How and what to treat cracked heels: ointments, foot creams, folk recipes

Among the various problems that patients suffering from foot diseases may experience are cracked heels. This problem affects an increasing number of people and is a problem of our century. First of all, this is due to the modern pace and rhythm of life, in which a person spends more and more time on his feet, wears tight shoes all day, and his feet sweat. This problem affects women to a greater extent, since they wear tighter shoes and wear heels. It is also due to the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the female body, the peculiarities of the skin structure, the specific hormonal background and immune status.

Cracked heels are treated with traditional medical procedures and medications. Sometimes non-traditional methods of treatment are used, for example, folk and homeopathic remedies, herbal preparations. Sometimes cosmetic procedures are used, in particular, various cleanings, peelings, scrubs, masks. Compresses, lotions, warming may be required. Massage, cryotherapy, reflexology are prescribed.

How to quickly get rid of cracked heels?

Express remedies applied directly to the skin of the feet can quickly eliminate cracks and prevent the prerequisites for their appearance. At the same time, folk remedies have proven themselves well. Let's consider the most effective ones.

• Recipe #1

A rub of ethyl alcohol or vodka will help quickly eliminate inflammation, pain, and cracks. To prepare, take 5 ml of ethyl alcohol and the same amount of sea buckthorn oil. Mix everything together and rub into the spots until heat appears. Then apply dry heat on top. Keep the dry compress for 30 minutes. Remove and lubricate with Vaseline or another fatty agent.

• Recipe #2

To eliminate cracks, use an ointment. To prepare it, take sea buckthorn berries, knead them until puree is formed and juice appears. Separately, squeeze the juice from a juicy young leaf of aloe or Kalanchoe. Mix everything, add half a teaspoon of ground cloves. Then the product must be kept in a dark place for 30 minutes, then mix with 50 grams of glycerin, bring to a homogeneous mass. After that, apply a thin layer to the affected areas.

• Recipe #3

To prepare the oil, you will need about a glass of olive oil as a base. Put the oil on low heat, heat it up, but do not bring it to a boil. Then add a teaspoon of chamomile, calendula flowers, sage, lavender and stevia to the oil. Bring it to a boil and set aside. The oil should sit for 24 hours. Then apply a thin layer to the skin, up to 5 times a day. Stir before applying. After removing, lubricate the skin with a thin layer of baby cream or Vaseline.

How to treat purulent cracks on the heels?

Purulent cracks are a sign of infection penetrating the skin. In this case, anti-infective treatment is required. In most cases, pus is a sign of bacterial infection penetrating the body, which is treated with antibiotics.

When a fungal infection occurs, pus may also develop. But usually, bacterial and fungal infections are easy to distinguish by visual signs. Treatment for bacterial and fungal infections is different. Thus, to eliminate a fungal infection, antifungal agents must be prescribed. The doctor will tell you which agent to choose. Self-medication is highly discouraged.

A bacteriological study can help to distinguish a bacterial infection from a fungal infection, accurately determine the pathogen that caused the disease, and select the optimal medication with the required dosage. Treatment is recommended to be prescribed based on the results of the study.

Treatment of cracked heels with foot fungus

Fungus can cause cracks to develop that do not heal for a long time. They can get wet and fester over time. Therefore, in order for the healing process to occur, it is necessary to eliminate the fungus. To do this, you need to visit a doctor who will select the appropriate antimycotic (anti-fungal) treatment. Often the treatment is complex and includes folk, homeopathic remedies. Let's consider some folk recipes.

• Recipes #1

To eliminate fungal infection, normalize microflora and restore the normal condition of the skin of the feet, rubbing alcohol is used. Take 5 ml of alcohol, rub it into the heel until a feeling of heat and burning appears. Then apply a thin layer of honey on top, rub it until a homogeneous mass is formed, absorbed. Then wash off, apply a thin layer of propolis, pour warm water on top. Cover with cellophane on top, apply dry heat. Keep the compress for 30 minutes. Remove and lubricate with Vaseline or any other fatty agent, which will prevent peeling, dry skin.

• Recipe #2

To eliminate cracks, ointment has long been used. You need to take 1-2 tablespoons of raspberries, dry stevia, dry chamomile or calendula flowers. Mix with 50 grams of glycerin, bring to a homogeneous mass. Then apply a thin layer to the affected areas.

• Recipe #3

You can eliminate pain, itching and burning from cracks with the help of a special oil, which is quite easy to prepare at home. The oil consists of honeysuckle extract and birch bark. Apricot or grape seed oil is also added.

To prepare this remedy, you must follow these conditions: heat about 50 ml of oil in a water bath, add 2 drops of honeysuckle essential oil, or 1 teaspoon of natural extract (since honeysuckle oil is not available in all pharmacies). If you cannot find honeysuckle oil, you can replace it with eucalyptus essential oil. Mix thoroughly, let it steep, and then apply a thin layer to the skin up to 5 times a day.

• Recipe #4

Take a third of a glass of flour, mix with 5 tablespoons of jojoba oil, add a teaspoon of shea butter or cocoa butter, add 2 drops of alcohol. Leave for half an hour. Stir before applying, apply to damaged areas up to 3 times a day. Can be used as a compress. Keep the compress for 30 minutes. After removing, be sure to lubricate the skin with a thin layer of baby cream or Vaseline.

Treatment of dry cracked heels

This can be both a harbinger of deep cracks and a separate symptom. Often, dryness and peeling occur against the background of a lack of vitamin E, as well as with other functional disorders of the body. In any case, if the skin is dry, it requires softening and moisturizing. In this case, you can use both pharmaceutical drugs and folk, homeopathic remedies. Various oils, oil and fat mixtures have proven themselves well.

The easiest way to eliminate dryness is to apply oil to the skin. Any oil has a softening effect. Thanks to the alkaloids and glycosides contained in oils, you can normalize the skin condition, heal existing wounds, and prevent the appearance of new ones. Also, many oils have antiseptic properties to eliminate inflammatory and infectious phenomena. Some oils start the process of self-renewal of cells.

The oil can be used in its pure form for application to the skin, added to baths, used for massage, compresses, lotions. It is also melted and various medicinal products are prepared on its basis.

Let's look at some recipes.

• Recipe #1. Eucalyptus oil with a warming effect

Eucalyptus oil is used as a base, which is an essential oil. It is produced in concentrated form, so it cannot be used in pure, undiluted form. It must be pre-dissolved in solvents. It can be dissolved in various oils. Castor oil is the most suitable, since it has a warming effect, which enhances its effect. Glycerin or vaseline oil is also suitable. In this case, approximately 3-4 drops of concentrated oil per 100 ml of base oil are recommended. Promotes rapid healing of cracks, restores the skin, has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

• Recipe #2. Peppermint Oil with a Cooling Effect

Peppermint essential oil is used as a base. This is a concentrated essential oil. It also must be pre-dissolved in solvents. Any oils with a fatty base are suitable. But it is better to use menthol oil, since it cools the skin and muscle layer quite well. In this case, approximately 3-4 drops of concentrated oil per 100 ml of base oil are recommended. Promotes rapid healing of cracks, restores the skin, cools, relieves inflammation, normalizes metabolic processes.