Thick, dry skin on your feet and heels is common, as the edge of the feet and heel are the most used parts of the body. Improper care of the feet, as well as nutritional deficiencies, may result in this unsightly condition. Dry, cracked skin around the heel is both easily avoidable and quickly relieved with daily attention to your feet, proper hydration and sometimes medical attention.
The Facts
The skin of your feet may have a thick buildup of dry skin (a callus) that is yellowed or brownish in color. The medical term for dry, cracked heels is "heel fissures." Fissures are cracks on the surface of the skin of the foot, which are usually quite visible. Generally, these cracks are cosmetic in nature and not painful. However, if the fissures are deep, you might experience pain and bleeding, which could indicate an infection and require medical treatment.
Causes
Cracked heels often appear with age, as many senior citizens have cracks on the skin of their heels and feet. Employment that requires you to be on your feet all day, walking or standing on hard flooring is a common cause of cracked heels. Medical reasons for cracked feet include a chronic illness such as diabetes, thyroid disease, psoriasis or eczema, and athlete's feet. A nutritional deficiency in vitamin A, zinc or omega-3 fatty acids and chronic dehydration are other contributing factors to the development of dry cracked feet.
Being overweight increases pressure on your feet, causing them to expand in width; skin lacking in elasticity or moisture may crack. If you are a woman who wears flip-flops or other loose, open-back footwear that does not support the sides of your foot, you may notice increased dryness and cracks in your heels.
Prevention/Solution
Professional pedicures can do wonders for the appearance of your feet. If expense is a factor, visit a local beauty college for a bargain. Exfoliate at home by soaking your feet in warm soapy water for 20 minutes, and while skin is soft, scrub your heels and the sides of your feet with a pumice stone. Keep your feet clean and dry, and moisturize the skin daily.
A popular and inexpensive treatment to prevent cracked heels is to apply lanolin, cocoa butter or shea butter to the feet before bed, covering your feet with white socks.
Properly fitted and supportive shoes with a heel cushion will help prevent heel fissures, if your job requires that you be on your feet for long periods.
Remedies
Remove the dry cracked skin on your feet with a device such as a PedEgg, which looks like a tiny cheese grater on one side, with a smoothing sander on the other. Or sanding emery boards are inexpensive and available at any store selling beauty products.
For softening dry skin, mix a rich lotion (Eucerin, for example) with spearmint and eucalyptus oil and rub it on your feet daily. Almond, coconut, avocado or jojoba oil have been used with success. Straight lanolin (often found in the section of the drugstore for nursing mothers) is an emollient-rich treatment for skin. Vaseline, rubbed on heels, then covered with socks, acts as a barrier by keeping moisture in your skin.
Commercial cosmetic products that have received rave reviews by users include Zim's Crack Crème, Avon Cracked Heel Relief, Barielle Foot Cream or Heel Balm by Flexitol. Formerly requiring a prescription, you can buy Lac-Hydrin or AmLactin 12 percent creams over the counter at most drugstores. Applying a thin film nightly reportedly dissolves thick dry skin on feet quickly.
Warnings
If you are experiencing severe pain when you place pressure on your heels, you may have deep heel fissures or an infection. Home remedies may work, but in the event of an infection or underlying medical cause, see your physician. Your doctor may make a referral to a podiatrist for further treatment, footwear recommendations or custom orthotics to adjust and correct your gait or stance.
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