Is Synthetic Alta Causing My Cracked Heels?

Is Synthetic Alta Causing My Cracked Heels

Soft and nourished soles are often overlooked unless they grow tired, dehydrated, chapped and cracked. There are different factors that contribute directly to the cracked heels issue like lifestyle habits, changes in weather conditions, use of certain chemical-induced cosmetics products etc. 


Among the above listed factors, the use of chemical-induced commercial Alta formulations does the most harm with different chemical dyes, heavy and toxic metals and alcohols. They disintegrate the skin’s barrier function while completely dehydrating the skin, resulting to cracked heels. So, choosing a safe and skin-friendly alternative helps in beautifying your foot while maintaining soft and smooth skin texture. 


Without further ado, let’s get started! 

What Are Cracked Heels?

Cracked heels are common foot problems that are triggered due to excessive dehydration or the loss of moisture content of the heel area. However, Yetman (2023) found that other than dehydration cracked heels are more often caused due to insufficient nutrients, weather change or use of certain cosmetics that damage the skin barrier in the heel areas. 

What Are Cracked Heels

How are Cracked Heels Formed?

According to Tobin (2006), unlike the different other parts of the human body, the soles of the feet lack oil glands which makes the skin to mostly rely on the moisture levels of the deep skin layers. However, with changes in weather condition, use of certain cosmetics like alta or even taking hot showers cause the skin near the heels to lose moisture, resulting in dehydration and finally cracked heels (Herrero-Fernandez et al., 2022). 


Furthermore, it was observed by Rushton and Richie (2024) that the heel skin produces more cells as a natural defence mechanism against constant friction. The production of excessive skin cells, starts getting accumulated while creating a hardened layer, commonly called callusing. This hardened layer often mechanically splits, creating cracked heels.

Factors Causing Cracked Heels

Factors Causing Cracked Heels

  • Weather changes:

Often extreme weather changes cause an eruption of the cracked heels problem. The skin of human feet is often devoid of any oil glands, making them rely solely on the moisture content from deep down the skin layers (McGrath and Uitto, 2023). A drastic change of weather from cold to steaming hot often dehydrates the human soles, calling for the cracked heels concern. 

  • Using Synthetic Cosmetics:

Using synthetic cosmetics can deliberately lead to cracked heels by stripping the heels of their natural moisture content while weakening the natural barrier function of the skin. Lisiecka (2024) found that chemicals like artificial fragrances, harsh alcohols, chemical dyes and synthetic fixatives cause contact dermatitis while drying out the skin and making the heels vulnerable to pressure, friction and daily wear and tear, resulting in painfully cracked heels. So, footcare products must be chosen with caution, while considering the different ingredients to avoid the cracked heels issue. 

  • Excess Pressure on Heels:

Standing for long hours or exerting excess pressure on the heels often cause the skin around the heels to expand sideways while weakening the skin barrier (Bhattacharya and Mishra, 2015). It leads to painful cracks and fissures, resulting to the cracked heels concern. 

  • Poor Footcare: 

Ignoring a standard and verified footcare routine is largely anticipated as the major cause of cracked heels. From previous research papers it was unravelled that human foot skin produces an increased amount of skin cells that gets accumulated on the surface (Aad.org, 2022). Improper exfoliation and moisturizing of the human foot can often result in painful cracked heels, as the accumulated skin cells hardens around the heels, thereby lacking flexibility while making it more prone to crack under pressure. 

Which Cosmetic Product Calls for Cracked Heels?

From most research and global consensus, synthetic Alta formulations mostly contribute to painful cracked heels! 


Alta is a vibrant red dye that is often traditionally applied on the hands and feet of women, prevalent mostly in South-Asian Culture (Indiatimes.com, 2024). It is mostly applied during weddings, different festivals and classical dance performances. 


However, there are different qualities of alta available in the markets-one that is a bit high priced alongside another variant that is available in cheaper rates or basically commercial. The alta formulations that are available at cheaper rates or are mainstream commercials are more prone to be created through synthetic ingredients, which trigger the cracked heels issue. 

Commercial Alta Formulations and Cracked Heels

Commercial Alta Formulations and Cracked Heels

  • Synthetic Dyes:

Different commercially prepared alta formulations are mainly comprised of Rhodamine B (tetraethyl rhodamine), alongside azo dyes like Crocein Scarlet (CSM) and Solvent Yellow-3 (Gupta and Thappa, 2015). These dyes are often used as a cheap alternative against natural and expensive ingredients. The dyes interfere with the moisture barrier of the skin on the applied area while completely dehydrating the region, resulting to cracked heels. 

