CRACKED HEELS ARE NOT SEXY

 Have you heard of feet that tear panties?😀 Or feet that pull threads out of your bedsheet or the ones that virtually pull the bedsheet.😀 For some, the dry and cold weather comes with those embarrassing problems of the skin. If you agree with me, dry skin, especially cracked feet or heel has twice the effect of a full dose of an anti-libido. Before we delve into the solution let us look at the causes.

What Causes Cracked Heels?

• The most common cause of cracked heels is dry skin, worsened by dry and cold weather
• Standing for too long particularly on hard floor
• Unprotective foot wear eg. open back shoes
• Ill fitting footwear
• Soaking the feet in hot water
• Exposing the feet to harsh chemicals, like detergent, sodium hypochlorite (bleach)

Another common but funny cause of cracked Heels is that some folks treat their feet as foreign body, like they borrowed them from their "village people" or enemy. This is especially common among preteens and teenagers. Some adults still find themselves in this category. In summary, lack of foot care is also a cause for cracked Heels.

Why Don't We Have Cracked Palms?

Though our hands are in constant use more so than the feet, they don't manifest the kind of cracks that the feet does. This is simply because our feet bear all our weight. With that much weight to bear, dry heels form calluses (thickening of the skin). This eventually causes crack from loss of elasticity.

Medical Causes

• Diabetes
• Fungal infection
• Vitamin deficiency
• Obesity
• Aging

Symptoms of cracked heels may include flaky skin, itching, pain which may be severe, red and inflamed skin and ulceration. 

Prevention And Treatment

• Protect your feet from harsh chemicals during laundry and floor cleaning. 
• Do not overuse pumice stone
• Use pumice a few times a week after shower to prevent skin thickening
• Apply foot cream or moisturizer followed by shea butter or petroleum jelly at night and then cover your feet with socks.
• Take plenty of water or fluid to stay hydrated
• Avoid open heeled shoes
• Moisturize your feet immediately after laundry and immediately after bath
• Wear socks often during cold and dry weather

Ingredients To Look Out For In Your Foot Cream

• Salicylic acid
• Urea
• Alpha-hydroxy acids 
• Saccharide isomerate

Natural/Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

• Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and moisturizing properties 
• Honey
• Vinegar for foot soak
• Olive oil to moisturize
• Shea butter to moisturize and to seal in moisture

Wrap ups

Cracked heals could eat at some of our self esteem. We should teach kids at home and at school importance of a good foot care routine; at least the basics. Everyone should have a good foot care routine.

• Making sure the feet are clean at all time
• Help them in trimming their  toenails regularly.
• Don't stop at moisturizing your face daily, also moisturize your feet.
• Exfoliate the feet twice a month by soaking in warm vinegar water for about 10min and then use pumice stone to gently remove dead skins. Moisture and lock in moisture with Shea butter or petroleum jelly.
• Wear socks to protect your feet from cold and dry weather.