One of the most prevalent foot problems is cracked heels. According to the results of one poll, twenty percent of individuals living in the United States have skin that is cracked on their feet. This may happen to children as well as adults, while it seems to impact women more often than it does males. Cracked heels aren’t a severe issue for the vast majority of individuals. Going barefoot might be uncomfortable as a result of this. Cracks in the heels may sometimes grow quite deep and painful if they are not treatable. Continue reading to learn about some of the most effective home remedies for treating cracked heels and avoiding their occurrence.
What Causes Heels to get Cracked?
The presence of dry, thicker skin, also known as calluses, around the perimeter of your heel is the first indication that you may have cracked heels. The fat pad that sits beneath your heel becomes larger as you walk. Because of this, your calluses will begin to break.
The following are some other causes that may contribute to cracked heels:
- Standing for extended periods of time
- Strutting about town barefoot or wearing sandals with exposed backs
- Taking lengthy, hot showers
- Using strong soaps, which may remove your skin’s natural oils and leave it dry and irritated.
- Shoes that are not supportive of your heels or do not fit correctly on your feet
- Skin that is dry as a result of environmental factors such as low humidity or low temperatures
Remedies for Cracked Heels
1. Heel balms or thick moisturizers
Applying a heel balm is the first step in the treatment process for cracked heels. These balms help in the cracked heels treatment include components that will hydrate the skin, make it more pliable, and exfoliate the dead skin. These heel balms are available over-the-counter at pharmacies and may also be purchase online. It is possible that certain heel balms could induce a little burning sensation or some discomfort. This is to expect, if the balm continues to annoy you or if it produces serious problems, you should talk to your physician. In severe instances of cracked heels, a prescription-strength balm or steroid cream may be necessary to assist decrease inflammation and provide some relief from itching.
2. Soak and exfoliate your feet
The skin that surrounds broken heels is often thicker and drier than the rest of the skin on your body. When pressure is applied, this skin has a propensity to crack. Soaking and applying lotion to your feet might be helpful in this regard. When your feet are dry, you should avoid cleaning them. This raises the possibility that your skin may get injury. There is also the option of using hydrating heel sleeves. Foot soaks and these have a similar impact on your feet. These sleeves are similar to socks in that they are infuse with healing oils and vitamins to assist in the treatment of your painful cracked heels.
3. Liquid bandage
You may also apply liquid bandage to cracks in order to prevent additional cracking and infections by sealing the wound and preventing further cracking. Because this item is a spray, you won’t have to worry about the bandage slipping off while you’re using it, so you can go about your day as normal. When it comes to treating severe heel cracks that have the potential to bleed, liquid bandage is a smart alternative.
After making sure the area is clean and dry, apply the liquid bandage. Because the break is healing, the covering is being push to the surface of the skin. This item is available over the counter in pharmacies and online without a doctor’s prescription.
There have been reports of individuals being successful in closing skin cracks with superglue. Ten participants were monitor in a case study conduct in 1999. And each crack received between two and three drips of super glue. They squeezed the gap between the two surfaces together for one minute so that it could heal. After about a week, they reported that the cracks had healed completely and that there was no longer any discomfort. However, several brands of commercial superglue have been shown to be poisonous. Before using this method, you should consult with your primary care physician.
4. Honey
It has been suggested that honey might be in use as a natural cure for cracked heels. Honey has both antimicrobial and antibacterial capabilities. According to a review that was conduct in 2012 by Trustable Sources. Honey has been shown to be beneficial for wound healing. As well as for cleansing and moisturizing the skin, according to research. Thus, honey may be in use as a foot scrub after a bath. Or it can also be in use to the feet and left on as a foot mask for the night.
5. Coconut oil
The use of coconut oil is often suggested as a treatment for bad cracked heels, eczema, and psoriasis. It may assist your skin in retaining its natural moisture. A second alternative would be to apply coconut oil to your feet after soaking them in warm water. If your cracked heels are prone to bleeding or infections, using coconut oil, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics, may help treat the condition.
6. Other natural remedies
Although there are numerous different home treatments for cracked heels, none of them have been scientifically proved to cure cracked heels specifically. The majority of the components are geared at hydrating and soothing the skin.
