It may be ugly when your heels are cracked, but they don’t cause significant problems. Badly damaged heels can get infected and lead to cellulitis, a skin infection.
Regardless of the origin of your heels that are cracked, you may take action to cure them. Additionally, there are proven methods to prevent cracked heels.
Frequent Causes
Protracted Standing
Too much time spent standing is a contributing factor to heels that are cracked. Prolonged standing, particularly on hard surfaces, can increase the pressure on the heels and cause persistent friction, resulting in fissures and open sores.
Left untreated, this may cause significant heel discomfort and lead to bleeding. If your work requires you to stand for long hours, you must wear shoes with appropriate cushioning to relieve the strain on your heels.
Taking a Walk Barefoot
Most of us may have heard that walking barefoot on grass is beneficial. However, going barefoot can lead to dirt collection in the foot, which might raise the risk of foot cracks.
Additionally, using open-back sandals might cause the fat under the heel to grow, increasing the likelihood of heels that are cracked.
Further, wearing shoes that do not fit properly might contribute to heels that are cracked and heel discomfort.
Aging Skin
As a person ages, so does their skin. Consequently, elderly individuals tend to have thick and dry skin, and this is because aging causes the skin to lose suppleness and it causes the skin to become more dehydrated, coarse, and scaly.
Also, oil production to prevent moisture is reduced, which increases the risk of cracking, particularly in the feet, resulting in heels that are cracked.
Dry Skin
There are various risk factors associated with dry skin. Common causes include frigid temperatures, especially in winter, which strip the air of moisture.
Low levels of humidity might increase your susceptibility to dry skin. In addition, the skin beneath the feet is frequently dry, rough, and chapped.
The skin surrounding the heels has a low amount of sebaceous glands, so it is prone to drying. Consequently, dehydration and dry skin during winter might increase the likelihood of developing heels that are cracked.
Obesity
Simply standing on your feet might increase the strain on the fat pad under the heel if you are overweight or obese.
This may cause the region to grow laterally, resulting in cracked heels. Moreover, suppose the skin is rigid and lacks elasticity.
In that case, there is a high likelihood that any pressure on the heel would cause fissures. Consequently, it is recommended to maintain a healthy weight.
The correct weight decreases the danger of cracked feet and the risk of several other health issues, such as diabetes.
Medical Conditions
Several medical issues might result in dry skin and cracked feet. This includes vitamin and mineral shortages, such as iron deficiency, and skin conditions, including psoriasis, athlete’s foot, and eczema. .
In addition, hormonal issues such as thyroid illness can deactivate the sweat glands, resulting in dry skin and an increased likelihood of developing heels that are cracked.
Further, diabetes can induce nerve loss, which may keep you from realising your feet are dry, cracked, and uncomfortable. It might raise the risk of infection.
When to See a Dermatologist
You’ve got to see your doctor when you’ve exhausted the whole gamut of home remedies and self-treatment.
If you’ve done everything and your heels still refuse to tolerate wetness, it’s time to bring in the cavalry. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to get to the bottom of your dry heel problems.
