Understanding Cracked Heels
According to Harvard Health Publishing, “cracked heels known as heel fissures, cracks in the heels occur when the skin on the bottom of the heel becomes hard and parched, and is sometimes associated with thick heel calluses.”
Crack heels are usually a common discomfort in daily life. If ignored and left untreated, they can lead to serious problems. Crack heels are nuisances and unattractive, and when these cracks or fissures become deeper, they can turn into painful experiences while walking, standing, or running.
Cracked Heels Symptoms
- Flaky skin
- Itchiness in the area
- Bleeding from the cracks
- Warmth, redness, and swelling if there is an infection
- Pain and discomfort, especially while standing or walking
Cracked Heels: Reasons and Occurrence
Heels also need extra care, which if ignored, may result in painful and unattractive cracked heels. Anyone can suffer from cracked heels; its predisposition occurs due to dry skin, atopic dermatitis, juvenile plantar dermatosis, psoriasis, palmoplantar psoriasis, palmoplantar keratoderma, and some systemic conditions, including diabetes and hypothyroidism. It starts with calluses — the formation of dry and hard skin around the heels. Gradually, living with the same conditions and more pressure on the ankle and heel area may worsen the situation where the fat pads under the skin expand and start developing small painful cracks; with time, they become bigger, more unattractive, and painful, which may turn into dangerous infections.
How does hydration impact skin and foot health?
“Cold, dry weather; walking barefoot; and long, hot showers are just some of the reasons why you may have dry, cracked heels this winter,” says board-certified dermatologist Patrick Blake, MD, FAAD. Understanding what causes dry, cracked heels and taking steps to prevent them can relieve the itch and pain that they can cause and leave you with softer, healthier skin this winter,” as published by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Some healthcare experts and publications explain that drinking pure water and staying hydrated can help prevent crack heels. In one of the studies published by the National Center of Biotechnology Information, “It is generally assumed that dietary water might be beneficial for the health, especially in dermatological (age preventing) terms. The present study was designed to quantify the impact of dietary water on major indicators of skin physiology. Thus, in this study, it is clear that higher water inputs in a regular diet might positively impact normal skin physiology, in particular in those individuals with lower daily water consumptions.”
Water intake has a significant and positive impact on the skin, as the skin requires adequate water hydration to look fresh, glowing, healthy, and function well. Hydration is good from the outside in the form of moisturizer, and from the inside, too; it is achieved by drinking plenty of water. If the skin is not hydrated well, it may turn dry, flaky, and chapped.
Benefits of Pure Water
Pure water is free from dissolved solids like heavy metals, nitrates, lead, and fluoride; sediment, turbidity, and rust; and chemical contaminants like chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, herbicides, and gasoline additives. Reverse osmosis systems (RO) are one of the most effective ways to filter out these harmful chemicals, contaminants, and dissolved impurities from drinking water or source water to dispense pure and healthy water.
Pure water drinking is a great healthy routine for the body and skin. Pure water helps to improve skin density and thickness, as thicker skin helps to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. Drinking pure water helps to replenish the skin texture and improves the epidermis — the outermost layer that prevents the harmful impact of dust, dirt, and pollution. It also improves skin elasticity and bounce, resulting in smoother and younger-looking skin. A healthy habit of drinking pure water can improve blood flow to the skin, reflect the skin’s healing capability, and make the skin glow more.
How to Use Pure Water for Foot Health
The best way to treat cracked heels is to prevent cracks on them and keep them moisturized and soft. There are many ways to prevent and care for heels; let us have a look here.
- Use pure water for shower and limit bath time
Harmful chemicals and minerals in water can be harmful to the skin, so go for pure and filtered water when taking a shower. A whole house water filter is ideal. Otherwise use a shower head water filter installed in the bathroom for filtered water to get baths, showers, hair wash, face wash, etc. Plus, try to limit bath time, as spending more time in the water may dry out skin and crack heels.
- Drink Adequate Water
Drinking pure and healthy water is a great habit for healthier skin. It has been recommended to drink plenty of pure water to keep skin hydrated and hydration intact to prevent skin dryness and heels from cracks.
- Maintain a Hydration Routine
“Water is of major importance to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90% of their body weight comes from water. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles, and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Water is a vital nutrient to the human body that makes maintaining a healthy hydration routine good for overall skin health. The impact can be assessed by measuring skin turgor.
Conclusion
Studies suggest that pure water and healthy skin are inseparable, as well-hydrated skin is healthy, soft, and glowing, making it free from wrinkles and cracks. Cracked heels are a common health concern that occurs due to lack of moisture, poor hydration, and showers with high mineral-contained water. Cracked heels, also known as heel fissures, may turn into a more painful experience if the cracked heel worsens and some skin infection develops. In order to heal the cracked heels conditions, one must follow the medical practitioner’s advice and the medication. However, it is always recommended to use pure and healthy drinking water to prevent crack heels. A good hydration habit improves circulation and keeps skin healthy, fresh, and more youthful. Skin, being the body’s largest organ, needs plenty of water to make it healthy and glowing; stay hydrated and follow a routine of drinking pure and healthy water for skin care.