One of the toughest parts of the body is the skin on the soles of the feet and heels. Many people suffer from dry skin and fissures, which cause cosmetic loss and interfere with regular activities. Cracked heels, if not properly cared for and treated, can develop into very deep and painful infections, even infected fungal infections, especially in diabetics.
Many factors contribute to this syndrome, including lifestyle choices such as frequent washing and exposure to chemicals and water; medical conditions such as renal failure, diabetes, and drug usage... Cracked heels are not a dangerous problem if they are detected early and treated promptly.
Regular measures should be taken to prevent and improve dry, cracked skin on the foot. Here are some basic tips for taking care of your skin.
Select the appropriate footwear
Wearing shoes that are too tight causes the skin on the feet to rub a lot, resulting in poor blood circulation and dry heels. To preserve your feet and encourage optimal movement, wear shoes that fit well. Shoes that are overly firm should be avoided; instead, purchase soft shoes that provide a comfortable walking experience.
Drink plenty of water and consume plenty of food
Water keeps skin moisturized and healthy. Water deficiency results in wrinkled skin, dry heels, hardness, and breaking into lengthy grooves. This impact is amplified in cold and dry conditions. Adults should consume 1.5-2 liters of water every day to maintain their heels supple. You should not wait until you are thirsty to drink; instead, you should actively drink throughout the day. A well-balanced diet is beneficial to your entire health, including your skin. Many fruits and vegetables include vitamins and minerals that assist to boost the immune system and smooth the skin.
Avoid prolonged contact with moisture-depleting elements
Excessive exposure to factors such as severe winds, low humidity, dry heat, the sun, alcohol, and soaps can take our natural oils from our skin. Simple actions such as:
- shielding your feet and preventing them from solar harm
- sheltering in the shade if you're going to be outside for an extended length of time throughout the day
- seeking substitutes for alcohol, such as fruit-infused sparkling water
- changing your cleanser with a soap-free cleanser
Diet
Making good dietary choices can not only improve your general health and well-being, but it can also help to boost your skin's capacity to retain moisture. Include foods high in essential fatty acids, such as tuna, salmon, walnuts, avocado, and olive oil, in your diet.
Soak your feet
To help soothe, relax, and hydrate your feet, soak them in a pleasant foot bath scented with essential oils.
Exfoliate
I find it best to remove calluses and dry skin after a foot bath or shower when the skin is soft and warm. Following a foot bath or shower, I like to take out my electric pedicure roller and carefully go over my heels and the outer border of my big toes (I find this area usually gets quite dry too). If I follow up with my foot skin care routine, I find that I only need to perform this once a week or once every two weeks. If you don't have a roller, I've used a pumice stone or a foot file in the past.
Finding and using a good foot scrub will also help. A decent foot scrub will not only help exfoliate dry skin, but the massaging action will also help ease pain and tired hurting feet, enhance flexibility and range of motion, and is calming.
Moisturize
Moisturize your feet even more by rubbing in almond oil, coconut oil, or your favorite moisturizer. And it works best after a shower and/or exfoliation to remove the dry skin on your foot. This permits the skin to absorb moisturizing creams/oils more easily rather of having to fight through a layer of dry hard skin first.
I would also consider moisturizing before going to bed. After applying and massaging the cream or oil into the skin of your feet, put on some cotton socks and wear them to bed to assist the skin absorb the moisturiser.
Please be cautious when walking in the bathroom or on flat surfaces after moisturizing your feet, as it can become extremely slippery until the moisturiser has been absorbed into the skin.
Foot hygiene
Daily foot hygiene is crucial, according to Web MD. Toe nails should be kept short in order to avoid scrapes and becoming a breeding ground for germs. People with dry feet should avoid bathing their feet in warm water for an extended period of time. Choose products with a correct pH and avoid using strong acids, especially if your skin is tough.
Mild calluses and calluses do not normally require treatment and heal on their own. However, there are several things you can do to help them vanish faster, such as wearing thick socks to protect your skin, wearing shoes with soft foot pads, and massaging calluses with a pumice stone in the shower.
You may exfoliate, prepare your own foot masks out of fresh milk, potatoes, honey, etc. Doing this 1-2 times a week might help to keep the skin on your feet moisturized. Take care of your feet's skin by using regular moisturizing creams that assist maintain your skin healthy. Moisturizing lotion containing active components including urea and micro silver keeps the skin moist and prevents cracks from forming. Because cracking facilitates the development of sores and infections. When you use moisturizer every day, you also frequently watch, discover cracks, and visit this region early.
You should consult a doctor if your heel skin has extensive cracks, bleeding, infection, or other worrisome symptoms. The doctor will next provide directions for prompt care and treatment. Diabetes patients are prone to foot issues, which should be examined on a daily basis.
Heel balms
If you're still having difficulties keeping your cracked heels in check, consider a heel balm like Eulactol. Unfortunately, some trial and error may be required until you locate the appropriate heel balm for you. The goal is to locate the proper heel balm with the components your skin need. If your skin is deficient in urea, a urea-rich heel balm, such as Eulactol, will be useful. If your skin lacks urea, this solution will either be useless or may take longer to notice effects.
Walk-in nail salons vs. podiatrists
Still no assistance, and your cracked skin has progressed?
I'd consider seeing a podiatrist who can give general or specialised skin treatment (especially if you have diabetes) and properly restore the smoothness of your heels. If you have this service included as an additional with your Private Health Fund, you may also be able to claim it under Podiatry.
Nail salons are fantastic for a quick pick-me-up, a cosmetic update, and/or aesthetic maintenance, but be wary of services that employ a "blade" or "shaving" approach on dry cracked heels and calluses. Being overly forceful might cause the foot to become raw and uncomfortable. So, before incorporating this sort of service into your skin care routine, please do your homework.
Always ensure that your nail technician has had professional training and that they are qualified to do this service. In addition, I would urge that you examine the salon's sterilization policy. Poor hygiene practices can cause germs and fungi to spread from person to person.