Cracked heels and nutrition: Fixing your feet from the inside out

Cracked heels are a problem for many people of all ages. The skin on the feet is much thicker than on other body parts, often leading to cracking and keratinization. How can you remedy this?

Cracked heels can be a symptom of conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. This problem also troubles overweight individuals due to excessive pressure on the feet. It is advisable to consult a doctor in such cases.

Diet has a significant impact on the condition of our skin, including the feet. A lack of specific vitamins can contribute to skin problems.

In particular, it is worth paying attention to deficiencies of vitamin B3 (a lack of which causes the skin to lose elasticity), vitamin A (whose deficiency causes rough and keratinized heels), vitamin E (when it is absent, the skin becomes dry and keratinized), and vitamin C (a deficiency in which causes the skin to lose suppleness).

Results can be achieved with salt baths using medicinal salt. Alternatively, you can use a baking soda scrub, which quickly removes keratinized skin. Another effective method is preparing an herbal mixture.

Pour boiling water over a few tablespoons of fenugreek, flaxseed, and chamomile. After it cools, soak your feet in the mixture. You can also add yarrow herb, birch leaf, calendula, or comfrey root. After such a bath, thoroughly dry your feet.

Flaxseed oil has softening properties, which help keep heels in good condition. To use it, pour boiling water over flaxseed, and after it cools, soak your feet. After such a treatment, it is worth removing dead skin.