Cracked Heels
Cracked heels are a sign of lack of attention to foot care rather than just overexposure or lack of moisturizing. Cracked heels are a very common foot problem, often referred to as heel fissures. They are caused by dry skin and made more complicated if the skin around the edge of the heel is thick. They can be painful to stand on and the skin can bleed. Some people tend to have a naturally dry skin that makes the skin easy to crack. The thickened dry skin (callus) around the heel that is more likely to crack is often due to mechanical factors that increase pressures in that area.
Cracked heels are a common occurrence for senior citizens or people who are constantly on their feet thus exerting pressure on the feet pad.
Buy beauty products to cure your cracked legs.In addition to this, sebum production decreases with age and so seniors tend to suffer from dry and cracked heels. Excessively dry skin, peeling skin, and dry and cracked skin on the heels are some of the most common
skin problems that seniors face. Dry skin on the heels is often a recurrent problem.
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Purplle.com tells you the Most Common Causes that Lead to Cracked Heels:
1.Naturally dry skin or thick dry skin (callus) around the heel that is more likely to crack is often due to excessive feet activity.
2.Prolonged standing at work or home .Hard floors may also cause cracks in the feet.
3.Being overweight may increase the pressure on the normal fat pad under the heel, causing it to expand sideways and if the skin lacks flexibility the pressure on the feet lead to cracked heels.
4.Back-open sandals or shoes allow the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increases the possibility of cracks on the heels.
5.Disease and Disorders-Athlete’s foot, Psoriasis, Eczema, Thyroid disease, Diabetes and some other skin conditions may also cause cracked heels.
6.Continuous exposure to water- Water, especially running water, can rob the skin of its natural oils and this can leave the skin dry and rough. Standing for prolonged periods in a damp area such as a bathroom can cause dry and cracked heels.
The best known remedies to treat cracked heels:
1.Apply any shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil after washing the feet clean on dry and cracked areas of the feet. After applying a thick coat of shortening on the feet, wear a pair of thick socks. Leaving this application overnight can surely provide positive results in few days.
2. Essential oils and fat soluble vitamins. This paste will help to provide your skin with the vitamins and oils it requires to stay soft and well moisturized. This paste can be used to treat as well as prevent dry cracked heels.
3. Soak the feet in lemon juice for about 10minutes. It is best to soak your feet in a lemon juice solution and then lightly scrub it with a loofa or soft apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the dry or cracked area of the heel. Lemon juice is a very mild natural acid and helps to dissolve dead and dry skins on that it can be easily removed. This is a simple dry cracked heels home remedy and it can be used on a daily basis to prevent and treat dry and cracked heels. You can also add half an avocado or the flesh of half a coconut to a blender along with the banana to form a thick and creamy paste. Avocados and coconuts are rich in several foot brushes to gently exfoliate the top layers of dead skin that cause dry cracked heels.
4. A daily regime of cleaning and moisturizing is a good cure for dry or cracked heels. At the end of the day soak the feet in warm soapy water for about 15 minutes. Rinse feet and pat dry. Make a healing mixture comprising of: one teaspoon Vaseline and the juice of one lemon. Rub this mixture onto the cracked heels and other required areas of the feet till it is thoroughly absorbed. You can exfoliate your skin before and after you use this mixture. The oils in this mixture will help to soften dry and cracked heels and this will allow you to easily slough off the dead skin the next morning.
5. A regular application of a mixture of glycerine and rosewater is known to soothe and cure cracked heels.
6. Another result oriented solution is to melt paraffin wax and mix it well with little mustard oil. Apply on the dry or cracked area of the heels. Rinse it off in the morning. A continuous application for 10 to15 days can achieve desirable results.
7. To get rid of the dry skin on your heels, you should exfoliate your feet on a regular basis. Avoid harsh cosmetic exfoliating scrubs and instead you can make your own gentle and natural scrub with honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. You will fist have to grind a handful of rice until you get a fine but coarse flour. After that, add a few spoons of raw honey to the mixture along with enough apple cider vinegar to obtain a thick paste. If the cracks are very deep, you can add a spoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil to the paste. Soak your feet for 20 minutes and then gently massage them with this paste. The vinegar in this cracked heel treatment will help to dissolve the thickened layers of dead skin while the rice flour will gently abrade the top layer of dead skin. Honey and olive oil act as natural moisturizers and will help to keep the skin on your feet soft and moisturized and this will prevent further cracking.
8. Many cracked heel repair creams that are avoidable in the market today contain chemicals that can aggravate your skin and increase discomfort. You can make your own moisturizing cracked heel cream by mixing together a spoon of olive oil along with a few drops of lemon oil or lavender oil. Pour this blend of oils into a small bottle and add an equal amount of water to it. Shake the contents thoroughly so that the water and oil form a thick milky solution. Use this homemade remedy for dry cracked heels as and when it is needed. Make sure that you shake the solution before you use it.
