A cracked heel is a common foot problem. In most cases the problem is merely a nuisance and unattractive to look at, however, when the cracks or fissures become deep, standing, walking or any pressure placed on the heel can be painful.
Cracked heels can occur for a number of reasons, from lacking enough moisture to exposing footwear. If Podiatrist Dallas, Tx noticed symptoms such as dry skin thickening around your heels, or have cracked skin or heel pain, then knowing the causes can help you understand the condition, and could prevent further relapses from happening.
Heels can crack when the skin around the rim of your heel becomes dry and thick, and increased pressure on the fat pad under the heel causes the skin to split. A number of factors can raise the risk of developing cracked heels, including obesity, wearing open-heel footwear such as sandals, and having cold, dry skin.
Causes of Cracked Heel
Your foot problems may come from a variety of causes factors.
Environmental Factors
Your dry, cracked feet may be due to environmental factors:
· Physical stress: The environment inside a shoe can get very hot sometimes well over 120 F. Heat and humidity changes result in water loss from the skin and ultimately result in thickening of the top layer of skin.
· Skin cleansers: Certain soaps can strip protective oils from the skin or leave irritating residues that contribute to dry skin.
· Cold weather: Dry skin often worsens in the winter months, mostly due to indoor heating and low humidity.
Skin Conditions
Skin conditions that result in dry, thickened skin on the foot include:
· Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis
· Psoriasis
· Skin rashes caused by allergy or irritants
· Leg vein problems called venous stasis
In children, atopic dermatitis eczema is common cause of dry, scaly skin and accentuated skin lines on a child’s feet.
Treatment for a Cracked Heel
Thet best form of treatment for cracked heel is to prevent cracks from occurring in the first place. This can be achieved by simply rubbing the heels with a moisturising cream on a regular basis to keep the skin supple and hydrated. Special heel balms are available that contain descaling (keratolytic) or water-retaining (humectant) agents, such as:
· Urea
· Salicylic acid
· Alpha-hydroxy acids
· Saccharide isomerate
Feet should be inspected daily and on the first sign of any cracking, a moisturising routine 2–3 times a day may be all that is needed to heal the heel. A pumice stone can be rubbed gently against the callus to take away some of the thick hard skin before applying moisturiser.
The fissures may be treated with a liquid, gel or spray bandage to reduce pain, protect and allow more rapid healing.
Podiatrist Dallas, Tx severely cracked heels or if no improvement is seen after a week of self-treatment a visit to a podiatrist may be required. Treatments may involve the following.
Debridement
cutting away hard thick skin this should not be attempted at home using scissors or razor blade as there is a risk of removing too much skin and infection occurring.
Strapping
Bandage/dressings around the heel to reduce skin movement. Prescription for stronger softening or debriding agents, usually containing urea or salicylic acid.
Insoles, heel pad or heel cups to redistribute the weight of the heel and provide better support prevent the fat pad from expanding sideways. Special tissue glue to hold the edges of the cracked skin together so it can heal.
Both podiatrist say that if the cracks keep up despite proper, frequent application of high-quality over-the-counter products like these, it might be time to have your podiatrist take a peek. Lack of vitamins, minerals and zinc in your diet can adversely affect your heel health. Sometimes there can be a fungus.
Preventing and Treating Cracked Heels
To help keep skin supple and your feet fully protected, moisturisers and cleansers are clinically proven to support the natural recovery process of dry skin. If Podiatrist Dallas, Tx find that your symptoms persist even after treatment, speak to your doctor or dermatologist to find out if there might be any other potential causes or underlying health problems.
Another tip might be to change your diet to one which includes foods rich in calcium, iron and zinc. In many cases, this can help boost skin health, although it’s best to check with your doctor first before making diet alterations.
Roughness Relief Spot Treatment
Podiatrist recommends applying this spot treatment to your heels because its formula contains a high percentage of urea and exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid, which are great at removing dead skin cells so the moisturizing components of the formula, like sunflower oil rich in vitamins A and E, can seep in to heal skin.
Healing Ointment
Podiatrist love this non-comedogenic, lanolin-free formula, because it doesn’t irritate the skin. As it’s almost half petrolatum qualifying it as an ointment, is enriched with ceramides to restore your skin’s barrier and it also contains hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that helps skin retain moisture.
Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin
Podiatrist favors this multitasking moisturizer for its bounty of skin-loving ingredients. Lactic, salicylic and hyaluronic acids exfoliate and moisturize; niacinamide, a B vitamin, helps prevent moisture loss; and ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II help restore your skin’s protective barrier. The formula is free of fragrances and dyes and it releases over time to keep your skin super soft.
