Dry heels of feet what to do (English)

Many people face the problem of dry heels. Not only does this phenomenon cause a lot of discomfort, but also the appearance of the legs becomes unattractive. If you want to show off your soft and pink heels, then you need to provide them with gentle care.

Dry heels: cause

Girls love to show off their beautiful legs. On the street, on the beach, in the office, at home - anywhere. However, dry heels can significantly spoil the mood and force beauties to wear closed shoes. The reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon may be the following factors:

wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes;
lack of vitamins A and E, which affect the condition of the skin;
fungal infections (in this case, in addition to dryness and cracks, there may be a change in skin color);
improper foot care and neglect of personal hygiene rules;
disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.

Should you see a doctor?

Dry heels are a fairly common problem. What to do if the problem does not go away over a long period of time? Of course, consult a doctor. The fact is that if the problem of rough skin cannot be solved with the help of cosmetic procedures, then most likely the reason lies in health problems:

lack of vitamins in the body (both seasonal and chronic);
fungal diseases;
problems with the thyroid gland;
fungus or herpes;
eczema;
diabetes mellitus of any type.

If you have any of the above problems, then no cosmetic procedure can cure dry heels and cracked heels. You will have to undergo complex drug treatment.

Softening procedures

Dry heels are a serious problem, but it can be solved. Constant and careful skin care is important. The main thing is that at the first signs of dryness, you need to start intensive therapy, which may include the following procedures:

Regularly pamper your feet with herbal baths. A combination of chamomile, calendula, string and sage helps to cope with dryness and cracks. It is worth noting that such a procedure has not only a softening, but also an anti-inflammatory effect, which will be an additional prevention of fungus.
Sea salt or regular table salt is an effective remedy against cracked and peeling skin on the heels. You need to immerse your feet in a warm, concentrated solution for a quarter of an hour. If dryness has reached a critical level or there are deep cracks, then add milk to the bath.
Red wine has a beneficial effect on the skin. It will not only soften your heels, but also relieve fatigue. For two liters of water you need to take 2 glasses of wine (can be replaced with grape juice). In 20 minutes you won't recognize your heels.

For the effect to be noticeable and lasting, you need to complete the procedures correctly. Feet should be wiped dry and lubricated with moisturizing creams or nourishing oils. You should also wear cotton socks.

Compresses for dry heels

Due to the fact that the load on the feet and heels is quite large, they quickly lose moisture. As a result, the skin cracks and becomes rough. To revive dry heels, you need to regularly make nourishing compresses. The following recipes work best:

Onions will help you remove the top rough layer of skin. It needs to be grated on a fine grater, then mixed with a small amount of honey and milk. Apply the resulting pulp to a bandage or gauze, apply it to the heel and wrap it with polyethylene. Put on thick socks on top and leave the compress on overnight. To eliminate the unpleasant onion smell in the morning, wash your feet well with laundry soap and be sure to apply cream.
Honey is a real salvation for dry skin. They need to lubricate problem areas, cover with plastic and put on warm socks. It is better if the honey compress remains overnight. After you wash your feet in the morning, be sure to apply the cream.
If the skin is not too rough, then a green apple will help you solve the problem. Rub it into a puree, wrap it in a piece of bandage or gauze and apply it to your heels. You need to secure the compress with plastic bags and socks. It's better to leave it overnight.
Perhaps the simplest and most effective is a cabbage compress. You just need to knead a clean sheet in your hands or beat it with a rolling pin and apply it to your heel. Secure the compress with a bandage, and the next morning remove and lubricate your feet with cream.
Celandine is a healing plant that helps to cope with many problems. If you have dry heels, you can make a healing compress at home. Chop a fresh leaf (you can beat it with a rolling pin) and apply it to the problem area. As in previous cases, you need to wrap your feet in polyethylene, put on socks and leave the product on overnight.

Pumice treatment

Many people face the problem of cracked or dry heels. What to do? Of course, treat them with pumice. Even though this is the most popular method, many people make mistakes. For example, it is wrong to treat your heels while taking a shower, or immediately after, while they are heavily steamed. It is better to do this about half an hour before swimming. The effect will be more pronounced if you lubricate your heels with a nourishing cream before treating with pumice.

Dry heels - treatment with pharmaceutical products

In the pharmacy you can find many products that are aimed at solving not only medical, but also cosmetic problems. So, if your heel is dry and cracking, then try using the following medications:

"Five Days" is a nourishing cream with a rich composition, thanks to which your legs will simply be transformed. It has not only nutritional, but also disinfectant properties. Thus, in addition to healing cracks, fungal diseases will also be prevented.
"Sea Wolf" is an effective budget remedy that fights a lot of problems (from the aggressive effects of water, sun or cold to a lack of vitamins and nutrients). The components of the cream promote rapid regeneration, and therefore your heels will be transformed in the shortest possible time.
"Bepanten" is a popular remedy that helps cope with skin problems. Thanks to a component such as lanolin, the epidermis softens and cracks heal quickly.

