Cracked heels are a pretty common foot disorder, often referred to as heel fissures. Cracked heels are the result of dry skin and made more complicated should the skin surrounding the side of the heel is callused. They can be painful to weightbear on and also the cracks in the skin could bleed.
Some individuals tend to have a normally dry skin which makes your skin easy to split. The thicker dry skin (callus) surrounding the heel that could be more prone to tear is usually due to weightbearing variables which increase strains under the heel (eg the way you move).
Factors that might also be involved in the explanation for cracked heel skin include:
* continuous standing
* being obese
* open back on the shoes
* some medical conditions predispose to a dehydrated skin (for example all forms of diabetes)
* skin conditions (eg skin psoriasis)
Self management for cracked heels:
* Applying an oil based moisturizing lotion twice daily is very necessary to get on top of cracked heels. A pumice stone may be used to decrease the thickness of the hard skin. It is important to avoid open back footwear or thin sole shoes.
* It is best not to try and reduce the callused skin yourself using a blade or scissors. There's a risk of an infection occuring and taking way too much off.
Podiatrist treatment of cracked heels can include the following:
* looking into the cause of the cracked heels, so this can be addressed
* treatment of hard thick skin by debriding it (frequently the splits are not going to heal unless the skin is not taken off). This will have to be carried out consistently. Regular maintenance might be the easiest way to avoid the disorder.
* if very painful, taping are often used to 'hold' the cracks together while they get better (a upkeep plan after this to stop it happening again is very important).
* prescription as well as guidance about the most appropriate lotion or cream.
* advice about shoes and self-care of the cracked heels.
* insoles may be used to change the way you walk for preventing the thick skin from developing (these are typically indicated in situations of heel callus and aren't appropriate for all cases).
* a heel "cup" might be used to keep the fat pad from expanding laterally. This cup is worn inside of the shoe and might be very efficient at prevention when used frequently.
* on rare instances a number of Podiatric doctors along with Dermatologists have tried a skin glue to retain the sides of the epidermis together, so the cracks can mend.