Causes and Home Remedies Cracked Heels
September 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Home Remedies
A very common and painful condition which affects our feet is Cracked heels, These cracks are also known as heel fissures caused mainly by dry skin known as xerosis. The problems worsen due to callus or thick skin around heel’s rim. These cracks besides being painful, they make your feet unattractive and are an annoyance.
Symptoms of Cracked Heels:
Cracked heels make you feel painful, even when you are standing, and sometimes they can bleed and get infected. The pain gets worse when you use open or thin soled shoes. The most important symptom is, of course, cracks in the rim of your heels. They do not heal fast, because the crack-edges tend to get raised into hard crusts. Soreness in these areas soon might lead to bleeding, infection and restrict your movements. If you walk, touch the area, or stand the pain increases, some times deep ulcers can also form. Infection is indicated through the presence of puss or fluid from the area.
Causes:
Dry skin is recognized as one of the most common aspect which leads to cracked heels. Also, the way you walk also matters, as if excessive pressure is brought into the area around heel, it can lead to cracks. If your sweat glands remain inactive, or there is prolonged standing, ill fitting shoes with open back, barefoot walking, obesity, diabetes, psoriasis, high arches, badly aligned metatarsal bones of the feet, can result in cracked heels. Apart from these, mineral, vitamin and zinc deficiency can also bring this condition. Females and elderly suffer from this condition frequently.
Home Remedies for Cracked Heels:
The condition can be helped through simple natural remedies -
- Cleanliness of your feet and soles; clean;
- Shoes should be soft, comfortable and well cushioned, apart from fitting your feet;
- Socks should be worn to ensure feet doesn’t rub on your shoes;
- If your feet are dry, keep them lubricated;
- Vitamin rich fruits, dates and leafy veggies can help you;
- Don’t walk on barefoot, ensuring that they do not tread on bleaching or harsh chemicals;
Treatment :
While there are gels and creams which can be applied to your feet make sure that you are buying the creams/gels which are not made of harsh chemicals, and look out for herbal products. As soon as you return, take off your shoes, and wash them in pure water, without using any kind of soaps, because most of the soaps are made of irritating chemicals, and they can in fact damage the skin around the heel. Keep your feet in warm water for about 20 minutes twice a day, so that the dry flakes become amenable to fall off, and skin will be lubricated. To ensure that your feet as well as body gets enough nutrients, eat fruits, leafy vegetables and dates in particular which will give the required vitamins to the body.
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