Proven "grandmother's" remedy

Dry fives and cracked feet are a perennial problem. At the moment, in pharmacies and cosmetic stores you can find a lot of products and devices that help cope with it. What did women do in those days when only ineffective pumice was available? There is one effective recipe.

Buy a bottle of glycerin, as well as vinegar essence. This is all you need to prepare the product. The glycerin container will not be full. You need to add vinegar essence to the neck, close it tightly, and then shake vigorously.

Wash your feet well with laundry soap, steam them in a bath (you can use herbal or salt water) and rub thoroughly with a pedicure brush to remove the top layer of rough skin. Now you need to dry your skin with a towel.

Shake the bottle with glycerin and vinegar essence thoroughly, soak a cotton swab in the liquid and treat all the roughness that is on the feet, paying special attention to the heels. Next, you need to put cellophane bags and thick socks on your feet. It is best to do the procedure at night. But if you decide to do it during the day, then rest assured that the composition will be absorbed into the skin in about 40 minutes. After the procedure, you can lightly rub your heels with pumice, but this is not necessary. Wash your feet with soap and lubricate them with cream.

If your heels are in a bad state, then at first the procedure will have to be carried out daily until the skin returns to normal. After this, once a week will be enough to maintain the effect.

Preventive measures

Dry heels and cracks can cause ladies not only physical, but also aesthetic discomfort. Naturally, preventing a problem is much easier than dealing with it later. Preventive measures include the following:

try to wear comfortable shoes, and also use special gel insoles;
do not neglect the rules of personal hygiene - wash your feet daily using antibacterial agents;
regularly use pumice stones, as well as scrubs (store-bought or homemade);
before going to bed, lubricate clean feet with moisturizing creams or nourishing oils;
Periodically take a course of vitamins A and E, and also include foods containing them (carrots, apples, grapes, etc.) in your diet.

conclusions

Dry skin on the heels, cracks - all this does not add beauty to your feet. Unfortunately, many women do not pay enough attention to this problem, which can lead to quite serious consequences. If you want to be on top in any situation, if you like to wear open shoes, and also if you want to become the queen of the beach, then your feet need regular and high-quality care. Do not neglect the rules of personal hygiene, monitor your health and nutrition, and regularly pamper your feet with herbal baths and natural peelings.

Smooth heels are a dream, sometimes far from reality. Our article will help you get closer to its implementation.

Causes of dry skin and cracked heels
Daily care rules
Cosmetics against dry skin on heels
Cosmetic procedures against dry heels
Very dry heels: what to do at home
Precautionary measures

Causes of dry skin and cracked heels

Thick, rough skin on the heels is a completely natural phenomenon. Man is an upright creature, therefore, the main load falls on the feet. It is clear that our main point of support by nature cannot be subtle and pampered. So roughness, corns, thickening and dry skin on the heels are normal, especially if you have flat feet or problems with joints and posture (and who doesn’t have them now?).

Thickening of the skin on the heels is a natural phenomenon © Getty Images

The most unpleasant thing that can happen to the skin on your heels is cracks. Even if they do not cause discomfort or pain, they should not be ignored. Cracks can serve as a signal of problems in the body. However, most likely, you yourself unwittingly started the situation.

External reasons

Tight, uncomfortable shoes. Shoes should protect the skin of the feet and minimize stress. Incorrectly selected shoes or boots, at a minimum, disrupt blood circulation and harmonious weight distribution. The consequences are calluses and corns.

Open shoes. Have you noticed that in summer the skin on your heels becomes rougher and thickens especially quickly? Sandals, sandals, and flip-flops save feet from heat and overheating, but at the same time, the skin of the feet is forced to protect itself from the outside world with double zeal. That is, build up armor.

Insufficient care. The skin on the heels tends to thicken - this is a protective reaction. If the “growths” are not exfoliated in time, cracks may form in places of highest pressure over time.

Too active care. Yes, and you can overdo it - peeling with special socks or using professional exfoliating devices on your own will excessively thin the skin. Hence the wounds and cracks. Plus, by removing too much skin, you stimulate tissue regeneration in SOS mode - the skin will grow back quickly and in greater volume

Fungal infections. If you suspect a fungal infection, run to the doctor.

Internal reasons

We will not make diagnoses, but if you are faced with uncharacteristic dry heels and cracks, then the reason may be more serious than improper care or uncomfortable shoes.

Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

Lack of fatty acids in the diet.

Daily care rules

Taking care of your feet is generally easier than taking care of your face. But since no one sees our heels most of the time, we pay little attention to them. And in vain. To maintain them in exemplary condition, you need only three steps.

