Relieving Dry, Cracked Skin in the Feet

How To Find Relieving Dry, Cracked Skin in the Feet

The skin contains a equilibrium of water and fat to ensure its health. However, once this equilibrium is disturbed, the skin can come to be dry and cracked. This imbalance results in the inability of the skin to stretch properly. Extreme dryness of the skin can cause cracking. Since the skin is a protective barrier for the body, the cracking can lead to painful lesions and a inherent area for bacteria to hide and cause infections. Thus, hydrating the skin is very leading in maintaining the full, condition of the body.

Symptoms of Dry Skin:
Generally, dry skin is dull and appears tight. In cases of severe dry skin, the texture can be rough with flaky scales and cracking. This can effect in itchiness, skin breakage, and pain.

Causes of Dry Skin:
Dry skin is caused by many factors, these are categorized in two ways. There are causes that are from face of the body such as atmosphere (low climatic characteristic and low humidity), environment, lifestyle, and age. The second category are causes from inside the body such as genetics, medication, hormone changes, and disease. Additionally, dry, scaly skin can be a effect of fungal infections that may be treated by a podiatrist with prescribe anti-fungal medications.

Cracking of the skin is ordinarily found on the heels of the feet. This is caused by the great estimate of body pressure that occurs when the heel strikes the ground. Therefore, the heels, more than any other part of the foot, need the most attention and daily care.

Treatments:
Since there are so many medications used to treat dry skin, the selection of what to use can be overwhelming. One thing holds true for most dry skin treatment; the goal is to growth water content of skin. Skin moisturizers, also known as emollients, contend the skin cell connections, and thus, decrease scaling and cracking.

1. Skin Ointments: This rehabilitation is greasy and does not mix well with water. Ointments are the most sufficient goods and longer lasting, but may be undesirable because of its greasiness.

2. Skin Creams: This is the most tasteless type of moisturizer. Creams can be blended with water. This form of therapy may be favorite over ointments due to the ease of application and the nature of the cream to blend into the skin.

3. Callus Ointments: This type of rehabilitation for dry skin can be plant based or chemical based. Plant-based callus ointments take off and soften thick, dry skin using plant enzymes and are safe for diabetics. Chemical based callus ointments are used to take off and moisturize the skin at the same time, especially thick skin. However, caution must be noted when using chemical-based callus ointments because it can cause growth breakdown of skin in diabetics and are Not recommended on open wounds, infected area, or inflamed skin.

4. Foot pumice stone followed by moisturizers: Foot pumice stones are recommended to be used in the shower when the skin has softened by the sense with water. The stone is rubbed against the skin, and produces friction that removes the thick skin.

5. Scalpel Debridement on Thick Skin: If the skin thickness is painful and severe, a podiatrist may use a scalpel with a blade to take off the dry hard skin. However, it must be noted that the use of a scalpel should be performed by a professional.

Ways to Decrease Dry Skin:

1. Avoid hot long showers and baths because the hot water can melt the natural oils out of the skin. Once the oils have been depleted continued sense with the water will suck the moisture from your skin.
2. Apply emollients to the skin daily
3. Use of humidifiers to keep moisture in the air can forestall dry skin
4. Wear socks to bed
5. Do not pick at dry skin because it can effect in damage to the skin and cause an infection.
6. Avoid wearing non-supportive sandals for long periods of time

Copyright (c) 2010 Bruce Lashley