Why You May Get Cracked Heels and How to Fix Them Naturally
Why:
After menopause, some women tend to have “acquired keratoderma,” a condition that might lead to cracked skin on the heels and other parts of the body.
How to fix it:
To get rid of cracks on your heels, you can try applying estrogen ointments topically, but don’t forget to consult your doctor first.
2. Standing for too long
Why:
Standing for a long period of time, especially on hard or wooden floors, can put additional pressure on your heels and stress on the skin in this area.
How to fix it:
Try to avoid standing for too long. If that’s not possible, do some simple exercises to redistribute the pressure from your heels from time to time.
1. The wrong shower routine
Why:
Taking long, very hot baths or showers is not a good idea because water on your feet can take away natural oils from the skin and leave it feeling rough and dry. Besides that, harsh soaps and detergents can damage the natural skin barrier.
How to fix it:
Always use warm water when taking a shower, limit your time in a bathroom to 5-10 minutes to avoid more moisture loss, wipe your feet with a towel after washing them, and be sure to apply a moisturizer. It’s also better to avoid harsh soaps or scented skincare products.
Bonus: A foot soak to heal your heels
A Listerine foot soak can soften the dead skin on your heels and make it easier for you to scrub it off. Listerine is also an antiseptic that soothes the skin because of the phytochemicals in it like menthol and thymol it contains.
What you need:
- 1 cup of Listerine
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 2 cups of water
What to do:
- Mix Listerine, white vinegar and water in a basin.
- Place your feet in the mixture and soak them for 10-15 minutes.
- Take your feet from the basin and gently scrub your heels with a pumice stone.
- Rinse your feet with warm water and dry them with a towel, then apply moisturizer.
