How to Heal Cracked Heels

Oh, how I loath cracked heels! They snag when I try to put my shoes and socks on and when I move my feet around under the sheets in bed, plus, they just look gross and are very hard to wash dirt out of cracked heels. Why do I often get cracked heels? My husband would say that it is because I don't like to wear shoes, but I would disagree. Even in the winter, when I am constantly wearing shoes and boots, and I still get cracked heels.  rnFor myself, I would say it is because I have terribly dry skin and do not moisturize and pamper my feet as well as I should. I am tall for a girl, almost 6 feet, so reaching my toes seems like a long distance. I rarely stop and take the time rub a foot cream on my heels. I know this sounds lame, but, I am always so busy I just try to get my grooming routine over with. Anyway, I finally got tired of ending up with crusty, dry, heels so I googled it one day.........and actually learned a bit about cracked heels.  rnThere is a variety of reasons why people get cracked heels. One reason actually may be because someone does not wear shoes after all! You skin on your feet naturally create callouses on your heels, toes, and balls of your feet to protect your tootsies if you aren't doing a good job at protecting your feet yourself with shoes.  rnThe calloused then build up and get thick and have the tendency to get cracked on your heels because your heels are a load bearing body part. Or, you can get cracked heels from having super dry skin, like myself. Also, another cause dry, flaky, cracked heels is a fungus called Athletes Feet. Symptoms of athletes feet are red, itchy, dry, peeling, cracked skin on your feet. If you think you may have athletes feet, you should go visit your doctor. They can diagnose it correctly and prescribe you a topical anti-fungal medicine that will cure the athletes feet and cracked heels.  rnAs for myself, I know that I do not have cracked heels due to athletes feet so I resorted to maintaining a more rigorous foot pampering routine. Now I regularly scrub off my dry skin off my feet with a foot file I picked up from the beauty supply and put a heavy moisturizer on my feet every day (even though it is a far reach) to combat dry, cracked heels. I love not wearing shoes in the summer time, I have since I was a kid, and the potential for getting cracked heels will not stop me. I just have to make sure I take care of them afterward with keeping a foot care regimen. It is working so far.I have even invested in nail manicuring items to paint and decorate my toenails to keep me motivated about keeping my feet looking nice. Every once in a while I like to go get a pedicure from a spa to let someone else do the work.