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What Causes Cracked Heels?
Cracked heels are a relatively common foot problem. Cracked heels are also called heel fissures. Cracked heels are usually the result of skin xerosis. Further complications can also occur if the rim of the heel thickens into a callus. Many calluses are just ugly nuisances but sometimes deep cracks run in them. If these cracks run deep enough, they become painful and difficult to stand on. In some cases these calluses can become infected.What does a cracked heel look like? In a cracked heel, the skin around is dry and has a thick callus that is dark brown or yellow around a discolored area of skin, on the border of the heel. These cracks are usually easy to spot.
What are some cracked heel symptoms?
Some of the more problematic cracked heels are ones where it is difficult to put weight on the affected foot. Wearing thin soled shoes can make these symptoms even worse.
What are some causes of cracked heels?
Some people see to have a hereditary condition of especially dry skin that predisposes them to the cracks. This thickened skin is more likely to crack based on such factors as gait and field of employment. For example, someone working in construction jobs are at a greater risk due to the amount of pressure that they put on their feet.
Other contributing factors towards developing cracked heels include:
- Standing for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces.
- Obesity. Being obese can cause excessive pressure on the fat pads under the heel, causing to expand and push out sideways. If the skin is not pliable enough to handle the pressure, cracks may occur.
- Open backs on foot ware allows the fat pads underneath the heal to expand out to the sides, putting pressure on the heels.
- There are medical ailments that predispose someone to drying skin. Diseases like diabetes cause less sweating of the foot. A Hypo-active thyroid lowers a body's metabolism which causes less sweat production and dryer skin.
- Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
- Applying a cream or lotion to moisturize the skin and make it more supple.
- Applying a pumice stone to shave down calluses a little to reduce their thickness.
- Never reduce the thickness of a callus with a sharp instrument such as a razorblade. This method puts one at a greater risk of infection and cutting off to much skin.
