How to treat dry and cracked heels?

Causes:
Lack of hydration: Dry skin is more prone to cracking.
Excessive strain: Standing or walking on hard surfaces for long periods of time.
Unsuitable footwear: Shoes that are too tight or open can put strain on the heels.
Genetic factors: Some people are genetically more prone to dry and cracked heels.
Health problems: Diabetes, psoriasis and other skin conditions can affect the condition of the skin on the heels.

To successfully solve the problem of dry and cracked heels, we need to know the cause. Most often, the skin on the heels cracks from overuse, such as being overweight, work that requires long periods of standing, or poor footwear. All of these factors restrict blood flow to the skin of the heels. The skin dries out, its top layer quickly dies off, and a layer of dead skin begins to form on the heels.
Last but not least, dry and cracked heels are caused by irritation from the external environment. Especially when walking in open shoes, the skin is exposed to dust and various allergens and aggressive substances. The skin reacts with irritation, dries out and forms calluses. It is necessary to protect the feet.
Other causes of dry and cracked heels include fungal infections. These infections are usually contagious. This means that they are transmissible. Sometimes, even walking barefoot is enough to become infected. Visits to saunas, swimming pools, shoe rental shops, etc. are also risky for the feet. 

Care:
1. Moisturising: Regularly moisturise your heels with creams containing urea, glycerine or shea butter.
2. Refreshing: You can soak your feet in warm water with bath salts or oil to soften hard skin.
3. Removing hard skin: Use a foot file, pumice stone or callus remover, but be gentle.
4. Protect your feet: Use barrier creams to protect your feet from irritants. If you don't want to wear closed shoes all year round, use Dermaguard barrier cream. It protects your feet for up to 6 hours against allergens and aggressive substances.
5. Proper footwear: Wear comfortable, breathable shoes.
6. Regular care: Remove hard skin once or twice a week to prevent cracking.
7. Nourishing oils: After showering, you can use coconut, almond or other vegetable oils to moisturise your skin.
8. Vegetable oils: Various oils such as eucalyptus, rose or lavender can help soften and regenerate the skin.
Additional tips:
Peeling: A homemade scrub made from lemon, honey and rice flour can help remove hard skin.
Lard: You can rub lard on your feet at night.
Special socks: Try exfoliating or moisturising disposable socks.
Fruit and vegetables: Eat fruit and vegetables with a high water content to hydrate the body from within.
Hygiene: Always dry yourself thoroughly after bathing to prevent moisture from transferring to the skin. 
Massage: Regular foot massage can improve blood circulation and hydration.
Treatment of fungus: Fungus can be treated with over-the-counter medications. Treatment takes a relatively long time. Fungus spores penetrate deep into the cracks in the heels, stick under the nails and are often transferred. Therefore, treatment should be continued for at least 14 days or even a month. Your hands also need to be treated if you do not wear rubber gloves when in contact with your feet. Instead of gloves, you can use Dermaguard barrier cream, which protects your hands from fungal infection.
Regular daily care: Treat your feet regularly, whether it's regular filing, moisturising or other procedures. Regular daily care includes at least a ten-minute bath, drying, filing hard skin with a pumice stone, file or heel grater if necessary, and applying a non-greasy moisturising cream. The longer the cream moisturises, the better. Dermaguard barrier cream moisturises for 6 hours and also prevents the growth of bacteria that could infect the heels. With regular care, your feet will be like new again.