  • Colour Augmenting Agents: 

Commercial alta formulations often use different set of stabilizers and colour augmenting agents that helps in stabilizing the dye while making it long-lasting after being applied on the skin surface (Harris, 2017). However, rigorous use of these colour augmenting agents may often aggravate the cracked heels situation by further dehydrating the skin and irritating existing fissures due to astringent fixative contents (Lambat et al., 2024). 

How Does Synthetic Alta Cause Cracked Heels?

How Does Synthetic Alta Cause Cracked Heels

  • Moisture depletion:

Commercial alta formulations contain different synthetic chemicals, dyes and alcohol-based solvents like Rhodamine B, Crocein Scarlet (CSM) etc. that works synergistically towards drying out the skin where applied. Furthermore, Baker et al., (2023) found that use of synthetic dyes and chemical colorants weakens skin barrier function, while affecting its ability to retain moisture resulting in cracked heels. Finally, excessive drying of the foot skin often causes the keratin to lose its natural flexibility while aggravating the cracked heels concern (Gordon, 2018).

  • Skin Hardening:

Different alcohols and dyes that are included in the commercial alta formulations cause dehydration of the foot skin while making the skin rigid (Musuc, Mititelu and Chelu, 2024). Repeated application of these synthetic chemicals and dyes through the commercial alta formulations extensively contributes to dead skin cells and calluses, leading to cracked heels. 

  • Chemical Permeability:

Cracked heels are mostly comprised of open microscopic wounds that are exposed to the environment. Cheap alta formulations are made with chemicals and traces of different heavy metals that gets easily absorbed through the exposed wounds and runs down the bloodstream. According to Balali-Mood et al., (2021), almost 47% of the commercial alta formulations, found in India, are found to contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals, which dehydrates the heel skin and results in cracked heels. This creates a pathway for toxic skin reactions. 

  • Staining and Adhesion:

Different synthetic chemicals alongside colour augmenting agents are often included in commercial alta formulations, with the purpose of enabling longevity after application. However, it stains and blocks the pores while staining the skin cells as well, trapping irritants inside the crack and reducing skin permeability to different nourishing and moisturizing formulations (Wang et al., 2023). This affects the moisture content of the skin, dehydrating and finally leading to cracked heels. 

Avoid Cracked Heels with Natural Alta

Different skin-friendly and natural alta formulations, which are commonly known as Herbal Alta, are available in the markets. Although they are bit high-priced, they are non-toxic red dyes which are created through using different plant-derived ingredients alongside mineral colours rather than using synthetic chemicals. 


Using these natural herbal formulations assist in beautifying the skin while providing therapeutic benefits like deep hydration, calms irritation and long-lasting moisturization as a protective layer against cracked heels.  

Benefits of Herbal Alta for Cracked Heels

Benefits of Herbal Alta for Cracked Heels

  • Skin Safe: 

The herbal alta formulations are mostly free from harsh chemicals, toxic additives and heavy metal components that prevents rashes, contact dermatitis, allergic reactions and most essentially cracked heels. 


  • Nourishes the skin: 

With plant-derived ingredients and mineral colouring agents, the herbal alta formulations helps in moisturizing and nourishing the skin. These formulations are mostly rich in humectants like aloe vera or vegetable glycerin that draws moisture to the feet while keeping the same soft and supple for longer span of time. 


  • Cooling and Skin-Calming Effects: 

The herbal alta formulations are mostly made with herbal ingredients like active ingredients like beetroot, betel leaf or anthocyanins and humectants. It thereby calms irritated skin and strengthens the skin barrier, reducing roughness and preventing cracked heels. 


  • Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory: 

The herbal blends of alta are mostly made from different potential antioxidants of floral and botanical extracts that helps in protecting the skin against environmental stressors and fight dryness with anti-inflammatory properties. These antioxidants help in keeping the skin safe from wearing out under pressure or friction while improving cell turnover to reduce calluses while improving skin’s moisture barrier, preventing cracked heels. 

