Especially for women having dry and cracked feet is a big turn down. Beauty constitutes from top to bottom and if you are looking beautiful from face but having ugly feet then it will be an embarrassing and painful moment for you. You cannot ignore your feet, you have to care them equally as you do for your face.
Your feet replicate your health. Dryness in feet happens due to exposure in harsh weather conditions, nutrients deficiency and not taking proper foot care. It can also be problematic for people who are suffering from diabetes and athletic foot. Anyone can have dryness problem but it is common in aged and diabetic people and because of this dryness cracks starts.
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Symptoms
Dryness in feet can range from mild dry skin to severe dry skin. And severe dry skin causes more problems. Dry feet is a symptom of another disease and if you will also face number of other symptoms:
- Rough skin: This is the first symptom of dry and cracked feet. Acknowledge this warning and start working on curing it.
- Flaky skin: If you have red and flaky skin under your feet then it means your feet require more attention.
- Cracks in heel: This will follow after red and flaky skin. You need to take some serious steps at this time.
- Itchiness: When your skin shrinks on upper side it causes the lower skin to strengthen and thus cause itchiness under your feet. If this happens apply some oil or cream to reduce it.
- Bleeding: When infection affects inner layers of cracked heels it results in bleeding and secretion. This is very serious situation now. Consult the physician immediately.
Causes of Dry and Cracked feet
The reasons may vary from person to person but there are many common factors which lead to dry and cracked feet.
- Cold harsh weather and directly exposing yourself to cold breeze
- Use of non moisturized soaps as they extract all the oil from skin
- Excessive hot showers
- Medical conditions like thyroid and diabetes
- Other skin conditions which dries skin
- Low humidity levels when we switch on heaters in winters as heaters sucks humidity from air
- Long exposure to direct sunlight
- Ageing
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People who are more prone to dry and cracked heels
- People who walk barefoot
- Overweight
- Middle aged person
- Medical conditions like thyroid and diabetes
- Poor foot hygiene
- Poor diet
- Not wearing proper shoes
- People who lives in cold areas
Complication with cracked and dry heels
- Walking is difficult
- Effects your working ability as you cannot spend more time on feet
- Scariness of infection in cracked heels is always there
- Burning sensation and itchiness is something that you will continuously feel which will make you uncomfortable
- Have to spend lot of money in consulting physician and doing expensive treatment. You are lucky if you are cured with home remedies
- One cannot wear open sandals and this will hinders your looks
People these days don’t have time for personal care. They often ignore their hands and feet. In this situation if you follow some easy and economical foot care methods, it will definitely helps you to get beautiful and soft feet. Here are few home remedies to tackle with dry cracked heels:
Home Remedies
These are few methods which you can easily workout at home without having much pain and time devotion. These are effective and long time approves methods in ayurveda which helps you to get the type of feet you always want.
- Give a nice wash: Give importance to your feet when you take bath in morning. Scrub them properly with soap. This is what anyone can do by spending few minutes. Try to wash your feet before going to bed also to get rid of dirt and smell.
- Soak your feet: Washing feet is not enough you have to soak them in warm water for 5–10 minutes twice a week. Add a pinch of salt in warm water. This process will help in removing dead cells and helps in healing dry cracked heels.
- Honey and lemon mixture: Take 1tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lime juice mix them and massage your feet with this extract. Repeat this twice a week and it will help you to get rid of dead cells and will provide moisture to your feet and will treat the cracked skin.
- Oil massage: In winter dryness in feet increases significantly. Giving them oil message will certainly helps in moisturizing them and will help in curing cracked heels. Coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil or any other natural oil will work here.
- Foot creams: Foot creams are also beneficial for curing cracked heels. Lot of foot creams are available in market but choose which is made from natural ingredients.
- Foot Exercise: Doing foot exercise will definitely helps you to achieve healthy and soft feet. As it increases the blood circulation and helps in removing dead cells. Rotating clockwise and anti clockwise your feet 15–20 times daily will work.
- Diet: Include fresh fruits and veggies like carrot, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes as they are rich source of vitamins and fibre which will help you to reduce the dryness from your feet and will make them look better.
- Turmeric scrub: Turmeric is having natural healing properties. Mix a tablespoon of turmeric powder with warm water and apply this on cracking skin on feet. Doing this 2–3 times a week will definitely give you positive results.
- Pumice stone massage: Using pumice stone to scrub your feet, it will remove dead cells and dirt from your feet and will make it soft and smooth. Spend 2–3 minutes each on both feet and target the cracked skin areas. Avoid rubbing harshly.
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Visiting Podiatrists
Most of dry and cracked feet problems can be cured by following these home remedies. But if your cracks are infected and painful and are not getting better after 10–12 days of home treatment then definitely you need to visit a doctor. Sign of infection includes red circles, swelling, throbbing and pain.
Diabetic patient should immediately see the doctor. Podiatrists are foot doctors. Many people think to visit dermatologist in their feet problems. But visiting podiatrists is wise decision rather than visiting dermatologist. They know your feet better than anyone else. On the other hand if you are already seeing any dermatologist and getting the results then you continue with it.
- Doctor will start dry feet treatment by first treating the reasons that are causing it. Like if patient is suffering from diabetes then he/she must be cured first for diabetes.
- In mild cases doctors will advise you to use creams, antibiotics and healing oil. It is advised to use baby lotions as it does not contains harmful chemicals and alcohol which further tends to dry your feet.
- In case of fungal infection (Athlete’s foot) can be cured by washing your foot with Nizrol shampoo twice a week and using Limisil spray after washing. Repeat this procedure for 4 weeks and see the results.
- In severe cases doctors will treat you with ultra violet rays. This is to be repeated daily in doctor’s office.
Is surgery required?
Surgery is always considered as last option after all local treatments have failed. Most of the cracked heel cases don’t require surgery but in severe cases of infection and wound doctors will do the minor surgery by cutting the infected area to open it and drain an abscess. Always choose the expert physician to conduct the surgery. Surgery may results in permanent scars on your skin.
Recurrence of cracked dry heels
Once you have cured your feet from dryness and cracked skin then start giving extra attention to them. Now you are more vulnerable to get it again. Follow the following steps to avoid its recurrence:
- Wear a heal support
- Wear comfortable and cushioned shoes
- Keep feet hygiene
- Wear clean socks
- Avoid repeated injury
- Use moisturizers
- Take care of your diet
Dry and cracked heels Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Always wear shoes and socks when stepping outside your home
- Always maintain foot hygiene
- Avoid foot injury during any sports
- Use slippers at home
- Never forget to moisturize your feet
Don’ts
- Never over cut your thickened skin
- Wear sandals and shoes with proper fitting
- Don’t let your problem to go long, consult a physician
- Never do aggressive massage to peel the dead skin
- Avoid doing any surgery at home.
Cracked and dry feet facts at Glance
- Common in middle age and females are more prone to it
- Recurrence is common even if it is once cured
- Associated with type of shoes and sandals you use
- Most of cases can be resolved by using simple home remedies
- In some cases doctor’s advice is necessary
- Use antibiotics if infection increases
One last thing, do not take those symptoms lightly, act fast to have beautiful looking feet.
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Your feet are as important as your other body parts. Taking care of them is extremely important if you want to look beautiful as beautiful feet are always admired. Using some of these basic tips you can get smooth and silky feet.