Feet are considered the most neglected part of the body. Many a
time people complain about the cracking heels and some problems
regarding feet but all of these cracked heels is very common problem
that caused both men and women. This problem generally occurs in winter
season due to the dry weather conditions.
Cracks in the skin on
heels are commonly known as heel fissures. They usually occur when skin
becomes dry and aggravates the thick, brittle calluses on heels. Daily
routine includes many tasks like standing, walking on feet that places
enough pressure onto brittle skin that small cracks open in the
epidermal layer of the skin.
Causes of cracked heels-Cracked heels
are a common occurrence for senior citizens or people who are
constantly on their feet thus exerting pressure on the feet pad. It can
affect either either the heels or one of the heels. But most commonly,
cracked heels affect both the feet.
The problem is caused by the
deficiency of vitamins, minerals and zinc. Climatic conditions can also
be responsible for the problem of cracked heels. Person who is
overweight may increase the pressure on the normal fat pad under the
heel and this cause this to expand sideways and if the skin lacks
flexibility the pressure on the feet lead to cracked heels.
Symptoms
of cracked heels-The person who is having heel cracks may have red and
flaky patches on the feet's skin. The skin started peeling and itching
also occurs in the area. In the extreme conditions bleeding occurs from
the cracks.
Home remedies for cracked heels -Generally, this is an
aesthetic problem but some patients experience deep cracks that feel
painful and can even bleed or get infected. So as the days grow colder,
take the following steps into account when your feet start cracking
under pressure.
Generally applying a heavy layer of creams and
lotions relieves the problem but using some items that can be easily got
in the kitchen can cure this. To get rid of cracked heels you should
apply a ripe banana on the heels and leave it for 10 minutes to dry.
After 10 minutes wash it of with water, this remedy will prove helpful
in providing relief from the pain of heel cracks.
You can soak
your feet in the lemon juice for 10minutes and try the therapy once a
week this will provide you an instant relax. A regular application of a
mixture of glycerin and rosewater is good and valuable to soothe and
cure cracked heels.
Showing posts with label cracked heels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cracked heels. Show all posts
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
How to Get Rid of Dry and Cracked Skin on Feet
7:41:00 AM
Our feet have to carry us throughout our entire lives and yet it
is an area that many people neglect when it comes to skincare. The
result of this neglect is often dry and cracked skin on the feet,
particularly around the heels and sides of the feet.
Although
cracked skin (fissures) on the feet can be unsightly and even painful,
it is not a serious condition and is one that can quite easily be sorted
and relatively quickly if you take the time to care for your feet.
First though, let's take a look at why it happens.
What causes cracked skin on the feet?
The
main cause of cracked heels is skin that is extremely dry (xerosis).
The following factors will make you more likely to develop cracked skin
on the feet.
- If you spend a lot of time on your feet
- If you go barefoot often
- If you wear sandals or open backed shoes regularly
- If you are overweight as this will put more pressure on your feet
- If you have a medical condition like diabetes or a circulatory disorder
- If you smoke
- If you have a physical disorder of the feet
- If you are elderly
- If you suffer from a lack of omega 3 fatty acids or zinc in your diet
- If you go barefoot often
- If you wear sandals or open backed shoes regularly
- If you are overweight as this will put more pressure on your feet
- If you have a medical condition like diabetes or a circulatory disorder
- If you smoke
- If you have a physical disorder of the feet
- If you are elderly
- If you suffer from a lack of omega 3 fatty acids or zinc in your diet
It's
important to note that if you are suffering from diabetes or
circulatory problems, speak to your doctor before carrying out any sort
of treatment on your feet.
How to heal cracked feet
There
are two aspects to healing cracked feet, the first is to treat the
cracked skin and the second is to prevent it from happening again.
There
are numerous creams and lotions available on the supermarket shelves
that will claim to heal cracked skin in a matter of days but if you
don't want to part with your cash for that, you can just as easily treat
the cracked skin at home using ordinary vegetable oils you have in your
kitchen cupboard.
Oils that are effective on dry skin include
Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Hemp seed oil, Evening primrose oil, Walnut
oil, Thistle oil, and Grape seed oil but any oil will do the trick.
First
bathe your feet in tepid water, never hot water as this will dry the
feet out even more. You can use a pumice stone or exfoliating pad to
gently remove some of the hard skin on the feet but be careful if the
skin is broken as you could make it worse. Never try to remove hard skin
with razor blades or other sharp objects or you could seriously injure
yourself and perhaps introduce infection into your skin.
Once you
have bathed your feet gently pat your feet dry with a clean towel and
massage warmed vegetable oil into your feet and then put on a clean pair
of cotton socks. It's best to do this last thing at night before you go
to bed as it will give the oil a chance to work overnight.
Repeat
this every night and in a few days you should start to see a noticeable
difference in the condition of your feet although it may take a few
weeks to heal them completely.
