What causes cracked heels? Heels dry out and crack: what to do? It’s not without reason that your heels crack, what does your body signal? Compresses applied for a short time

Hello, regular and new readers! Do you know that beauty and health are inextricably linked concepts? We are talking not only about clean, well-groomed facial skin, but also about the body.

A common problem in men and women of different ages is the feet, or more precisely, the skin. Almost every third person has skin that peels and dries out, and every fifth person has cracked skin. And the point here is not at all due to old age or lack of hygiene.

What are the causes of cracked heels, and is it possible to prevent their formation? Let's look at this in more detail.

Dry, cracked heels look unsightly, especially in shoes with open backs. Owners of such skin know firsthand that cracks can grow from small to deep, causing severe pain and complicating movement.

For women, rough feet cause significant trouble, causing streaks to appear on tights and stockings.

The formation of cracks occurs gradually:

first, the skin in certain areas of the foot thickens and becomes rough (due to the fact that accelerated keratinization of the upper layers occurs);
dense skin lacks moisture and begins to peel (whitish scales are nothing more than dead cells);
under the influence of constant load (body weight, heavy loads being carried), the dry areas begin to crack; At first, the cracks look like an inconspicuous “cobweb”, but then they increase in size;
pathogens of various infections easily penetrate through cracks under the skin and into the blood, which can cause the development of an inflammatory process.

Doctors name many reasons for cracking the skin of the feet. In almost half of the cases, we ourselves are to blame for this; in other situations, complex treatment of the body and special treatment is necessary.

Internal problems: disorders leading to dry feet

Our body, through the skin, gives us signals about internal disorders and diseases of various organs. Dry, cracked heels are one sign that should not be ignored.

Dryness does not occur on its own; it indicates slow cell renewal and a metabolic disorder. This may be due to:

changes in hormonal levels (during menopause, after long-term use of antibiotics, contraceptives, steroids, etc.);
lack of vitamins, especially E and A, and microelements (seasonal vitamin deficiencies, hypervitaminosis with long-term diets, etc.);
disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system (problems with the thyroid gland);
diabetes mellitus (peeling of the feet and cracks are an unpleasant consequence of the disease);
skin diseases (dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.);
increased sweating;
hyperkeratosis (when a person’s skin is prone to dryness from birth);
fungal infection of the feet.

If the skin not only actively peels off, but also changes its natural shade (yellower, darker), this may be caused by:

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disorders of the digestive process (slow digestion, poor digestibility of food);
gastritis;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (especially disorders of the kidneys).

The cracks in all these cases must be complex:

internal – taking special medications, diet, multivitamin complexes, etc.;
external - ointments, gels, creams, as well as masks, baths and compresses to soften, moisturize and heal the skin.

In case of fungal infection, which can be determined using special tests and samples, special antibacterial drugs are needed. They will help you quickly deal with the fungus and return your heels to normal.

With diabetes and stomach diseases, dryness and cracks are the most difficult to cope with. However, timely preventive measures will improve the condition of the skin, and regular care will help maintain the attractiveness of the feet.

External factors causing cracking

There are a number of unfavorable external factors that cause the skin of the feet to dry out and cracks to appear. These include:

irregular or improper foot care (frequent pedicure procedures, insufficient moisturizing with cosmetics, irregular cleansing, etc.);
wearing tight, hard shoes, often made of synthetic material, excessively high heels;
preference for synthetic socks and tights (which not only dry out the skin, but also block access to oxygen);
walking for long periods of time without shoes or with bare heels (walking in flip-flops or running barefoot on hot sand on the beach);
standing work (hairdressers, salespeople, managers in some salons, etc.).

In such cases, treatment begins with eliminating the provoking factor (changing shoes for more comfortable ones, using special silicone insoles and arch supports, carefully monitoring foot hygiene, etc.).

In addition to this, emollients, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing agents are used for external application. These can be either ready-made pharmaceutical preparations or traditional medicine.

Urgent help, or what to do in case of cracks

If you find a crack in your heel, this is not a reason to panic. It is necessary to take urgent measures to eliminate it and also prevent infection. To treat deep cracks, special preparations are used to fasten their edges:

medical glue;
hilfix etc.

The products dry quickly shortly after application, forming a thin, durable film. They prevent the crack from growing in size, prevent microorganisms from penetrating the skin, and prevent inflammation. Some people recommend using regular superglue with cyanoacrylic.

However, it may contain artificial substances that are unsafe for health, so it is better to avoid this product.

Sealing a crack does not mean getting rid of it. This step will simply help get your heels in order before an important event.

