Treatment of cracks on the heels: reasons and treatment at home

Beautiful feet and smooth heels are the dream of any woman.But the fulfillment of dreams is hampered by dry skin, puffiness or worse cracks in the feet.But the cracks are not only an aesthetic, but also a medical problem.The cracked skin can cause pain in the foot and bring a lot of inconvenience.That is why it is so important to know how to deal with this problem.

Table of Contents: Cracks on the heels: the causes of the occurrence Medical treatment of heel cracks Treatment of heel cracks with folk remedies

Cracks on the heels: the causes of

Cracks on the heels are a violation of the integrity of the skin in the form of furrows.The development of this problem is usually lead to dry skin, as well as its excessive keratinization. What causes such changes?

1. Congenital skin features - excessive dryness;
2. Wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes;
3. Inadequate foot hygiene;Excessive exfoliation of the feet;
4. Fungal diseases;
5. Hypo- and beriberi;
6. Obesity;
7. Diabetes mellitus;
8. Hypothyroidism.

Cracks in the feet can be accompanied by pain, burning, which makes it difficult for a person to move around.It is noteworthy that skin cracking in diabetes mellitus is usually not accompanied by pain, which is associated with damage to nerve endings as a result of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Medical treatment of heel cracks

The cause of the appearance of cracks is many.The strategy of treatment depends on the cause.So, often the cause, leading to cracking of the skin of the feet, is fungal infection.In favor of this disease indicates the presence of red, scaly patches in the interdigital spaces.In this case, so that people do with cracks, they will not pass until the cure is cured.And this disease is treated with the help of antifungal ointments, such as Clotrimazole, Mycoquette, Flukort, Nizoral, etc.

The algorithm for treating cracks is as follows.First of all, the areas of cracked skin need to be treated with a disinfectant, for example a 3% hydrogen peroxide.After this, blot the surface of the heel and treat the cracks with ointment containing salicylic or glycolic acid.These components effectively exfoliate the top layer of the skin.

The most popular ointments in the treatment of cracks are Radevit, Gevol, Balzamed, Videstim, Dardia Lipo Balm, etc. The ointment is applied only on clean, washed feet once or twice a day.

Depending on the composition, the ointment is able to exert several actions:

• Moisturizing and nourishing;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Disinfectant;
• Regenerating;
• Softening.

Treating cracks on the heels of folk remedies

Traditional recipes can really help in the fight against cracks.But they will be most effective at medical treatment, and also observance of the general recommendations.The principle of action of folk remedies is based on moistening, softening and speeding up the healing of cracks.

Bathtubs

Foot baths are not only a useful but pleasant procedure.To achieve a noticeable result, such procedures should be carried out regularly.For the preparation of trays can use all kinds of medicinal plants, they contribute not only to the early healing of the skin, but also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

To make the procedure possible, you need to prepare a decoction of plants.You can use chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, oak bark, calendula, string, elecampane, which are sold in any pharmacy.The principle of preparing the broth is the same regardless of the chosen plant.So, you need to take a pot filled with a liter of water and pour into it a tablespoon of the plant.Then put the dishes on the fire.After boiling, the fire is reduced and kept for another half an hour.

When the broth is ready - it's time to pour it into the pelvis.The infusion is diluted with water to a comfortable temperature.Now you need to lower your legs into the pelvis and soak them for half an hour.As the water cools, you can gradually add boiling water.At the end of the procedure, the feet need to get wet, and then apply a nourishing cream on them.

In the fight against the cracking of the heels, baths with sea salt are widely used.There is nothing surprising.Remember, while swimming in sea water, any scratches and wounds heal faster.Similar properties of sea water are due to its mineral composition.In addition, sea salt has an exfoliating effect.

For the preparation of a bath it is enough to pour a hundred gram of sea salt and a tablespoon of soda into a basin of warm water.In such a bath, you can keep your feet for fifteen minutes, then gently pat them and apply cream or vegetable oil.

You can try a bath with glycerin.To make it, you need to stir in one liter of warm water one teaspoon of glycerin.To enhance the effect, add two tablespoons of 9% vinegar.Legs need to soar in such a bath for half an hour.

Compresses

Various plant products can be used as the main active component of the compress.The prepared compress should be applied to the heels and wrapped with polyethylene.On top you need to wear cotton socks.Optimal to do such procedures at night.In the morning, you need to wash your feet and apply a nourishing cream to the skin.

Very popular compress of onions.Despite the unpleasant odor, this remedy softens the skin and has a bactericidal effect.To prepare the product you need to rub two onions, add a teaspoon of soda and pour it all in two liters of water.In the resulting mixture you need to dip a bandage, squeeze it and put it on the heels, and on top put on polyethylene and socks.Before applying the compress it is recommended to steam out the feet.

Aloe is not for nothing called a home doctor, because it has a healing effect.To prepare a compress of aloe, you need to break several sheets of the plant and grind them so that the mash turns out.The resulting mass is applied to the heels and fastened all this with plastic wrap and socks.

Vegetable oils are actively used in the control of cracks, because they have a pronounced moisturizing and nourishing action.You can use olive, sunflower, castor, almond oil.To the oil, you can add glycerin in a proportion of two to one.

Ointments

Prepare the ointment yourself is not as difficult as it may seem.Basis for the ointment can serve as badger or pork fat, petroleum jelly.

For the preparation of ointment to a fatty base, it is possible to add vegetable components, for example, badger fat mix with a decoction of calendula flowers and celandine.It is necessary to pour into a glass on a teaspoon of plants and pour boiling water, cover the dishes with a lid.Meanwhile, melt fifty milliliters of badger fat in a water bath.Ten minutes later, add a tablespoon of cooked decoction to the fat.The mixture must be stirred constantly for twenty minutes to prevent boiling.When the product is slightly cool - it's time to put it on the feet and put on socks.

Excellent hydration of Vaseline skin.To enhance its properties, you can add a little decoction of marigold.Calendula has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect that prevents infection from attaching to the wounds on the skin of the foot.The prepared vaseline ointment is applied to the heels without preheating, and the remaining part is placed in the refrigerator.

There is another way: you have to melt the beeswax and paraffin, and then add the salicylic acid.All ingredients are taken in equal parts.Beeswax and paraffin "glue" the crack, and salicylic acid will exfoliate the horny skin.The agent should be applied to the heel with a cotton swab.When the ointment dries, you need to apply two more layers.The foot is rewound with a bandage.Optimal to do this procedure at night, and if it is possible for a whole day.At the end of the procedure, the legs should be soaked in a bath, remove the wax-paraffin film and clean the heel with pumice stone.

How to prevent the occurrence of cracks?

With cracks on the heels sometimes it is very difficult to fight. To avoid skin cracking, simple recommendations should be observed.

1. Daily washing of feet in soapy water;
2. Once a week, steaming the skin with the subsequent mechanical cleaning of the heels with pumice stone;
3. Regular moisturizing of feet with cream;
4. Wearing comfortable shoes and silicone tabs, giving up shoes with an open heel;
5. Wearing socks made from natural materials;
6. Complete nutrition and drinking regime.

If you approach the care of the heels, like a certain ritual and follow the recommendations regularly - cracks on the heels will soon disappear and will never bother again.

Grigorova Valeria, medical reviewer