Cracked Heels: Treatment at HomeMonday, 24 June 2019 | Paul Spending long hours standing up without having the time to treat your sore and painful feet in the evening can lead to various foot problems, with cracked heels being one of the most common ones. Cracked heels more often than not cause no pain or discomfort, but when the weather starts to get warm, wearing a favourite pair of sandals to let your feet breathe can feel divine. Which is when dry, cracked skin on your heels can become a nuisance. To get rid of your little problem, follow our home treatment plan for battling cracked heels that won't require you to spend time and money at a salon. What Causes Cracked Heels?Before we dig deep into our favourite solutions for cracked heels, we first need to understand what causes cracked feet in the first place. Once we manage to pinpoint the cause, the right solution is at hand. Regardless of how complex the problems might appear at first glance, there are really only three underlying causes for cracked heels. And we have just the right solution for each of them. Problem: Dry SkinThe heel is designed to act as a shock absorber when the foot hits the floor. For that it's crucial that the skin is supple and able to move and stretch. As soon as the skin on the heel becomes dry, or even thick, it becomes much less supple. When the heel strikes the ground, instead of cushioning the blow, the thick skin cracks and splits. Solution: MoisturiseIf you're suffering from dry skin on your feet, even if it's not cracked yet, it's important you act immediately. There are a broad range of moisturisers and heel balms available on the market, and the choice can be overwhelming. Here are our top recommendations. O'Keeffe's Healthy Feet Foot Cream
Compeed Foot Care Dry and Cracked Skin Cream
Silipos Gel Heel and Elbow Slip Over Sleeve
Pro11 Moisturing Socks
Problem: Thickened SkinThe second most common reason for cracked heels is thickened skin, which usually occurs due to dry skin that hasn't been exfoliated properly. If you're suffering from severely cracked skin, it's best that you first heal the cracks by properly moisturising and protecting your heels. Once your heels begin to look healthier again, you can start to get rid of excess skin as well. Solution: Soak and ExfoliateThe best way to get rid of thickened skin is to soak and exfoliate. For a relaxing foot soak, keep your feet in lukewarm, soapy water for up to 20 minutes, and then use a loofah, foot scrubber or a pumice stone to remove any hard, thick skin. Coarse 150mm Double-Sided Rasp Foot File
Problem: Unsupported FeetWhen skin is physically unsupported and exposed to the elements, which is especially common in the summer, this increases the risk of dry and cracked heels. Solution: Heel CupsThe best solution is to always wear shoes with a supportive sole and heel cup. But because we know that most eye-catching summer shoes don't come with an ergonomically designed heel cup, we strongly recommend investing in a high-quality pair of heel cups. Footmedics Silicone Gel Heel Cups
Get Rid of Cracked Heels at HomeMore often than not, cracked heels are caused by a combination of all the factors mentioned above. In a nutshell, this is our treatment plan for getting rid of cracked heels at home:
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