This is a sponsored guest post.
Have you ever experienced cracked heels at some point in your life? Cracked feet may not be an issue until you want to put on your favorite open shoes. It can even get worse when you start experiencing pains, which can turn worse when the cracks get deeper.
So, before putting yourself in a position of getting a treatment for cracked skin on feet, it would be better if you knew the causes first and maybe take the necessary precautions. Remember, it is actually better to prevent than cure because you’re never sure if it will get cured in the first place. Here are the common causes of cracked feet:
- Excess pressure on feet
It is common to find obese people with poor skin hygiene develop cracked heels faster than people with a healthy weight. Additional weight exerts excess pressure on feet, which will definitely lead to cracks, especially on dried skin. To avoid this risk factor, you can work out to shed excess calories and fats to attain a healthy weight. In addition to that, you’ll need proper foot hygiene to prevent your heels from drying.
- Nutrient deficiencies
Cracked heels are a treatable condition or somewhat preventable if you take in needed nutrients to keep your skin in the right shape and condition. For instance, when your body lacks Vitamins C, B-3, and E, then you’ll likely develop dry skin, not only around the heels but in other body parts too. Dry skin is a sure path to crackled heels, and you wouldn’t wish for that to beget you. Therefore, make sure your diet incorporates the vitamins, as mentioned earlier, in their right proportions.
- Dry skin
Dry skin is the leading cause of cracked heels. While some people can naturally be born with dry skins, common triggers include long hot showers and even poor foot hygiene. Skin conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis can also trigger dry skin. Dry skin condition tightens the skin around the heels making the development of cracks inevitable. When your feet develop dry conditions, you can use moisturizers and home-based topical ointments like Aloe Vera to get it back in shape. Proper skin hygiene will also make sure that your skin remains moist at all times, thereby minimizing the chances of developing cracked feet.
- Athlete’s foot
While you think that athlete’s foot will only affect the inner toes of your feet, it can as well as easily spread to the heels and trigger constant peeling and cracking. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that thrives mostly in warm and moist areas, which is actually the condition that your socks and office shoes create. Therefore, as a precaution, you must avoid sharing socks and shoes with anyone else. You must also avoid walking barefooted in gyms and community showers. Public pools may also be a major contracting point because you interact with different people with varying infections, fungal one not being an exception. In addition to that, after bathing or swimming, you should perfectly dry your toes, especially in between the spaces.
- Eczema
Eczema, unlike Psoriasis will likely develop at early childhood stages and is most prevalent among people who have a history of the condition in their family lineage. In most cases, the rough, itchy patches will appear on the back of the elbows and knee caps. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t appear on the heels. Please note that once you start experiencing the signs and symptoms, you should quickly seek medical attention or use topical ointments to curb the same because it accelerates cracked feet conditions. It may even get worse, and the cracks may penetrate up to the inner skins. If you also suffer from hay fever or certain allergic conditions, then you have a high likelihood of developing Eczema. People who suffer from asthmatic attacks aren’t also spared as they equally have higher chances of developing the condition. Atopic Eczema can also be triggered by stress and allergen-based beauty soaps.
- Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that leads to abnormal skin development by piling up skin cells to form scales and itchy patches. Moreover, it can still be triggered by fungal infections. While Psoriasis can affect any parts of the body, including knees, elbows, and even upper part of the feet, it puts you at a higher risk of developing cracked feet if it grows on the heels. Psoriasis is characterized by pinkish or rather dark patches (coloration may differ from one person to another depending on skin complexion), which are dry and grow rapidly. When pressure is applied to these areas, then the patches will crack, and the cracks may penetrate deep into normal skin. Remember, Psoriasis cracks at the slightest pressure, which includes your normal day-to-day activities like regular walking.
Unfortunately, Psoriasis cannot be in entirety, but the condition can be put on check through medical treatment and home-based remedies. For instance, treatment can involve physically removing the scales to inhibit faster growth. Home remedies like topical ointments can also bring about relief.
