Your feet have the demanding job of bearing the weight of your entire body and leading you through your day-to-day life. The skin on your feet is more delicate and sensitive than other areas of your body, perhaps with the exception of the tougher skin on your heels. Skin peeling, infection and growths such as corns and warts are among the problems you could have with the skin on your feet.
Cracked Heels
Dermnet NZ, an information service of the New Zealand Dermatological Society, explains that a case of cracked heels is a very common problem, but is not a serious health threat in most cases. The skin on your heels is thicker than on other parts of your foot, and can become rough and calloused when you suffer from dry skin. You might develop corns as well as cracked heels in response to dry skin. These raised bumps usually appear on your toes but can also develop on your heels. Extremely dry skin on your heels can split apart into cracks or fissures that are painful, especially when walking. The cracks are more susceptible to infection if bacteria is introduced into your body. Over-the-counter creams designed for very dry skin are adequate for minor cracks; more serious and painful fissures may require a doctor's visit and antibiotic medications, debridement--removal of the tough outer layer of skin on your heel--and bandaging.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections, including athlete's foot, are common because you tend to sweat more profusely through your feet than some other areas of your body. Fungi thrive in dark, moist environments like inside a sweaty sock or shoe. Symptoms of fungal infections on the feet include itching and redness, peeling and scaling of the skin. You could develop blisters on your feet and fissures on your heels as a result of fungal infections. Treatment includes topical anti-fungal medications and a change in footwear to allow air to circulate throughout your toes.
Peeling Skin
Peeling skin is a generalized foot problem that might stem from several different conditions. Dry skin of any kind can peel, whether the source is a sunburn, reduced humidity consistent with a cold winter or more serious medical conditions like psoriasis or juvenile plantar dermatosis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which your skin cells shed more quickly than normal, leaving you with scaly thickened skin that flakes and peels. Juvenile plantar dermatosis is a situation in which a child's foot skin becomes shiny with subsequent peeling and cracks in response to perspiration and friction. Treatment for peeling skin on your feet varies according to the exact nature of the problem. Visiting your family physician or a podiatrist can give you a firm diagnosis and a treatment plan to eliminate the cause of the peeling.
Warts
Plantar warts are benign, flesh-colored growths that appear on the bottoms of your feet. Warts are caused by the HPV virus. The skin on the bottoms of your feet may become thick in areas surrounding the warts, bleed or peel. Because of the location, plantar warts might be painful after a long day on your feet. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, treatment for warts includes applying salicylic acid or other chemicals to burn away the growth or removing the wart through cryotherapy, a procedure that freezes the wart with liquid nitrogen. Home remedies for warts include covering the affected area of skin with duct tape for several days before filing down the growth.
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