There are many causes of cracked heels. We will analyze some of them and show you how to deal with cracks.
Not only are cracked heels not aesthetically pleasing and cause discomfort when walking, they are also dangerous. The skin is a protective layer that protects us from infections and dirt, and due to cracks in the heels, the epidermis is disturbed. Walking or showering creates a moist environment in the cracks, which pathogens love.
So you need to fight the problem and don't start your heels. The reasons for their appearance do not always lie on the surface, but lie inside the body (when you cannot do without a doctor) or depend on your habits.
There are two types of cracks: superficial and deep. Superficial ones appear on the epidermis, they are shallow, after treatment and their healing, no scar remains. Deep cracks touch the dermis and can cause pain and bleeding.
In addition to negligent foot hygiene, there are 7 more reasons for the formation of cracks, which I have written about for a long time. Let me remind you briefly: tight and uncomfortable shoes, fungus, excess weight, which adds orthopedic problems of the foot, lack (or excess) of vitamins A, E and B, menopause, dermatitis or eczema, as well as concomitant diseases: gastritis, diabetes, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, decreased thyroid function, impaired renal function.
The most important rule in getting rid of cracked heels is to eliminate the cause of their occurrence.. If everything is simple with external factors (pick up shoes or buy a greasy cream and lubricate your heels with them before bed), then you cannot cope with internal problems on your own.
Here it is already necessary to first of all consult a doctor. This is especially true for people with diabetes mellitus, with deep cracks there is a risk of infection and inflammation of the skin of the feet, which in the absence of treatment for cracks or with incorrect treatment, trophic ulcers.
You should first see a dermatologist. He will accurately confirm the presence or absence of skin diseases (fungus in particular). If no skin diseases are found, it's time to visit an endocrinologist to find out if there are diseases of the endocrine system. And in general, a visit to an endocrinologist will be very useful in any case. With the problem of excess weight, there are special foot protection, for example: half insoles, plasters or instep supports.
After identifying the cause of the appearance of cracks and (if suddenly it happened) the treatment of internal problems, we proceed directly to the treatment and getting rid of the cracks themselves.
The easiest, fastest, but not cheap option is to go to a podiatrist, he will take you several sessions (maybe for one, depending on the situation) will remove cracks. Or you can do it yourself at home. Below are some recommendations.
You have to be patient, the process will not be quick, because if you decide to get rid of the cracks at once, you can make the situation worse. The main thing to remember is that cutting off the skin, especially on your own, is by no means impossible; rubbing with coarse graters is also impossible. So you can remove too much skin, the cells of the epidermis will begin to divide more actively, the corns will become denser and the cracks will not go anywhere.
Do foot baths daily, it is better to do them in the evening for 10-15 minutes. For shallow cracks, keratolytics can be used both on dry feet and added to the bath. In the case of deep cracks, it is better to refuse from keratolytics and use decoctions of herbs: chamomile, calendula, nettle, or make baths of whey from curdled milk.
After the bath, blot your feet with a paper towel, then gently rub the skin on your feet with a fine abrasive foot grater. Do not overdo it, remove a little bit of rough skin every day, so as not to aggravate the situation. In this case, it is very important not to touch the basal layer, where skin cells are actively dividing.
After that, be sure to use a nourishing cream, I recommend Domix cream for cracks and abrasions, it has a healing effect, it contains a complex of vitamins and silver.
Prevention of cracks on the feet
Only wear comfortable size shoes made from quality materials, Never wear someone else's shoes, and shops during fitting, be sure to use a sock, otherwise hello fungus and hello cracks, for a long time saw each other.
Do not neglect to use antifungal sprays, especially if you go to the pool or sauna. These sprays are inexpensive.
Do not forget to periodically process your feet with a pedicure float. Foot cream should always be in your home and must be used as directed every day.
The whole thing can be brought to automatism, the main thing is to follow all preventive recommendations during the first days. After that, you will never see cracks in your heels.
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