CRACKED HEELS: HOW TO TREAT THEM

Many of us deal with cracked heels issue. Cracks appear when the body’s weight presses too hard on the heel and the skin lacks moisture. To defend itself, the skin on the heel produces keratin and forms a thick layer that cracks under the effect of weight and, oftentimes, skin dryness. Cracks can then be more or less painful, as well as unattractive.

Not only are they a source of shame for many of us, but they also tend to last far beyond winter.

The good news is that cracks can be cured.

Preventing cracks

Good moisturizing is essential to prevent cracked heels. We recommend using a cream rich in moisturizing active ingredients to nourish the skin.

To avoid the appearance of cracks, you should also avoid flip-flops or other shoes that are too flat and without support, as they don’t support the heel. Instead, opt for sandals with straps or a minimum of support, such as platform sandals. In winter, it’s best to opt for closed shoes and always wear socks for maximum protection.

Moreover, vegetable oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil or macadamia oil can effectively replace your foot cream, thanks to their extreme fluidity.

Finally, it is important to mention that walking barefoot is strictly inadvisable for people suffering from cracked heels.

Treating cracks

It may be difficult to treat cracks when they are already present on the heels, but it’s not impossible! The key is to choose the right care.

Pumice stone scrub

Scrubs are an effective treatment for cracked heels. Thanks to its exfoliating action, it facilitates dead cell removal and minimizes keratin formation.

By scrubbing your feet once a week with a pumice stone, you can prevent cracked heels. You also prepare your skin to receive the care it needs every day more easily. Scrubbing your heels begins with bathing your feet in warm water in a bowl. Rub your heels with a pumice stone to soften the thick skin. This action removes as many dead cells and keratin as possible, painlessly. It is recommended to use a pumice stone rather than a drugstore file, as it tends to stimulate keratin production due to its aggressive mechanical action. The anti-callus file is only suitable for healthy heels, which you want to protect from cracks and fissures.

A foot bath is an important step before any treatment, as it helps soften the thick skin around the heel. When the cracks are very deep, we recommend bathing the feet in a mixture of warm water, vegetable glycerine and cider vinegar to help the water penetrate the skin. In fact, vegetable glycerine creates an osmosis effect that increases the penetration of water into cracks tenfold.

After each bath, rinse and dry your feet thoroughly with a towel, then coat your heels with cream or vegetable oil. At this point, you can slip on thick socks to help the treatment penetrate deep into the skin.

Vaseline

Vaseline is particularly suitable for treating and even preventing cracks on the heel. So feel free to use it as a heel cream when the cracks are very deep.

Apply a thick layer to targeted areas at bedtime, then wrap your feet in socks to boost Vaseline’s action… and avoid staining the sheets. You can also mix it with a few drops of lavender essential oil to make cracks disappear.

Green clay

Green clay has several virtues: healing, cleansing, soothing and antibacterial. It is therefore one of the many natural treatments for cracked heels. You can prepare a clay and coconut oil poultice and apply a thick layer to the heel. Leave the mixture on for at least 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water and apply the nourishing vegetable oil or cream of your choice.