Once your skin has healed, in order
to prevent your skin from becoming dry and cracking again, make sure
you regularly moisturise your feet and treat your feet to a weekly oil
treatment and a foot massage if you can afford it or you can persuade
your partner to do it.
Never bathe in hot water and if you have to wear sandals, just make sure you moisturise your feet afterwards.
So
far all the advice has been about treating your feet on the outside but
you can also help heal your cracked heels by treating them from the
inside too by taking fish oil on a daily basis.
Why fish oil could help heal cracked feet
Fish
oil contains essential omega 3 fatty acids that our body needs to
survive but can't produce itself. The only way we can get omega 3 fatty
acids is through our diet and the sad fact is, very few of us are
actually getting enough.
The reason for this is that the really
important omega 3 fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are only found in fatty fish such as herring,
sardines, mackerel, salmon and tuna and let's face it, no one eats too
much fish these days due to the toxins they contain.
This means
that most of us are not getting enough of these essential fatty acids on
a daily basis and indeed one of the first signs that you are deficient
in Omega 3 fatty acids is dry and cracked skin.
By
David Mcevoy
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Cracked Heels - Home Remedies To Implement To Relieve Cracked Heels
6:03:00 AM
Everyone has once or twice had to deal with the unsightly issue
of cracked heels. Other than not being very appealing to the eye,
cracked heels can also get so extreme that they can actually cause
discomfort. In this article I am going to discuss some things that you
can use in your own home to help find relief from cracked heels.
Foot Soak
Cleaning and moisturizing your foot is the easiest and first step to healing your heels. This must become a daily ritual. At the end of the day soak your feet in warm salty water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Directly after drying your feet, apply some foot cream. Additionally, wear a pair of sock straight after applying the moisturizer and leave them on the whole night. You could also try mixing 1 cup of honey and 1 gallon of warm water and soaking your feet in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps make your feet a bit softer.
Ripe Bananas
Although this might sound a bit weird, some stick by using ripe bananas as a beauty aid. Mash one ripe banana and apply it your dry heels. Leave the mash on for 10 to 15 minutes and wash with cold or warm water.
Olive Oil
Olive oil does not only need to be used for cooking but can also be used for taking care of your heels. Apply olive oil to your cracked heels just before going to bed. However, do not wash the oil away. After applying the olive oil, wear a pair of socks and leave them on overnight
Lemon Scrub
Prepare a mixture of Vaseline and lemon by taking one teaspoon of Vaseline and adding lemon juice to it. Soak your feet in soapy, warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Thoroughly wash and dry your feet. Rub the lemon and Vaseline mixture on the cracked areas of your heels. Alternatively, you could just cut a lemon and rub it directly on your feet. You can add a little bit of Vaseline to make the rubbing smoother. However, if your heels are severely cracked, this may cause you some discomfort as the acidity of the lemon will cause you to experience a burning sensation on the open cracks.
Diet
Although it might not be obvious, your diet plays a bit part in the health of your skin. Crack skin, such as cracked heels, can be due to a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids. Make sure to supplement your diet with these essential nutrients. Make sure you keep your body hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day as good hydration helps keep your skin looking soft and healthy
Foot Soak
Cleaning and moisturizing your foot is the easiest and first step to healing your heels. This must become a daily ritual. At the end of the day soak your feet in warm salty water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Directly after drying your feet, apply some foot cream. Additionally, wear a pair of sock straight after applying the moisturizer and leave them on the whole night. You could also try mixing 1 cup of honey and 1 gallon of warm water and soaking your feet in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps make your feet a bit softer.
Ripe Bananas
Although this might sound a bit weird, some stick by using ripe bananas as a beauty aid. Mash one ripe banana and apply it your dry heels. Leave the mash on for 10 to 15 minutes and wash with cold or warm water.
Olive Oil
Olive oil does not only need to be used for cooking but can also be used for taking care of your heels. Apply olive oil to your cracked heels just before going to bed. However, do not wash the oil away. After applying the olive oil, wear a pair of socks and leave them on overnight
Lemon Scrub
Prepare a mixture of Vaseline and lemon by taking one teaspoon of Vaseline and adding lemon juice to it. Soak your feet in soapy, warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Thoroughly wash and dry your feet. Rub the lemon and Vaseline mixture on the cracked areas of your heels. Alternatively, you could just cut a lemon and rub it directly on your feet. You can add a little bit of Vaseline to make the rubbing smoother. However, if your heels are severely cracked, this may cause you some discomfort as the acidity of the lemon will cause you to experience a burning sensation on the open cracks.
Diet
Although it might not be obvious, your diet plays a bit part in the health of your skin. Crack skin, such as cracked heels, can be due to a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids. Make sure to supplement your diet with these essential nutrients. Make sure you keep your body hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day as good hydration helps keep your skin looking soft and healthy
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