Say No to Cracked Heels with Our Herbal Alta


Alta is a tradition inspired herbal red alta that is made specifically with science-backed ingredients to beautify the feet while caring for the skin. Rich in different flower-derived phenolic compounds or floral colorants like anthocyanins, this alta provides a rich and vibrant red colour that stays long and graces every occasion and festivities. It is imbued with different skin conditioning agents and humectants like Sodium Lactate and Propylene Glycol. The humectants largely attract and retain moisture in the deep skin layers while supports in strengthening the skin moisture barrier, to address the cracked heel concern. The lightweight and quick-drying features helps in even and easy application making it the perfect choice for applying alta on the go. Furthermore, the alta is free from any harsh additives like heavy metals, chemical dyes and artificial or synthetic colour additives that makes it safe for regular use. So, using this herbal alta helps in avoiding the root cause of dry-dehydrated skin on the soles, cracked heels and the associated discomfort and pain. 

Conclusion: Choose Softness, Not Cracked Heels

Cracked heels is not merely a sign of cosmetic chaos but essentially a sign of weakened moisture barrier, excessive dryness or dehydration and insufficiency of proper nourishment. However, to be precise, commercially prepared synthetic alta formulations that are made with chemical dyes, heavy metal or toxic components, alcohol-based solvents and harsh colour stabilizers, largely aggravate cracked heels. 


So, picking an herbal and skin-friendly alta is essential for maintaining soft, healthy and nourished feet, while preventing cracked heels. These herbal alta formulations are often made with plant-derived ingredients, humectants and botanical extracts that helps in retaining moisture and strengthening the skin barrier, making them perfect to avoid cracked heels. 


Without any further ado, look out for the safe ingredients in your alta, before making a purchase or you risk compromising your heels!

References:

FAQs:

1. Can synthetic alta really cause cracked heels?

Yes! Synthetic alta formulations or those types of alta which are highly available commercially at lower prices mostly contains harsh chemical dyes, alcohol-based solvents and toxic additives. These harsh chemicals and toxic additives often strip the natural moisture content of the skin, weakens the barrier function that results to dryness, roughness, chapped and cracked heels. 

2. How can I identify a skin-safe herbal alta to prevent cracked heels?

You can identify a skin-safe and herbal alta by looking closely at the active ingredients. Most of the herbal alta formulations are made from plant-derived phenolic compounds, floral colourants and humectants. These natural ingredients are mostly focused towards hydrating your skin while staining the uppermost layer without irritation. The cheap counterparts of herbal alta formulations, that you widely find in more cheaper rates are mostly rich in heavy metals, synthetic dyes and harsh chemical additives. So, be cautious when you pick your alta and check the ingredient list first before paying off to avoid cracked heels.

3. Why do cracked heels become worse during winter?

During winters, heels are more prone to get cracked as the dropping humidity levels and the chilling cold weather exhausts and dries up the natural moisture content of the skin present around the heels. As the soles do not have oil glands, the skin on the soles is mostly vulnerable to dehydration, hardening and cracking during the winters. This is the only reason why your heels are cracking more during the winter months. To avoid this situation, make sure to use hydrating and nourishing ingredients specifically products that have loads of humectants to avoid the dehydrated and cracked heels situation. 

4. What ingredients help in preventing cracked heels naturally?

If you are looking for active ingredients that helps with preventing the cracked heels situation then you must pick deep hydrating ingredients like Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Honey, Sodium Lactate and essential oils. These deep hydrating ingredients, or simply humectants, help in attracting and retaining the moisture content of the skin while securing the barrier function of the skin to keep the skin soft, smooth and nourished. 

5. How often should I moisturize my feet to avoid cracked heels?

You should make it a point to moisturize your feet as many times as you possibly can if your feet are exposed to water. For instance, moisturizing twice a day is a bare necessity, especially after bathing and before bedtime at night as it helps in avoiding the chances of dehydration and aggravation of the cracked heels problem. Furthermore, wearing cotton socks overnight after applying the moisturizer at night, during bedtime, further helps in retaining soft and supple skin texture and avoid dryness and cracked heels. 

6. Can herbal alta help in reducing dryness and cracked heels?

Yes! Potentially, most of the herbal alta formulations that are available in the markets, including ours, is rich in different humectants which are targeted towards improving the moisturize content of the skin and ensuring long-lasting hydration. Our 100% Natural and Herbal Alta is imbued with humectants like Sodium Lactate and Propylene Glycol that helps in attracting and retaining moisture content deep down the skin layers, while other natural ingredients help in calming irritated skin. It is, therefore, the best solution to reduce dryness and cracked heels, like most other herbal alta formulations that are available in the markets. 

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