Sealing will speed up the healing process; in 4-5 days the depth of the crack will decrease. After this, the heels can be steamed in a bath (with pure water, with herbal decoction) and carefully remove the keratinized layers with a penza or a special pedicure file along with the remaining glue.

It will not be possible to remove everything in one session; it is necessary to carry out at least 3-4 procedures.

To steam and soften the skin, you can use a bath using available products:

2 liters of hot water;
1 tbsp. soda ash;
0.5 tsp finely shaved soap.

First add soap and soda to the water, mix until completely dissolved, immerse your feet for 15 minutes, lightly massaging the heels with your fingers.

You can make it easier to remove dead skin layers using keratolytic creams, which contain acids:

dairy;
glycolic;
salicylic.

They are applied in an even layer to cleansed heels after steaming.

To moisturize the skin, nourishing creams and folk remedies are useful, which can be made at home. In just a week, with daily use of nettle baths, you can achieve a significant improvement in the skin of your feet.

To do this, prepare a decoction, pour 2 tbsp. dry herbs with boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Then add it to a warm bath, immerse your feet there for 15 minutes, remove remaining moisture with a towel, and treat the rough areas with salicylic acid ointment. When the ointment is completely absorbed, you can apply a moisturizer.

Oil-based compresses will help soften the skin of your feet. The following have a good effect:

linen;
sea buckthorn;
almond;
olive;
peach, etc.

The feet are pre-steamed, then oil is applied to dry areas and covered with film or polyethylene. In the morning, the film is removed, the feet are washed with clean water, and the heels are treated with penza or scrub.

To treat old cracks, an ointment is prepared from:

1 tbsp. any baby cream;
2 drops of chamomile essential oil;
2 drops of lavender oil.

All ingredients are mixed immediately before application, since essential substances tend to evaporate quickly. Chamomile will soften the skin and fight inflammation, lavender perfectly soothes the skin and removes redness. The product is applied three times a day to cleansed skin of the feet until the cracks are completely healed.

To quickly heal numerous cracks, use an ointment made from:

1 tbsp. almond oil heated in a water bath;
30 g beeswax;
10 g propolis;
1 tsp liquid honey.

All components are mixed together to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The ointment, cooled to room temperature, is applied to pre-steamed heels overnight. In the morning, the skin is washed with clean water, removing any remaining product. Treatment is continued until the cracks disappear.

If you have not noticed any positive changes after a week of treatment, or the condition of the skin on your feet has worsened, you should visit a doctor. Cracks in the heels are easy to remove if you pay attention to this issue.

I wish your feet to remain smooth, elastic and healthy, dear readers. Don't forget to regularly lubricate your feet with nourishing creams, especially after working in the garden or vegetable garden, as well as after visiting the pool or beach.

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What do perfectly groomed legs look like? Of course, this is a first-class pedicure, satin skin of the feet, pink neat toes... We remember the heels last. Although exactlytheirthe condition can significantly limit the choice of summer shoes and become a permanent aesthetic problem.

Cracked heels- This is the result of roughening and subsequent damage to the skin. They can be eliminated using special procedures that are carried out both in the salon and at home. However, it also happens that painful ruptures indicate the presence of serious diseases - endocrine, vascular, dermatological, here the treatment tactics will be completely different.

In this article, the site will tell you how to properly care for the skin of your feet so that your heels always look like a baby’s, what ways to cope with the problem, and what to do if cosmetology does not give the expected result:

What are the types of cracked heels and why do they appear?

In most cases, we are talking about shallow damage to the stratum corneum of the skin. They do not cause any discomfort; only the aesthetic side of the issue may concern you. But it also happens that the wounds begin to irritate and itch. Gradually deepening, they remind of themselves with pain when walking, standing for a long time, and even just when wearing shoes. It will no longer be possible to ignore such symptoms, and instead of ordinary cosmetic care, serious treatment will be required.

All the reasons leading to cracking of the skin on the heels can be divided into two large groups:

insufficient or excessive care, the presence of environmental factors leading to dryness and injury to the skin of the feet;
various diseases leading to changes in the soft tissues of the lower extremities.

The first of these includes:

habit of walking barefoot or wearing mules;
insufficient foot care: if you do not promptly remove dead cells using pumice (graters) or peelings, and do not moisturize in the same way as we do with our hands or face, then the skin quickly becomes rough and loses moisture. Excessive care can also lead to the same consequences: constant use of abrasives (scrubs and pumice stones), peelings;
wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes made of synthetic materials, excessive sweating of the feet, lack of habit or ability to change shoes if the shoes are damp or wet;
exposure to chlorinated water, as well as components of washing powder, conditioners and other household chemicals that are used when washing tights or socks, or caring for shoes;
harmful working conditions (high temperature, contact with toxic substances);
smoking and other bad habits;
unreasonable diets for the purpose of losing weight, poor diet, insufficient amount of fluid.

