of useful substances due to the small size of its molecules, an antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic and deodorizing agent, with an effective exfoliating property.

Recommended creams include:

• Norel Dr – from a Polish manufacturer, in addition to urea (8%) it also contains grape seed oil, which has a beneficial effect on the epidermis;
• dm Balea Fusscreme Urea (Germany) – contains glycerin, lactic acid, vitamin B3 as additional ingredients;
• Scholl Active Repair K+ (England) – 10% urea, paraffin, lanolin, glycerin, hydrolyzed creatine will do their job with regular use, heal cracks, and restore a healthy look to your heels.

In order to minimize the penetration of infection into microcracks, speed up their healing, and feel more comfortable in shoes outside, cracks are sealed with medical glue based on cyanoacrylate. After applying it to clean, dry heels, you can walk with it for up to a week, and then, after steaming in water, remove it.

Vitamins

The role of vitamins in the condition of skin, hair, nails is invaluable. In summer, it is necessary not to miss the opportunity to replenish your supplies with seasonal usefulness, because from spring until late autumn, something ripens in our gardens and vegetable gardens.

Our epidermis needs vitamins A, C – known antioxidants, E – eliminates dry skin, B1 – increases its elasticity, B2 – accelerates cell renewal, B9 – protects, increases elasticity, PP – provides a lifting effect.

In winter and spring, it is best to support your body with vitamin complexes.

Physiotherapy treatment

Among physiotherapeutic procedures, water ones are of primary importance. In order to prevent the skin from becoming rough, to remove the keratinized layer more easily, to help the softening, nourishing, healing components penetrate, foot baths are used.

Paraffin wraps are no less effective. Melt it and spread it on your feet. After it hardens, put cellophane bags on your feet, then socks. Remove after half an hour and moisturize your heels with cream.

Folk remedies

In folk recipes for treating cracked heels, the main emphasis is on foot baths. For them, decoctions of various medicinal herbs are used: elecampane, oak bark, sage, nettle, coltsfoot. Compresses and lotions can also be used on their basis.

The following compositions successfully treat skin lesions:

• grate raw potatoes on a fine grater, squeeze out the juice, apply the pulp to steamed heels, secure with a bandage, remove after 30 minutes;
  • similarly apply crushed apple pulp;
• rub honey into the cracks, put a cabbage leaf, secure, leave overnight until morning;
• take butter and yogurt in equal proportions, mix well, lubricate your heels three times a day;
• Every day before going to bed, apply slightly warmed olive oil to clean feet with massage movements and put on cotton socks.

For more information about treatment, read the following publications:

• Treatment of cracked heels at home
• Treatment of cracked heels with herbs
• Effective Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

Homeopathy

Homeotic treatment for cracked heels is selected individually by a homeopath. The following will help solve the problem:

• Arundo – reed arundo, a plant from the cereal family;
• Calcarea fluorica – calcium phosphate, an important tissue remedy;
• Pertroleum – a petroleum distillate, effective for severely dry skin;
• Sanicula – obtained by evaporating mineral waters and grinding the resulting salts of a number of minerals.

Prevention

The best preventive measure to avoid cracking of the heel surface is proper daily basic care. While taking care of the beauty of your face, you should not forget about the need to pay due attention to the less exposed part of your body.

Daily washing of feet, use of peeling, including scrubs, products for mechanical removal of dead particles, moisturizing, nutrition will not give a reason to have problems associated with cracks in the future.

It is also important to drink enough fluids and monitor your health.

Forecast

The cracks heal, but sometimes this process is very long and painstaking, especially when it comes to elderly people, whose body changes are irreversible.