The summer is standing on the verge of its ending for this year. We are all set to welcome autumn followed by winter. It implies that temperature will keep dropping slowly. Such weather makes the feet skin super dry. It can get so rough that it can crack at any time. You may hide the feet under the sock to avoid direct exposure to the dry weather; still, it will not be able to give you full protection against dry heels. Dry skin makes the heel cracked and cracks may fracture into deep cuts or fissures. Such a condition is quite painful and it would make you look for cracked heel treatment.
In this article, we are going to share with you four tips to avoid dry and cracked heel. Before that, it’s important to learn how your heel may get cracked.
How Heels may get Cracked?
A disruption of your skin barrier may give birth to cracked heels. Sometimes medical conditions like eczema or psoriasis are the reason behind the cracked heel. Age is another factor that may cause this problem. With age, the skin becomes thinner, loses its elasticity, and some other medical conditions. Above all, winter itself brings the curse of dry heels. Along with this, the lack of humidity fuels the problem.
Dry weather gives birth to more cracking and peeling. This may look harmless but it’s not. It may cause wounds that can easily get infected if not treated. Moreover, if you have compromised the immune system or diabetes, then such issues may take a severe form. Apart from the cracked heel, calcaneal apophysitis can also cause heel pain.
4 Tips on How to Avoid Dry and Cracked Heel
1. Keep Your Feet Clean and Moisturised
If you want to keep your foot in a good state, you must keep your feet clean and moisturised. It is important to wash the feet with non-foaming hydrating cleanser. It prevents your foot skin from getting dry. Once the feet are washed, apply ample moisturiser to your still-damp feet. You can use petroleum, glycerin, vitamin E, and shea butter to keep the skin soft and smooth. You may also find some remedies in your kitchen. Honey is known as a great cleanser. It has antimicrobial and antibacterial elements that are useful for deep cleansing and healing wounds.
2. Exfoliate Dry Skin
If you want to prevent cracks, you must exfoliate the dead skin regularly. You may apply moisturisers having exfoliators such as urea and salicylic acid. These elements may prevent heel cracks with regular use. You should be using a safe foot file that is not like a cheese grater. After the shower, use the foot file to remove the dead skin from your heel.
3. Seal up Deep Cuts or Cracks
If your cracked heels have reached a point where they have started bleeding, the situation may get immensely painful. In such cases, you will need to seal up the deep cracks with liquid bandages. It will soothe the pain of walking on torn skin. Make sure your wounds are clean; otherwise, it may cause infections.
4. Use Socks Made of Natural Elements
To protect your heel from the rough weather, you should wear socks made of natural elements. Always wear clean socks because damp, dark, and wet socks in shoes may cause fungal foot infection.
By following these simple tips, you can easily avoid painful heel cracks. By taking precautions in advance, you will need no cracked heel treatment.
The author is a podiatrist who deals with cracked heels, flat feet, ingrown-toenail, athlete’s foot, and calcaneal apophysitis. He also pens down medical blogs and journals in his leisure.