Each of the reasons listed above individually is not capable of causing deep, painful cracking. As a rule, there is an impact of several factors at once, and all the changes they cause are completely reversible - often it is enough to remove particles of keratinized skin, and our heels again acquire an aesthetic appearance.

If home care does not solve the problem, visits to a pedicurist provide only temporary improvement, and the cracks begin to hurt when walking and pressing, then you should think about the possible presence of more serious pathologies. These, that is, the second group of reasons include:

fungal infection;
dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, ichthyosis;
excess weight and, accordingly, increased load on the feet when walking;
diabetes mellitus in the stage of sub- and decompensation;
helminthiasis (presence of worms);
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
hormonal imbalances caused by diseases of the thyroid and other endocrine glands, pregnancy, menopause.

In this case, to accurately diagnose the concomitant disease and its further elimination, an in-person examination by a doctor and tests will be required.

How to get rid of cracks and get your heels in order?

How to solve the problem will dependdepending on the situationand the personal approach of a dermatologist. The main activities that will help with the aesthetic side of the issue are as follows:

Treatment of deep, painful fissures

In most cases, such skin damage does not heal on its own. On the contrary, they gradually become deeper and the discomfort becomes more and more noticeable. The optimal treatment method in this case would be medical glue. It securely holds the edges of the crack and prevents it from deepening. The best solution is special glue FB-6, which is usually sold in pharmacies. If FB-6 is not available, you can use any other, as long as it contains cyanoacrylate. The application algorithm is simple:

remove all dirt from the skin of the heels, rinse them thoroughly in the cracked area;
dry the skin with a towel and wait for the moisture that the fabric did not absorb to evaporate;
Apply glue to the problem area and let it dry (usually just a few minutes is enough).

This procedure will not cause any harm to the body, but the benefits will be obvious: within 1-2 weeks the crack will heal, after which you can slowly grind off the glue with a file.

Elimination of external causes that provoke skin cracking

The list goes on. Our main task is to choose the best ways to care for your feet and objects in contact with the skin, which will not cause overdrying and cracking.

Establishing proper foot care

It is important not to overdo it here. For example, you should not overuse peelings - hot water, pumice and a good cream or ointment containing urea will be enough. If there are significant layers of keratinized cells, then after steaming, treating with pumice and applying cream, wrap your feet in a plastic bag and put on socks. Gradually, as the condition of the skin improves, it will be possible to abandon the cellophane and leave only the cream and socks.

Heel skin before and after complex treatment of deep and small cracks:

What to do if the cracks do not go away?

If you have eliminated all the factors that can provoke excessive keratinization and damage to the skin of the heels, and regular care does not help solve the problem, there is a high probability that there are chronic pathologies in the body, to find which you need to visit a doctor (you can start with a dermatologist) and be examined.

The first step is usually to take a scraping to check for mycosis. This is a simple test that can detect foot fungus. By itself, it does not cause cracking, but it can enhance the effect of other unfavorable factors. If the result is negative, it will be necessary to continue the search in close collaboration with a physician, dermatologist and endocrinologist.

Cracked heels cause a lot of inconvenience for both women and men. To avoid this problem, you should know the causes of their occurrence and methods of treatment.

Almost any woman knows perfectly well what a threat cracked heels pose to her feet. Their appearance is not just a cosmetic defect, but also a kind of signal about a malfunction in the functioning of the entire body. Very often, even small cracks cause a lot of inconvenience to their owner. They become inflamed and give the woman discomfort, which makes any walk painful and unbearable. Let's try to figure out why cracks appear on the heels and how you can avoid them?

Cracked heels cause a lot of discomfort

Cracked heels indicate problems in the body

Wrong shoes

Wrong shoes are primarily to blame. Regardless of the time of year, negative factors include narrow shoes, high heels, sandals or slippers without heels, and shoes made of synthetic materials. All this can lead to the formation of cracks, since long-term wearing of boots and constant friction against a rough surface leads to the fact that the leather begins to harden and flake, which is why small cracks appear. If such a problem occurs, then you need to immediately stop walking barefoot and eliminate the cause of the cracks. In winter, they can appear when a woman prefers to wear boots during the entire working day. It is no secret that some young ladies do not like to change their shoes when visiting clubs and restaurants; during this time, a warm and humid environment is formed in the shoes, which is comfortable for the development of bacteria. If such bacteria get into the cracks, the skin becomes inflamed and begins to bleed.

