Heal your cracked heels.
Summertime is coming to an end. It's time to think about repairing our dry and cracked heals. Please remember that if you suffer from neuropathy, please check with your doctor before changing your foot care regimen.
Why are our feet cracked?
- they are chronically dry
- we wear open back shoes
- we go barefoot
- we may be overweight
- disease/illness (psoriasis, diabetes, inactive sweat glands, etc.)
- vitamin deficiency (vitamins, minerals, zinc)
- we wear shoes that do not provide sufficient support
How can we repair the damage?
1. Soften our calluses. Do not attempt to remove calluses. Gently scrub calluses with a foot file or pumice stone after a shower or soak. Do not shave, cut, or grate your calluses away.
2. Moisturize twice a day. Wear thick socks to hold in moisture. You can use shortening, cooking oil, Vaseline, cold cream, or any moisturizer you enjoy. Which ever route you choose, do it twice a day for at least 15 days.
3. Do wear shoes or house slippers with good support. Without support the fatty tissue on our heels squishes under the pressure or our weight and pushes out against the dry skin. Imagine when you squeeze a grape, it cracks from the pressure. Our heels are similar.
4. Come see me several times throughout the fall and winter for some soothing paraffin wax dip and other moisturizing treatments added on to a pedicure.
Why are our feet cracked?
- they are chronically dry
- we wear open back shoes
- we go barefoot
- we may be overweight
- disease/illness (psoriasis, diabetes, inactive sweat glands, etc.)
- vitamin deficiency (vitamins, minerals, zinc)
- we wear shoes that do not provide sufficient support
How can we repair the damage?
1. Soften our calluses. Do not attempt to remove calluses. Gently scrub calluses with a foot file or pumice stone after a shower or soak. Do not shave, cut, or grate your calluses away.
2. Moisturize twice a day. Wear thick socks to hold in moisture. You can use shortening, cooking oil, Vaseline, cold cream, or any moisturizer you enjoy. Which ever route you choose, do it twice a day for at least 15 days.
3. Do wear shoes or house slippers with good support. Without support the fatty tissue on our heels squishes under the pressure or our weight and pushes out against the dry skin. Imagine when you squeeze a grape, it cracks from the pressure. Our heels are similar.
4. Come see me several times throughout the fall and winter for some soothing paraffin wax dip and other moisturizing treatments added on to a pedicure.
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