Cleanse

In the case of feet, neglecting basic hygiene rules is fraught with unpleasant consequences. But no special effort is required. Do you take a shower in the evening? Great! Use your usual gel and thoroughly soap your feet. Just remember to rinse off the foam thoroughly and dry your feet with a towel, paying special attention to the area between the toes.

A rich cream or oil will solve the problem of dry heels © Getty Images

Moisturize and nourish

Here you can get by with one product - any sufficiently fatty (but well-absorbed) body cream or a special product for the feet. The main thing is to apply it every evening.

Exfoliate

Use a body scrub twice a week to exfoliate dead skin cells.

Cosmetics against dry skin on heels

We have put together a cosmetic minimum for you that will help you quickly solve the problem of dry heels.

Cosmetic procedures against dry heels

Beauty salons usually offer two main foot treatments.

Classic pedicure - “wet” care with a bath and subsequent removal of dead skin from the heels.

Hardware pedicure carried out without the use of water, the leather is sanded and polished using special attachments.

The hardware effect is softer, which means that for very problematic heels, more sessions will be required. But the risk of injury or infection is minimized.

Very dry heels: what to do at home

Foot baths soften skin © Getty Images

Baths

Soaking will help soften rough skin on your heels and subsequently exfoliate it effectively. Fill a suitable sized container with warm water, adding a little soap and baking soda. Alternatively, you can fill the bathtub with water and soak your feet in it. Duration: 10–15 minutes. Then use a scrub.

Compresses

Olive, coconut, shea butter - any of these vegetable oils, when used regularly, gradually restores the skin of the heels. You can use them alternately or mix them. Rub the oil into the skin thoroughly and, when it is absorbed, apply an additional layer of oil.

By doing baths and peeling 2-3 times a week, you can get rid of dryness quite quickly,” says Garnier expert Marina Kamanina.

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Monday, July 13, 2015 16:17 + to quote book

Every day, your heels have to do hard work: supporting the weight of your entire body, being in closed shoes, and experiencing constant pressure and friction.

This is why they do not always remain soft and smooth. Many women are familiar with such a scourge as dry and rough skin on the heels.

The question of how to soften the skin on your heels becomes especially relevant in the summer months, when you want to show off in beautiful open sandals, but rough skin prevents you from doing this.

Dry heels: causes

Dry skin on the heels can be due to the following reasons:

Diseases of the endocrine system;
Fungal diseases of the nails or feet;
Lack of vitamins E and A in the body;
Improper heel care;
Wearing uncomfortable and too narrow shoes;
Excessive dryness of indoor air (there are no sweat and sebaceous glands in the heel area and they simply “dry out”)

♦ Symptoms, signs and diagnosis

A problem such as dry heels is rough skin on the foot that is unpleasant to the touch. Sometimes symptoms such as itching, peeling and flaking of the skin, cracks and inflammation may appear (see also Treating cracked heels).

To identify the cause of the disease, you should consult a dermatologist or endocrinologist. Based on an external examination and a series of tests, the doctor will determine the cause of dry skin on the heels and prescribe appropriate therapy.

How to treat dry heels

To treat dry heels, you can use natural products that nourish and moisturize the skin.

♦ How to Treat Dry Heels in a Medical Setting

If the cause of dry heels is an internal disease (vitaminosis, thyroid disease, manifestations of diabetes, eczema, fungus), the necessary treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, since it is useless to fight dry skin without eliminating the cause.
Therapy may include taking pills, using foot creams and ointments, and physical therapy.

♦ Treatment of dry heels with pharmaceutical products

Pharmacies sell many softening creams and ointments for feet, which are best used at night, while wearing socks so that the product is better absorbed into the rough skin of the feet.
Additionally you can use:

Cream "5 days". The rich composition of this product allows it to be used to care for dry and cracked foot skin. This cream for cracks perfectly heals wounds and disinfects them, softens heels, nourishes the skin, making it healthier. Apply the cream to clean skin of the feet, especially carefully rub the cream into the cracks

Cream "Sea Wolf". This is a very effective and at the same time inexpensive product for skin care that is exposed to aggressive environments (wind, cold, sun, water, etc.) and lacks nutrients. This cream accelerates the healing process of cracks on the soles and heels; this cream can also be used for cracks on the fingers. It is an excellent antiseptic, accelerates the regeneration of dermal cells, gives the skin elasticity and firmness, and reduces dryness of the hands and feet.

Cream "Bepanten". The product is intended for daily care and treatment of dermatitis on the skin of a child. The cream can also be used to eliminate cracked heels. The cream contains almond and medical oil - lanolin, which ensures deep penetration of active components into the layers of the skin, accelerates the process of cell regeneration and ensures rapid healing of wounds.

