Heel Cracks – Learn to Take Care of Them

Heel cracks are not just an aesthetic problem. Having cracked skin under your feet can be painful and lead to infections.

Especially after a winter when the feet have been hidden in socks and boots, it can be a good idea to check the status of the feet.

If there are tendencies to heel cracks , it is important to make an effort before they become deeper. In addition, you get nice waterfalls just in time for the calendar to be on sandals.

How do heel cracks occur?

In short, the heels crack because they have not received enough moisture and fat, and because we wear them. Our skin is provided with sebaceous glands that secrete fat, which is needed to protect and soften the skin – a cunning system. But the problem, from the point of view of the feet, is that they were overlooked when the sebaceous glands were distributed.

The soles of the feet do not produce any fat, so they are dependent on their owners adding fat from the outside. If this does not happen, the skin must resort to other methods to protect itself. It then forms hard skin, and the hard skin is not elastic. If you then put pressure on the hardening, it cracks instead of stretching. The harder the pressure, the deeper the cracks.

What happens if I do not take care of the heel cracks?

If it goes really far, the skin cracks all the way to the subcutaneous tissue. Then it hurts to walk, it can start to bleed and there can even be infections. So the heel cracks should not be ignored, they do not disappear by themselves. But they can be treated – and best of all – they can be prevented.

Should I use a foot file on the heel cracks?

It is easy to grab the foot file when you discover cracks in the heel, but be careful. The skin protects itself by forming calluses, producing hard, inelastic skin. Therefore, it is actually best to leave the foot file. According to foot care specialist, The friction that the file creates provokes the skin to produce even more irritating hard skin. Normally, the skin recovers in 7-10 days, but if you file and thus wear it, heat friction occurs. Then the skin will protect itself by rebuilding the hard skin in 2-3 days.

How can I prevent heel cracks?

There are several gentle ways in which you can prevent your heels from drying out and cracking. But remember to proceed cautiously. You can:

• Scrub hard skin from the heels with an exfoliating glove, preferably a hemp glove in the bath or shower.
• Lubricate your feet with a greasy cream . Preferably both morning and evening.
• For extra effect, you can put a freezer bag and a sock on the foot after you have lubricated it. Let it work for an hour.
• Do not wear too small shoes. And avoid open shoes such as clogs, slingback sandals and slippers.
• Use a pumice stone to scrub away the hard skin in the bath or shower.

Which foot cream should I choose?

When you choose foot cream, it is important to find the right balance between fat and moisture. It should not be a light, watery lotion because it needs a substantial fat content to slow down the growth of hard skin. but if the cream is too oily, it settles like a film on the skin without penetrating deep. A fat content of 40-50% is ideal. In addition to a good cream, it is also effective to use gel insoles in the shoes. They protect the met shocks and wear.

Related Articles: Learn The Art Of Walking In High Heels

Should I visit a podiatrist?

If you already have heel cracks, it may be a good idea to start the fight against them with a visit to a podiatrist, who can cut away the hard skin with a knowledgeable hand. You then avoid the friction that the foot file creates and the skin is not provoked to produce harder skin with even more cracks as a result. After the visit, continue with daily lubrication of foot cream.

Who is particularly at risk of getting heel cracks?

If you have diabetes, you should be extra careful with visits to the podiatrist. Some diabetic patients get a weakened feeling in the feet. Therefore, it may be easier to miss cracks and wounds that can develop into infections. Therefore, make it a habit to go to the podiatrist, for foot care and control of any cracks and wounds.

Photo by Eddie Kopp on Unsplash