Why do cracked heels not heal, hurt and what to do?

Cracks are often accompanied by pain if they penetrate deep into the leg, or if an inflammatory process has begun to develop. Painkillers alone are not enough to get rid of the pain, although they will certainly be quite effective. It is important to understand that painkillers will only help relieve the pain for a while, but they will not solve the problem. Therefore, you need to see a doctor and undergo complex treatment.

Usually, treatment involves correction of the general condition of the body, normalization of metabolic processes and biochemical state. Symptomatic treatment is used in parallel. These can be local medications: ointments, balms, creams. Special foot masks, compresses or lotions may be required. Foot baths, physiotherapy, massage, reflexology can be used as an additional means.

Cracked heels until they bleed

Usually, cracks are not accompanied by blood. If blood appears, this is an unfavorable factor that indicates the progression of the disease. It is much more difficult to eliminate such a problem, so it is better not to allow the condition to appear until blood appears, but to take timely measures, ensure prevention.

In order to eliminate the pathology, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate its causes. Often the cause is a violation of metabolic processes in the skin. The process can intensify under the influence of stress, in the sun, with age.

Women often develop cracks as a result of wearing tight shoes with heels. Men often develop cracks as a result of the fact that the main load is on the heels. They often occur in the army, after marches and increased physical activity. In children, cracks can be a reaction of the skin to various irritants, unfavorable factors, ultraviolet light, cosmetics. Newborns do not have cracks on the heels, since they do not have contact with the support. Cracks can appear only after the child learns to walk. Cracks are quite common in older people. This is a consequence of age-related changes in the body, a consequence of the natural aging processes that occur in the body.

Sometimes cracks do not act as an independent phenomenon, but as one of the symptoms of a disease of the body or as a sign of a metabolic disorder in the body. Various diseases of internal organs can cause the development of cracks. Thus, with diseases of the kidneys, liver, adrenal glands and pancreas, various pathological processes develop in the body that negatively affect the condition of the skin. First of all, this is a hormonal imbalance, which entails a violation of homeostasis in general.

Often cracks are associated with coarsening of the skin, increased keratinization of its upper layer. Cracks can be a consequence of hypovitaminosis. They are especially pronounced with a lack of vitamins A, PP, C. Sometimes cracks appear against the background of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis.

Cracks also occur when local blood circulation is disrupted, certain areas are compressed by tight clothing or accessories. Frequent injuries, microdamage, and vascular integrity violations also act as etiological factors. Even normal increased sweating can cause cracks to appear.

There may be many reasons for the pathology, and it is impossible to determine the exact cause without diagnostics. Therefore, when cracks appear, you cannot delay, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, conduct diagnostics. After the diagnosis is made, the exact cause of the pathology is determined, appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

Why don't cracked heels heal?

Usually, if any wounds or cracks do not heal for a long time, this indicates a lack of vitamins in the body, insufficient nutrition, metabolic disorders, or the presence of diseases. It is necessary to determine the underlying pathology in the body and only then select the appropriate treatment.

Sometimes additional treatment for cracks is not required, when the main cause of the pathology is eliminated, the cracks disappear on their own, as a result. For severe cracks, in addition to systemic therapy, which affects the body as a whole, local therapy is used in the form of special ointments, creams, balms that act directly on the skin of the feet and promote the healing of cracks.

Read about other causes of cracked heels in this article.

Treatment non-healing cracked heels

During treatment, traditional medications are effectively combined with folk or homeopathic preparations. In folk medicine, many remedies are known that can be very effective. Let's consider those that have proven themselves well and have been tested for years.

• Recipe #1

One of the simplest recipes: a mask made from fresh quinoa leaves. Fresh quinoa leaves are taken whole or crushed into small pieces. Then they are soaked in boiling water, shaken off the water and applied to the affected areas. You can wrap them in gauze. The exposure time of such a compress is at least 15 minutes and no more than an hour.

It is better to lie down. It is especially useful to raise your legs up, placing them on the wall. If the poultice falls off, it is tied with a wide bandage, covered with dry heat from above. After the compress is removed, dry heat is applied. This remedy not only heals wounds and cracks, but also relieves pain, itching and burning.

• Recipe #2

Chamomile mixed with calendula seeds has an anti-inflammatory effect. These products are suitable for both internal and external use. The herb is pre-mixed in approximately equal proportions. Then a decoction is prepared: one tablespoon of the herb is added to a glass of boiling water. Cover with a lid and brewed for an hour.

There are two options for use: drink part of the decoction during the day, in small sips. Use the second part of the decoction to lubricate the affected areas. It is better to lubricate as often as possible: on the first day, lubricate every 30 minutes, on the second day, every 1.5-2 hours. Then lubricate three times a day until the cracks disappear completely.

• Recipe #3

You can eliminate inflammation and prevent infection by using a special antiseptic ointment made from hops. It is especially effective for weeping and festering cracks.

For more information on methods for treating cracked heels, read this article.

To prepare the ointment, take 50 grams of any fatty base, add about 10 mo of ethyl alcohol, stir. Then put on low heat, with constant stirring add about 15-20 ml of concentrated hop extract. Rub into cracks until heat appears. After rubbing, you can apply dry heat to the skin.

• Recipe #4

At the early stages of cracks, it is recommended to lubricate the heels with oil. You can also use oil for prevention in case of increased dryness of the skin on the feet, in case of peeling. To prepare the softening oil, it is recommended to take about 50 grams of butter, melt it over low heat with constant stirring. Add 2-3 drops of fir essential oil, mix thoroughly. Allow to brew and then apply a thin layer to the skin, up to 5 times a day.