Everyone certainly does not want to have cracked feet. But if you've already experienced it, you don't need to worry. There are several ways to deal with cracked feet that are simple and easy to do. What are the ways to deal with cracked feet in question? Let's look at the following explanation.
Cracked feet in the heel area are a common problem experienced by many people. Having cracked feet is certainly not attractive to look at. Worse yet, if the cracks or cracks become too deep, they can sometimes cause pain when standing or walking.
What Causes Cracked Feet?
Cracked skin on the feet or heels can be caused by many things, ranging from habits, work or activities, to certain diseases. Some habits that cause cracked feet are:
- Often stands for too long.
- Often walks barefoot.
- Wearing shoes that don't fit.
- Bathing for too long or using soap whose ingredients are irritating.
Meanwhile, some conditions that can cause cracked feet include:
- Skin diseases, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and fungal infections.
- Callus feet.
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism,
- Malnutrition or deficiency of certain nutrients, such as vitamin A and fat.
- Obesity.
A person's risk of experiencing cracked skin on the feet will also increase if he is old. People who have an unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages, are also more at risk of developing this skin problem.
To find out the exact cause of the cracked feet you are experiencing, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Here's How To Overcome Cracked Feet
There are several ways to treat cracked feet and prevent them from getting worse, namely:
1. Drink lots of water
When you don't drink enough water, your mouth and throat feel dry and hoarse. The same goes for the skin. Drinking lots of water will keep your skin moisturized, so cracked feet can heal slowly.
2. Use mild soap
In order for the condition of the damaged foot skin to improve quickly, it is very important to keep the cracked part of the foot clean. But be careful, cleaning your feet using soap that is made from harsh chemicals or is irritating can actually make the skin too dry.
Therefore, choose a soap whose ingredients are gentle, so that it does not cause irritation and does not strip moisture from your feet.
3. Avoid bathing with hot water
If you want to take a bath or shower with shower, try not to use hot water, yes. This is because bathing with hot water can make the skin dry and damaged quickly, making it difficult for cracked feet to heal.
4. Apply moisturizer regularly
Feet with cracked skin need to be regularly applied with moisturizer. There are several types and ingredients of moisturizer that can be used, such as mineral oil, glycerin, and urea. One type of moisturizer that is good for cracked feet is petroleum jelly.
Moisturizer can be used in the morning and at night. Apply moisturizer to the problem skin of the feet, then wear comfortable socks so that the moisturizer can be absorbed better. This moisturizer will repair damaged skin and keep the skin moist, so cracked feet can heal.
5. Rub feet to remove dead skin cells
You may already be familiar with the pumice stone which is often used to treat cracked heels. This stone is powerful enough to remove dead skin cells.
How to use is quite easy, soak the cracked feet in water for 5 minutes or until the skin feels soft. After that, wet the pumice stone with warm water, then rub it gently on the cracked leg area. Do this treatment for 2-3 minutes.
When you're done, dab the problem skin with a moisturizer. In addition to pumice stone, feet can also be scrubbed using a foot brush or scrub foot special.
To repair damaged and cracked skin on your feet, you can also try applying honey, coconut oil, olive oil, or aloe vera on your feet. These natural ingredients have active ingredients that can reduce inflammation and help moisturize the skin.
If properly cared for, cracked skin on feet will improve over time. However, if your feet are still cracked even though you have done some of the methods above, then you should consult a doctor for further treatment.