But you should avoid using lotions, as they contain alcohol, which will further dry out the skin.

To lubricate the heels, you can use fir or eucalyptus oils, which improve blood circulation in the tissues and have an excellent wound-healing effect.

And, of course, going to a beauty salon in this case allows you to quickly solve this problem, but we do not always have the necessary time and funds. Therefore, below we will look at how to achieve soft, pink heels at home.

Folk remedies for dry heels

When self-treating heels, you should never cut off rough, thickened areas of skin with a razor, since in this case there is a high probability of causing serious damage, and even if you do everything carefully, another even thicker and rougher one will quickly grow on the cut areas layer of skin.

Before using any product, it is necessary to exfoliate the skin of the feet, removing the layer of rough skin using pumice and, for example, sea salt.
Of course, you can thoroughly rub your heels with pumice stones, using a special scrub purchased at a cosmetic store.

The care process is as follows: using a flat pumice stone or an oval file for polishing with a scrub applied to them, carefully massage the skin of the heels with light, neat circular movements. If you don’t have such preparations at hand, then simply apply the scrub to the rough skin of your heels, lightly massage and rinse with water.
After which the skin is treated with a moisturizing or softening foot cream or a folk remedy of your choice for care.
To avoid injury to the skin, the duration of the procedure should not exceed 3 minutes, and the frequency should be once a week.

Scrubs help to deeply cleanse and moisturize the skin and improve cell regeneration. Here's another great recipe: Acid foot peeling with kefir.
A contraindication to the use of scrubs may be individual intolerance to individual components.

When the top layer of skin on the heels loses its elasticity and becomes covered with small cracks, the situation should not be left to chance until serious complications arise; it is necessary to carry out corrective cosmetic procedures, which include, for example, the following folk recipes for the treatment of dry heels:

Onion compress - 1

If your heels are very rough and flaky, then the most effective remedy is an onion compress. It is made from halves of a pre-scalded small onion, which are applied to the heels after peeling.
Cover with plastic wrap, carefully bandage the foot and leave overnight.
In the morning, everything is washed off well with water, the skin is wiped with pumice stone and a layer of rich nourishing cream is applied.
You should not refuse a compress because of the smell, because after several procedures your heels will become soft, tender and smooth.

Onion compress - 2

Grind one fresh onion using a fine grater.
Add a small amount of milk and stir.
Apply the paste to the sore spot, secure with film and put on socks.
Leave overnight.

Mash the cabbage leaf well with your hands.
Apply to the problem area.
Secure with a bandage and leave overnight.

Marshmallow root lotion

To prepare the lotions, you need to pour 2 tablespoons of crushed marshmallow root into 0.5 liters of water at room temperature in an enamel bowl, close the lid, bring to a boil and let stand for 30 minutes in a water bath, stirring occasionally.
Cool the resulting broth to room temperature, soak gauze pads in it and apply them to the skin of the heels for half an hour.
The procedure is repeated 2 times a day until the skin of the heels becomes soft.

Egg mask

A mask made from egg yolk, lemon juice and potato starch has an excellent softening effect. It is prepared as follows: take 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 0.5 teaspoon of potato starch and mix thoroughly.
The resulting mixture is applied to the steamed skin of the heels and left until a crust forms, after which it is washed off with warm water.
The treated area is lubricated with a moisturizing cream or emulsion.

Aloe juice

Aloe juice has an excellent healing and softening effect.
The stems of this plant need to be finely chopped, crushed to a fine paste, applied to the heels, secured with plastic wrap and a bandage, put on woolen socks and leave overnight.
The result in the morning will be amazing!

Clay blue

To ensure that the skin of your feet is always soft and tender, use cosmetic blue clay. It is diluted with water to form a paste and applied as a mask to the feet.

Apple

You can also use an apple, finely grated to a pulpy state and applied to the heels as in the previous case.

Melt a small amount of honey in a water bath until liquid.
Lubricate the affected area, put on socks and leave overnight.
In the morning, rinse off and apply moisturizer to your heels.

Banana and honey

It is very useful to apply masks made of banana and honey. To do this, take 1 banana, mash it with a fork, add a little honey and apply it to your heels.
Wrap the top with plastic wrap and put on woolen socks.
After half an hour, wash off the mask with warm water and apply cream.

Prevention of dry heels

Measures to prevent dry heels include wearing comfortable, soft shoes with wide toes.
You should periodically check your shoes for hard spots to avoid rubbing your heels against them.

In addition, you need to provide the skin of your feet with quality care, using special creams and pumice stones. And also include in your diet foods rich in vitamins A and E (spinach, carrots, apricots, grapes, apples).
To help you Cream “Flawless Heels”

Dry heels of feet what to do