Cracked Heels - Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Introduction:

Cracked heels are a foot problem that is not very serious in certain cases. But may lead to serious consequences if left untreated. Our feet are the most neglected part of the body as more attention is on presenting our face and skin, which is greatly exposed to society. But it is the feet that require special care as it is the one that takes you to different paths.

How Does a Cracked Heel Appear?

A cracked heel appears as dry and hardened skin around the rim of the heel called the callus. It has a yellow or brownish discoloration on the site, which appears as small cracks initially. The cracks deepen on repeated pressure to the area, and deep fissures may tend to bleed. Cracked heels can be accompanied by loss of feeling in that area in diabetic individuals.

How Do Cracked Heels Occur?

Cracked heels can occur in young and older individuals. There are general and medical causes for cracked heels.

The general causes are,

• Dry skin.

• Cold weather.

• Standing for a long time.

• Taking hot showers.

• Using harsh chemical-infused soaps.

• Wearing open-heeled footwear.

The medical causes are,

• Diabetes.

• Athlete's foot.

• Obesity.

• Hypothyroidism.

• Sjogren's disease.

• Eczema.

• Flat feet.

• Heel spurs.

• Juvenile plantar dermatosis occurs in young children.

What Are the Recommended Tips to Prevent Cracked Heels?

• Look for any signs of cracked heels daily, such as cracks, redness, blisters, swelling, warm spots, callus, warts, etc. This step is essential in the case of diabetic individuals.

• Wash your feet every day with warm water and dry them well. Then apply talcum powder to make the skin dry.

• Limit your shower to five to ten minutes to prevent moisture loss from your feet.

• Use a moisturizer after a bath to trap moisture in the skin.

• Avoid using harsh soaps and other skin care products containing alcohol, fragrances, and alpha and beta hydroxy acids, as they dry your skin.

• Trim your nails weekly to prevent ingrown nails.

• Use clean cotton socks and get shoes of the correct size that fits you.

• Use sunscreen to protect the exposed part of your feet.

• Use waterproof boots during winter to keep you warm and dry.

How to Treat Cracked Heels at Home?

• Hydrate Yourself: Make sure you drink sufficient amounts of water every day. The skin loses around one liter of water daily, which is compensated by water intake. If there is no balance between water loss and water intake, it may lead to dry, dehydrated skin, which results in cracked heels. This happens especially during cold climates. So hydrate yourself and maintain moist skin, thus preventing cracked heels.

• Use Moisturizers: To prevent or treat cracked heels, it is better to moisturize your skin with moisturizing creams or lotions. Ensure you have the ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, petrolatum, jojoba oil, shea butter, etc. Use moisturizers at least once or twice a day. It is good to apply moisturizer immediately after showering to trap the moisture content in the skin. Use an occlusive moisturizer such as petroleum jelly or lanolin before bed to prevent water loss from the skin.

• Wear Cotton Socks To Bed: After applying an occlusive moisturizer such as petroleum jelly, it is good to wear cotton socks to bed as it traps moisture and protects the cracked heel from dirt. This practice can soften the skin after a few days.

• Use Keratolytics: Keratolytics are specialized in thinning thick skin by loosening the superficial layer of skin and removing the dead cells. Check the products for the presence of keratolytic such as urea, salicylic acid, and alpha-hydroxy acid.

• Rub with Pumice Stone: Use a pumice stone to remove the thickened callus formed on the heels. Make sure to clean the pumice stone at least once a week, as they have rough surfaces that house bacteria. These pumice stones are usually not recommended for diabetic individuals. Instead, they should visit a podiatrist.

• Use Liquid Bandages: These bandages help in protecting the cracks from the ingress of bacteria and reduce pain.

• Use Moisturizing Socks: A pair of moisturizing socks can help heal dry, cracked heels. They may be rubbery at first, but once the heat from the body is released, it activates the ingredients in the socks, such as aloe vera, shea butter, and vitamin C.

• Wear Closed-back Shoes: Since sandals with open backs lead to cracked heels, it is good to purchase closed-back shoes.

What Are the Treatment Options for Cracked Heels?

If the cracks on your feet appear severe and there are no visible changes after one week of home remedies, it is good to meet the podiatrist. A podiatrist specializes in feet, ankle, and lower leg treatments. The treatment options recommended by podiatrists are,

• Strapping: This treatment involves wrapping bandages around the heels to prevent the movement of your skin.

• Debridement: This is the process of cutting and removing the dry, hardened skin on your heels. This procedure is performed only by doctors and should not be tried at home.

• Prescriptions: The physician may prescribe strong creams to treat cracked heels. The creams usually contain salicylic acid or urea.

• Shoe Inserts: The inserts in your shoes will help prevent your fat pads from extending and thus prevent the cracking of heels. They provide better support by distributing the weight on your heel.

• Skin Glue: To hold the skin in position and to allow it to heal, skin glues specially designed for use on the skin are applied by the physician.

What Is a Dry Feet or Heels?

Dry feet or heels are more common. It may start on the edge of the foot and progress into deep cracks. Dry, thick, scaly skin is found in the feet which may be due to thickening of the skin called callus. This may indicate under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism). Other causes may be due to fungal infection of the skin called athlete's foot, open back on the shoes, prolonged standing and being overweight. To combat this condition, use moisturizers, soak feet in the warm water bath, stay hydrated and eat a well balanced diet.

Conclusion:

Cracked heels, if not so serious, can be treated with home remedies. But if you find them not resolving for a long time, it is better to visit the physician to get them treated. Look at your feet daily and take special care if you suffer from medical conditions to prevent serious complications. If you find serious symptoms, do not hesitate to visit the specialist. Get your cracked heels treated and stand on your own healed feet.