How to treat eczema on the heel

Generally, eczema on the heel may be caused by dry and oily skin, shoe or sock friction, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, diabetes, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and improve the condition under a doctor's guidance through general management, medication, and other treatments. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Dry and oily skin: The heel skin has a thick stratum corneum and few sebaceous glands, making it prone to dehydration and dryness in autumn and winter, which damages the skin barrier and triggers eczema. After washing daily with 37°C warm water, immediately apply urea vitamin E cream. Before bedtime, apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly and wear cotton socks to lock in moisture. Avoid soaking feet in hot water or frequent exfoliation.

2. Friction from shoes and socks: Wearing hard-soled shoes or synthetic fiber socks can repeatedly rub against the heel skin, causing redness, swelling, and itching of eczema. Switch to loose-fitting, soft-soled breathable shoes and choose cotton, sweat-absorbing socks. Use soft insoles to reduce friction, and avoid prolonged standing or walking that increases stress on the skin.

3. Contact dermatitis: Allergic reactions may occur after exposure to shoe polish, glue, or irritating skincare products, manifesting as redness and papules. Patients should follow medical advice to use medications such as loratadine tablets, desonide cream, or hydrocortisone butyrate cream, discontinue suspected irritants, and gently clean the affected area with mild water.

4. Atopic dermatitis: Individuals with allergic constitutions may develop atopic dermatitis on the heels when exposed to environmental triggers, accompanied by intense itching and thickened skin. Patients should use topical tacrolimus ointment, pimecrolimus cream, or cetirizine hydrochloride tablets as prescribed, and avoid allergens such as dust mites and animal dander.

5. Diabetes: Poor blood glucose control makes heel skin vulnerable to bacterial invasion, resulting in persistent or recurrent eczema that is difficult to heal. Patients must follow medical instructions to control blood sugar using insulin injection, gliclazide sustained-release tablets, metformin-glibenclamide tablets, etc., and apply mupirocin ointment to prevent secondary infection.

In daily life, avoid scratching the affected area with hands to prevent skin damage and infection. Maintain a light diet, reduce intake of spicy and irritating foods, and consume more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins. Keep a regular sleep schedule to enhance immunity, thoroughly dry feet after washing, and maintain proper moisturization to support skin barrier recovery on the heels.