You need to be careful when choosing shoes

Avitaminosis

Another reason that contributes to the occurrence and development of cracks in the legs is a lack of vitamins A, E and D in the body. As a rule, vitamin deficiency manifests itself most actively in early spring, but can occur at any time of the year with an unbalanced diet (in particular, with lack of retinol and carotene in food). If cracked heels have arisen precisely for this reason, then in order to speed up the healing process, you should include in your diet more green salads with fresh vegetables, which should be seasoned with olive oil. Vitamins A and E are also found in large quantities in liver, milk, yellow and orange fruits, as well as nuts, some types of fish, and vegetable oil.

Endocrine system diseases

Certain diseases can lead to the appearance of cracked heels, and in this case they cause a lot more trouble for a person. For example, one of the most common endocrine diseases, diabetes mellitus, can lead to dry skin and, as a result, the formation of cracked heels. Often this symptom is the first signal that a person is developing diabetes. If you do not immediately pay due attention to this symptom and do not treat cracked heels in a timely manner, a complication such as “diabetic foot” may develop, which can subsequently lead to surgery. People suffering from hypothyroidism and other thyroid pathologies should also be very careful about the appearance of cracked heels, especially if the skin of the feet has a yellowish tint and dry skin. In this case, treatment should be started immediately, or in a few days the heels will become covered with deep and painful cracks.

Diseases of the endocrine system can manifest as cracked heels

Natural phenomena

Another cause of cracked heels can be the harmful effects of natural phenomena on the skin of the feet. A vacation spent at the seaside can have such a negative impact, and this once again proves that foot skin care products are mandatory not only after regular visits to the pool, but also during the beach season.

In some cases, cracks in the skin of the legs occur due to impaired tissue trophism or blood supply, and age also matters. For example, a similar problem more often occurs in women after forty years of age, this is caused by a change in the amount of hormones that are synthesized by the adrenal glands. In this case, there is a violation of tissue nutrition and metabolic imbalance, which leads to the formation of cracks in the heels. For adults, dry skin is a consequence of age-related changes; for young women, cracked heels are usually associated with various diseases: fungal infections, eczema, diabetes. Sometimes cracked heels are a result of obesity.

Cracked heels become more common as you age

Preventive actions

In order not to have to treat your legs, you should not forget about the prevention of various diseases. Knowing the main reasons for the development of cracked heels, you can take care of their prevention. So, the most common methods of prevention are:

Shoes should be chosen only from natural materials; they should not be too tight or too roomy. For work, you should use special comfortable shoes made of natural materials with low heels. In the summer, you should try to avoid open shoes: flip-flops, flip-flops, sandals.
For rough skin, emollients should be used. You cannot cut calluses and corns; it is better to remove them with a pumice stone and a special nail file after preliminary steaming.
Twice a week it is good to do soap and soda foot baths, the duration of this procedure is about half an hour. To do this, you need to dissolve two tablespoons of soda and two tablespoons of shampoo in 10 liters of hot water.
As soon as the first microcracks appear, you should immediately start using antibacterial agents.
The diet must include foods that contain vitamin E: cheese, butter, fruits, vegetables, herbs. Carrots, grapes, milk, peas, apples and apricots should definitely be included in your menu to keep your heels healthy and without cracks.
You need to regularly use special foot skin care products: moisturizing creams, heel scrubs, antibacterial gels.
Regular pedicures and caution when visiting public baths, saunas, and swimming pools are just a small precaution against an insidious problem: cracked heels.
In summer, you should not walk barefoot for a long time; it is better to wear cotton socks. At the same time, do not forget that ultraviolet rays also dry out the skin, and therefore special attention should be paid to protecting against them.

How to treat cracked heels?

First of all, if unpleasant symptoms appear, you should visit a dermatologist’s office; only he can determine the real cause of the cracks and prescribe treatment. Most often, he prescribes Vaseline-based products, which soften the affected skin and moisturize it, and also have a persistent bactericidal effect. Before using the medicine, it is recommended to steam your feet in a bath with the addition of boric acid, and then apply the ointment and leave it overnight. The best drugs for cracked heels are Balzamed, Zazhivin, Lamisil Radevit. It is not forbidden to use products that moisturize the skin and maintain its elasticity, relieve pain and accelerate wound healing, destroy fungus and relieve itching, disinfect and regenerate the skin. It is possible to treat cracks using home methods, but you should adequately assess your condition and consult a doctor at the first opportunity.