These are the following:
- Vinegar, for a foot soak
- Olive or vegetable oil, to moisturise
- Shea butter, in order to rehydrate
- Bananas that have been mashed, to help moisturise
- Paraffin wax, in order to prevent leakage of moisture
- For a more effective scrub, oats should be blended with oil.
Use caution
If a medical problem is a reason for your cracked heels, do not attempt to fix it yourself. There may be a need for specialised care from a podiatrist (foot doctor). Regardless of your medical history, severe occurrences of cracked heels should also be examined by a podiatrist. The doctor will advise you on the best course of action.
Medical causes
Diabetes is a typical cause of high blood sugar levels and poor circulation, which lead to dry skin. You may not be aware of how dry, cracking, and painful your feet are if you have nerve damage.
The following disorders may also result in dry skin and cracked heels:
- Vitamin deficiency
- Fungal infection
- Hypothyroidism
- Atopic dermatitis
- Juvenile plantar dermatosis
- Psoriasis
- Palmoplantar keratoderma, causes abnormal skin thickening on the soles and palms
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Aging
What causes heels to get cracked?
The presence of dry, thicker skin, also known as calluses, around the perimeter of your heel is the first indication that you may have cracked heels. The fat pad that sits beneath your heel becomes larger as you walk. Because of this, your calluses will begin to break.
The following are some other causes that may contribute to cracked heels:
- Standing for extended periods of time
- Strutting about town barefoot or wearing sandals with exposed backs
- Taking lengthy, hot showers
- Using strong soaps, which may remove your skin’s natural oils and leave it dry and irritated.
- Shoes that are not supportive of your heels or do not fit correctly on your feet
- Skin that is dry as a result of environmental factors such as low humidity or low temperatures
What additional symptoms could be present in addition to cracked heels?
You could also suffer the following in addition to having broken heels:
- Flaky skin
- Itching
- Possibly severe pain
- Bleeding
- Red skin
- Ulceration
In extreme circumstances, you may develop difficulties with a broken heel, particularly if it is caused by a medical condition. This is especially true if the illness is severe. The following are examples of complications:
- A lack of sensation in the heel of your foot
- Developing cellulitis
- Diabetic foot ulcer
Pain, warmth, redness, and swelling are all indicators that an infection is present. If you suspect that you have an infection, you should contact your physician as soon as possible.
How to avoid having your heels get cracked
Your choice of footwear is important. If you often get cracked heels, you should look for shoes that provide enough heel support and a good fit. Wear shoes that have a firm, broad heel that both supports and cushions your heels whenever it is feasible to do so.
- Sandals and flip-flops, both of which might increase the likelihood that your feet will get dry.
- Shoes with an exposed back, often do not provide enough support for the heel.
- Shoes with a high, narrow heel, might cause your heel to protrude laterally if you wear them.
- Shoes that are insufficiently roomy
Other techniques to avoid getting cracked heels are as follows:
- Try to avoid being still for too long by either standing in one place or sitting with your legs crossed.
- At night, apply a thick layer of foot cream, and then cover your feet with socks to trap as much moisture as possible.
- Always check the skin on your feet, but this is particularly important if you have diabetes or another illness that might lead to dry skin.
- Wearing custom shoe inserts, also known as orthotics, may help cushion your heel and distribute your weight more evenly.
- Put on cushioned socks of a high grade or ones that have been evaluated in the clinic.
- Utilize silicone heel cups to maintain the moisture level of the heel and to aid in preventing the expansion of the heel pad.
- Consume a lot of water to keep your body from becoming dehydrated.
After you get out of the shower a few times a week, exfoliate your skin using a pumice stone to help keep it from becoming thicker. However, if you have diabetes or neuropathy, you should avoid eliminating calluses on your own. You run the danger of accidentally injuring yourself, which raises the possibility of getting an infection.
End Note
The majority of the time, cracked heels are nothing to be concerned about. It’s possible that medicines available over the counter or at home might help alleviate the illness. If you have a serious case of cracked heels or an underlying medical problem such as diabetes, you should make an appointment with a doctor. It is essential to get medical attention in order to reduce the risk of developing potentially dangerous consequences.
It may take many days or even weeks for the fissures in your skin to heal, despite the fact that your skin may show indications of improvement after the first treatment. Wearing shoes that are the right size and taking care of your feet in the right way might help avoid developing itchy cracked heels both during and after this period of time.