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Heel - Heels

The heel makes up the posterior end of the foot directly under the leg and is the result of the protrusion of the calcaneus bone. The human heel rests flat on the ground when standing or walking and is the first thing to hit the ground during the walking gait cycle. The heel is the part of the foot that fits into the back of a shoe and has a rounded appearance to it.

From a skin care perspective, the heel of the foot is one of the driest areas of the human body. The skin of the heel is naturally tough but can become cracked and painful, so it is essential to exfoliate and moisturize the area on a regular basis. The heel can also develop painful injuries and bruising due to the constant impact it has with hard surfaces. When choosing athletic shoes, it is important to wear a shoe that cushions your heel and fits properly to avoid injuries and blisters.

Many shoes typically reserved for the spring and summer such as sandals and open toed high heels have an open heel, which can be attractive and cooling to the foot itself.

The term heel can also be applied to the actual heel portion of a shoe. The heel in terms of a shoe can be distinguished as flat, low, mid or high.

A flat heel or shoe is one in which there is no height in the heel at, all making the entire foot touch the ground. A low heel has a height less than two and a half inches. A mid heel is a heel between two and a half and three and a half inches tall. A high heel is a heel height above three and a half inches.