Many skin problems are not as minor as they may seem at first glance. For example, cracked heels cause great discomfort and pain, so there are a huge number of remedies for their treatment: creams, masks, lotions, ointments. It is worth noting that you need not only to know how to get rid of this phenomenon, but also to be able to determine its cause. Perhaps then the problem can be prevented rather than treated.

What are cracked heels?

This phenomenon is classified as dermatitis. A crack in the heel occurs due to a partial violation of the integrity of the integument. This problem is very widespread, especially among women, although some men also experience it. More often, the skin on the feet cracks in older people, but young people are not completely immune from this.

Bursting skin on the heels causes not only severe pain, but also aesthetic discomfort, especially for the fairer sex. Because of this, you have to choose your shoes much more carefully, and open models remain prohibited. Cracks in the skin develop gradually. At first, a person notices thin cuts, but then they become deeper, become inflamed, the formation of a dense keratinized layer begins, itching, burning, and sometimes an unpleasant odor appear.

Causes

There are pathological factors for the appearance of cracks in the skin, which will be discussed in detail below. In addition, the causes may be conditions that do not require therapy:

Congenital skin features. We are talking about severe dryness.
Excessive foot care. If a person exfoliates his feet too often or performs the procedure incorrectly, this leads to additional roughening of the skin.
Lack of hygiene. Cracks in the skin can appear if a person rarely washes his feet, does not change socks in a timely manner, etc.
Wearing the wrong shoes. Any poorly made models or open options that do not involve wearing socks are harmful.

Factors that negatively affect the skin of cracked heels:

exposure to too low, high temperatures, wind;
improper diet;
lack of vitamins;
skin contact with chlorinated water;
residues of household chemicals on clothes;
harmful working conditions;
use of alkaline soap;
smoking.

Pathological conditions

This group includes diseases in which the skin of the heels may become cracked:

Obesity. High weight is always accompanied by high cholesterol levels. All this leads to impaired blood circulation and thinning of the skin. The feet are especially affected by obesity.
Diseases that cause thinning of the epidermis, decreased immunity, and degradation of nerve fibers.
Mycosis of the feet. Feet can become cracked when infected with yeast or mold. This is accompanied by damage to the folds between the fingers, nails, itching, and peeling.
Some vascular diseases.
Hormonal imbalances.
Diabetes. In the second type of disease, neuropathy progresses. You can’t stop it, but you can control it, thereby protecting your legs. You need to maintain the correct glucose levels, monitor your cholesterol, take regular blood tests, and take good care of your feet.
Diseases of the nervous system.
Iron-deficiency anemia.
Psoriasis. There are cases when this disease affects the skin of the feet, causing cracks to appear on it.
Helminthiases.
Dyshidrosis, exfoliative keratolysis.
Avitaminosis. As a result of a lack of vitamins, the skin loses elasticity and therefore bursts.

Causes of cracked heels in women

For the fair sex, a more characteristic factor that provokes skin cracking is hormonal disorders. It may become excessively dry and begin to burst due to pregnancy, menopause, or menstruation. In addition, all other reasons for the appearance of cracks in the heels cannot be excluded, especially such as excessive care, poor-quality shoes, and excess weight.

Treatment

If you have cracked feet, the first step to solving this problem is to eliminate its cause. Various ointments, creams, and folk remedies are used to treat cracking. If the causes of cracks in the heels are pathological, then systemic medications may be needed. In addition, it is very important to monitor your diet and follow the rules of foot care. It is worth talking in more detail about the most effective measures for treating cracked skin.

At home

Currently, a huge number of pharmaceutical products are produced that are used to eliminate problems with the skin of the heels and heal cracks. As a rule, their action is aimed at moisturizing, relieving inflammation, itching, and other unpleasant symptoms. All pharmacological agents are very easy to use at home. The duration of treatment usually depends on how advanced the condition of the feet is.

Hydrogen peroxide

The effectiveness of this well-known remedy is due to its action. Properties of hydrogen peroxide:

reduces the activity of pathogenic bacteria;
removes calluses and corns;
has antiseptic and antimicrobial effects;
softens the skin.

How to use hydrogen peroxide for cracked heels:

Heat 3 liters of water. Add 8 tbsp to it. l. 3 percent peroxide. Dip your feet into the resulting solution for 10-20 minutes. Then gently scrub your feet to remove any dead skin.
Dissolve 50 g of salt and 3 tbsp in 4 liters of water. l. hydrogen peroxide 3%. Keep your feet in this bath for 15 minutes. Remove softened skin with pumice stone, treat feet with nourishing cream.
Mix one part peroxide and five parts water. Soak a piece of cloth in the resulting mixture, apply it to the affected area and secure with an adhesive plaster. Remove after a couple of hours and remove rough particles.

