Herbal Foot Patch for Cracked Heels: A Review of Formulation Approaches and Evaluation

Cracked heels (heel fissures) are a very common foot problem caused by dryness and thickening of the skin of the heel, and they can be painful, bleed and become infected. Creams and ointments are easily rubbed off or washed away, whereas a patch that is applied on the heel stays in place for several hours, provides occlusion that hydrates the skin, and releases the active ingredients slowly. Aloe vera and turmeric (Curcuma longa) are easily available herbal drugs with reported moisturising, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. This review discusses the aetiology of cracked heels, the concept, advantages, limitations and composition of foot patches, the profile of Aloe vera and turmeric, the methods of preparation of patches, the polymers used, the factors affecting quality, and the parameters used for evaluation, with the important reports on the subject.