Your feet carry a heavy load, and the skin on your soles and heels can become rough, dry and even cracked. Deep cracks in the heels, called fissures, can be very painful and make walking difficult. Moisturizing is the key to preventing and managing cracked heels and feet, and you should be on the lookout for any signs of infection.
Why Skin Cracks
Dry skin, known as xerosis, is typically the cause of cracks that form in the heels and feet, says the Foot Health website of the American College of Foot and Ankle surgeons. Health conditions like diabetes or problems with the nerves can increase the risk of cracked heels and feet. Wearing shoes that rub the heels or have open backs and being overweight can all worsen dry skin and result in cracked heels.
Causes of Dry Feet
The skin on the feet can dry out for a number of reasons. If you don't moisturize your feet regularly, the skin can dry out and crack. Aging, running the heater inside your home, and cold and dry winter weather can lead to dry skin, says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Scrubbing your feet with a harsh soap or taking baths or showers that are too hot can also dry out the skin on the feet and heels.
Treating Cracked Heels and Feet
Soak your feet regularly with a rich, oil-based moisturizing cream to lock in moisture and help those dry cracks to heal, suggests the AOCD. A podiatrist can remove thickened, dead skin on your feet and apply bandages to help cracks heal. Your podiatrist may also close cracks in the feet with a particular kind of glue designed for use on the skin. Prescription medications are available to help treat cracked heels and feet. If your cracked heels and feet don't improve, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for treatment.
Keep Skin Moist
Shorten the length of baths or showers and use lukewarm water when bathing, recommends the AOCD. Gently wash your feet with a mild cleanser, and avoid harsh scrubbing and drying soaps. Moisturize your feet with a rich cream as soon as you get out of the bath or shower to trap the moisture in your feet.
Dealing With Infection
When the heels and feet crack, infection can set into the open sores. A bacterial infection called cellulitis may occur. Your feet may blister, turn red, feel warm to the touch and swell. Pain and soreness are also signs of an infection in the cracks. Any skin infection needs treatment with antibiotics and therefore should be seen by a doctor. Treating an infection also requires sloughing off dead skin cells and elevating the feet.
Problems for Diabetics
Diabetics need to take particular care of their feet and be aware of problems like cracked heels. Because diabetics tend to suffer nerve damage in the feet, they may not feel cracks in the feet, according to the website DermNet NZ. This allows ulcers to form in the feet, and serious infections to set in. Dry skin and cracked heels and feet should be promptly treated in diabetics.
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