Ointment

Several effective remedies to heal your skin:

Radevit. The main components of the ointment are retinol palmitate and vitamin D. Promotes skin healing, relieves itching and inflammation. Apply a thick layer to lesions and cracks twice a day.
Balsam. Moisturizing nourishing ointment for skin. Removes irritation. Rich in vitamins A and E, which increase the protective properties of the skin. Requires application to affected areas twice a day.
Zazhivin. A natural ointment that accelerates the process of regeneration of epidermal cells. Heals wounds, kills bacteria. Zazhivin should be used once a day.
Calendula. Homeopathic ointment that has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, softening, and disinfectant effect.
Gewol. German made ointment. Well heals the skin of the heels, softens it. Contains natural ingredients.
Zinc ointment. Effective antiseptic, heals well.
Petrolatum. A very effective ointment that will heal cracks of any depth.

Cream

If you don't know how to get rid of cracked heels, try the following remedies:

Doctor Biocon. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and nourishes the skin well. Heals deep cracks, relieves feet from excessive sweating and unpleasant odor. Contains lactic and salicylic acids, oils, triclocarban. Apply to lesions twice a day.
Super Heels. Cream containing herbal ingredients and Shostakovsky balm. Helps get rid of roughness and corns. Relieves inflammation, destroys bacteria.
Foot cream series Green Pharmacy. Heals cracks very quickly, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Contains walnut and tea tree oils, plantain extract.
Ambulance. Contains vitamins. Restores skin, accelerates healing processes.
Dardia Lipo Balm. Contains urea. Softens, restores water balance, increases elasticity.
BioAstin is an antifungal. Helps against fungal cracks. Contains essential oils.
Lamisil. Cream against infections and fungus. Restores the deep layers of the epidermis. Apply once a day.

Folk remedies

Not only traditional but also alternative medicine will help people who do not know how to treat cracked heels at home. There are a huge number of folk recipes based on herbs, herbs, plants, and products that have wound-healing and skin restoration properties. At home, you can prepare foot masks, apply lotions and compresses. Remember a few of the most effective recipes.

Baths

Cooking methods:

Mix 4 tbsp. l. medicinal speedwell and bedstraw, add 3 tbsp. l. medicinal sage and 2 tbsp. l. St. John's wort. 4 tbsp. l. Steam this collection with 2 liters of boiling water. Insist for an hour. Heat to a temperature of 35-37 degrees and keep your feet in this broth every two days for 20 minutes.
Mix 1 tsp. grated laundry soap and 15 grams of soda, pour 2 liters of hot water. Keep your feet in the solution for 15 minutes.
Dissolve 45-50 g of potato starch in 2 liters of water. Soak your feet in the liquid for 20 minutes every day before going to bed.

Mask for legs

In a ratio of 1:10, pour vegetable oil over calendula flowers. Leave for 12 hours. Heat in a water bath for half an hour, strain. Place on your feet, bandage, and keep for two hours.
Steam your feet and treat them with pumice stone. Lubricate the cracks with alcohol and castor oil. Mix talc and powdered chamomile flowers in a 3:1 ratio. Apply to the affected areas and bandage. Leave for several hours.
Mix honey and pork fat in a 2:1 ratio. Anoint your heels and leave for at least two hours.

Compress

Steam your feet before going to bed. Pass the onions through a meat grinder and apply to your heels. Wrap your legs in cotton fabric and wrap them with film. Remove the compress in the morning, wash your feet and apply cream.
Finely chop two medium apples and pour in 200 ml of milk. Add 1 tsp. soda Put on fire and cook for 10-15 minutes. Add one or two tablespoons of flour. Cool the mixture and apply a thick layer to your heels. Secure with gauze and film. Remove the compress when it has cooled completely. Repeat once a week until the cracks are completely gone.
You need to take a few aloe stems and turn them into pulp. Apply it to the affected areas. You will need film to secure it. Wear warmer socks on top. Leave the compress on all night.

Prevention

To avoid cracks in your heels, remember and follow a few simple rules:

Wash your feet every day, not with hot water, but with warm or slightly cool water.
Wear socks made from natural materials.
Gently cleanse your feet of rough skin.
Wear high-quality shoes made from natural materials with closed heels.
Dry your feet after washing.
Be sure to moisturize your feet with special cosmetics.
Watch your diet. The body must receive a sufficient amount of vitamins. Avoid obesity.

Video: how to treat cracked heels at home

There are many reasons why women's heels crack. In order to choose an effective treatment, you need to consider them all and understand what led to cracks in the skin of the feet.

Cracked heel skin

Causes of cracked skin on heels

Damage to the heels with a fungal infection (mycosis);
Injury to the heels due to rough and improper care;
Presence of dermatological diseases (psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema);
Diseases of internal organs (stomach, liver, gall bladder);
Presence of diabetes mellitus;
Hormonal changes (menopause);
Hereditary predisposition;
A small amount of fluid taken per day, vitamin deficiency, strict diets;
Wearing incorrectly selected, low-quality shoes;
Presence of extra pounds, obesity.

Heel infection with fungal infection (mycosis)

Various fungal diseases are often the cause of cracked heels in women. Experts identify the most common disease, called mycosis.

Mycosis affects the skin of the feet, through microcracks and spreads throughout the human body, causing diseases of the internal organs. The disease is transmitted from person to person through infected sloughed skin cells.

Doctors recommend regularly treating your feet with an antiseptic. Pharmacists include ointments among the most effective antiseptics for treating skin, most of which can be purchased at pharmacies. Among them:

Betadine;
Dioxidine;
Miramistin;
Vishnevsky ointment;
Ichthyol ointment;
Levomekol;
Zinc ointment;
Resorcinol;
Boric ointment;
Salicylic ointment.

If your feet have already burst, you need to contact a laboratory for PCR diagnostics. A dermatologist will help you understand the results of clinical studies. He will also prescribe a treatment regimen.

Injury to the heels due to rough and improper care

Why do women's heels crack? There may be several reasons, and one of them is improper care.

Damage to the foot can be the result of injuries received due to improper care. In addition to being a cosmetic defect, such injuries are painful and are an easy way for infections to enter the body.

The skin on your feet can only be treated by steaming and disinfecting it. All instruments must be individually used and disinfected after each procedure.

Rough rubbing with hard brushes and pumice stones will not make your heels smooth, but may leave abrasions on the skin. And various baths with chemical solutions are dangerous due to burns and allergies.

Cosmetologists claim that women who care for the skin of their feet on their own are more likely to have cracked heels due to mechanical damage to the epidermis, therefore Pedicures are recommended to be done by a specialist in a salon where sterility and safety are ensured, and the skills of a specialist allow you to remove dead skin without harming healthy cells.

Presence of dermatological diseases (psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema)

Another reason for the appearance of cracks in the feet is the presence of skin diseases such as eczema, dermatitis and the chronic stage of dermatitis - psoriasis. Their provocateurs are the presence of an allergen in the blood, poor diet and stress.

Psoriasis is one of the causes of cracking of the skin of the heels

The symptoms of these diseases are similar and are expressed in itching and the appearance of small papules, which over time increase in size and merge into a single plaque. After peeling it off, skin breaks remain.

The listed skin diseases are not transmitted to others, since they are provoked by the condition of the body, but cannot be treated. With properly selected therapy, stable remission can be achieved.

Diseases of internal organs (stomach, liver, gallbladder)

According to research results, any diseases of the stomach, liver and gallbladder in the chronic stage are the reason why women’s heels crack.

With diseases of the internal organs, less vitamins and oxygen enter the blood from food, which has a bad effect on the condition of the skin and leads to peeling and cracking.

At an advanced stage of the disease, cosmetic treatment of the skin of the legs will not give a positive result. To get your heels in order, first you need to get rid of the bacteria that provoked the disease of the digestive system.

Presence of diabetes mellitus

Elevated blood sugar levels lead to drying and thinning of the skin.

Diabetes leads to dry and thin skin. The soles of the feet are the first to suffer from this.

The soles of the feet suffer the most from these manifestations. The skin of the feet peels, itches, and in the absence of auxiliary treatment, cracks. Through cracks, infection enters the blood.

A body weakened by diabetes is unable to recognize and destroy pathogens. Therefore, the main thing is to exclude infection, for example, by using a bactericidal patch.

Hormonal changes (menopause).

According to gynecologists, the onset of menopause entails a change in hormonal status and is the reason for:

why do women's heels crack?
why hair becomes dry and brittle;
why capillaries and small vessels break.

Hormonal imbalance has a detrimental effect on the walls of blood vessels, leading to their thinning and fragility. Because of this, the elasticity of the epidermis deteriorates, which leads to dry skin, increased wrinkles and the appearance of cracks on the feet.

In this case, only therapy using hormonal agents will be effective.

Hereditary predisposition

Just as diseases may not be acquired, but acquired through a set of genes, the tendency to develop cracked heels can also be a hereditary predisposition.

In this case, you need to carefully monitor the condition of your shoes. It must be clean and dry. It must be disinfected at least once every 3 days.

If you have a hereditary predisposition to cracked heels, you need to carefully monitor the condition of your shoes and regularly disinfect them.

A small amount of fluid taken per day, vitamin deficiency, strict diets

Nutritionists are convinced that not only diseases harm the body, but also improper nutrition can provoke many defects in appearance.

With a strict diet, an insufficient amount of nutrients enters the body, and vitamin deficiency occurs. A lack of vitamins A leads to the formation of cracks, which deepen over time, causing pain when walking.

Violation of the water-salt balance leads to the fact that internal organs draw moisture from connective tissues and skin.

Women who do not follow a diet and drinking regime are more likely to have cracked heels.

Wearing ill-fitting, low-quality shoes

Hardening of the heels is caused not only by internal problems of the body, but also wearing low-quality or incorrectly selected shoes harms the condition of the feet.

The skin of the feet in open shoes is more susceptible to fungal infections. And in low-quality closed shoes, feet sweat, which is a breeding ground for the life and reproduction of microbes.

If the shoes are of high quality, but the size or last is chosen incorrectly, the foot is subject to deformation, which leads to the formation of corns, calluses and cracks on the soles of the feet.

When wearing high heels, the pressure on the foot is distributed incorrectly, which leads to its deformation and cracking of the skin in areas of increased stress.

With irreversible changes in the foot, neither cosmetic nor drug treatment will help. Treatment is carried out only by surgery or wearing orthopedic shoes.

Having extra pounds, obesity

The right shoes will not protect against problems with the skin of the legs and obesity. Excess weight puts excessive pressure on the foot and tendons. This leads to the proliferation of connective tissue and, as a result, cracking of the skin.

Regular caring procedures will not bring results, since skin breaks are not only external, but also internal.

Which specialist should you contact for deep cracked heels?

If you have deep cracks in your heels, you should visit a therapist, who, based on the nature of the cracks, will be able to determine which specialist to contact.

It could be:

a dermatologist who will prescribe tests to detect skin infections and take samples from problem areas of the skin to identify fungal spores;
a gastroenterologist who will help identify diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
A gynecologist, for women, is also required to visit.

In order not to waste a lot of time visiting the clinic, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive examination of the body.

Visiting a cosmetologist should be regular, as specialized devices treat the skin carefully and kill pathogenic microbes.

Treatment for cracked heels

Pharmacy products

When self-treating cracked heels, you should pay attention to creams, ointments and gels. The basis for many of them is Vaseline.

For medicines, it is better to go to a pharmacy, where a wide range of them is available.

For example:

“Healing foot cream”, manufacturer “Green Pharmacy” at a price of 55-80 rubles. for 75 ml;
“Losterin”, priced at 480-570 rubles. for 75 ml;
"Radevit" at a price of 400-510 rubles. for 35 ml;
“Aquapeeling”, at a price of 180-250 rubles. for 75 ml.

Traditional recipes for treating cracked heels

Folk remedies will also help in healing cracked feet.

Honey smearing

The simplest recipe is to lubricate steamed, dry skin with a small amount of honey, which is left on the skin overnight. In the morning, the remaining grease is removed with a damp sponge.

Boiled potato compress

A bath and compress are a good option for treating foot rashes. You need to boil 3-4 potatoes in 2 liters of water. Pour the resulting broth into a bath, add 2 teaspoons of soda and soak your feet there for 15-20 minutes.

Mash the boiled potatoes, apply a thick layer to the heels and wrap in film. In the morning, wash off the compress with warm water and rub the sole with a pumice stone, then rinse your feet in cold water.

How else to treat skin on heels

Table salt is suitable for steaming feet in the amount of 1 teaspoon diluted in 2 liters of water with 2 teaspoons of shower gel.

Children's cream heals wounds well, left to absorb for 6-8 hours on problem areas, for better effect, wear cotton socks on feet.

Women's skin is more sensitive, so if treatment for cracked heels does not produce results for a long time, then you will have to stop wearing synthetic socks, shoes made of artificial materials and shoes with open heels.

According to doctors, the best treatment is prevention, so you shouldn’t let your skin get to the point where your heels start to crack.

For every modern woman, visiting a gynecologist and cosmetologist should be a mandatory event on a regular basis. Maintaining personal hygiene, contrast showers and proper nutrition is the key to the health of not only the feet, but also the whole body.

A healthy person is a happy person. Be healthy!

Useful video materials about why women's heels crack and how to make their skin soft and smooth

How to remove rough and cracked heel skin with a razor:

What to do if your heels crack. How to treat:

Answers to the question “why do your heels itch”: