The Fix for Cracked Heels

 

 

With patience and the right plan, you can heal your cracked heels at home quite successfully.

Read on to see the care routine I use and recommend.

 

Cracked heels are a common problem that may develop into painful fissures or openings if left untreated. You may see dehydrated feet as a minor nuisance; however it can lead to further problems such as fungal infections and ulcerations.

 

 

What’s Causing Your Cracked Heels?

 

While one of the main causes of dry, cracking skin is the arid winter air, other factors can impact heels. Common problems that contribute to heel fissures include but are not limited to:

• Age

• Psoriasis or other skin-related conditions

• Diabetes

• Kidney disease

• Thyroid disease

• Vitamin deficiency

• Excess weight

 

Skin loses its ability to stretch with age, so cracks are more common as you get older. Diabetes can interrupt the body’s ability to produce oils, making the skin less supple and more susceptible to extreme dryness.

Disease and disorders such as athlete’s foot, psoriasis, eczema, and thyroid disease may cause cracked heels.

Excess weight can create extra pressure on the feet.

Prolonged standing in ill-fitting shoes can become a problem due to added pressure. Poorly structured feet can sometimes lead to abnormal gait that produces calluses to the heel.

Water, especially running water, can rob the skin of its natural oils and this can leave the skin dry and rough.

Deficiency of vitamins, minerals and zinc can lead to skin breakdown as well.  (See Important Seniors’ Nutritional Supplements Reviewed)

 

 

Symptoms of Dry, Cracked Heels

 

One of the first signs of dry, cracked heels is formation of thick, discolored callus tissue that may cause pain with everyday pressure-related activities like walking or running.

If the callus goes untreated and continuous pressure is applied, then you may eventually notice small or even deep breaks that may cause bleeding to occur. If not properly cared for, this may cause an infection. The skin to the heels may begin to redden or become severely inflamed.

Diabetics must check their feet daily because these changes can go unnoticed due to a decreased ability to feel their feet.  (See Caring for Diabetic Feet)

Dry, cracked heels are easily prevented by wearing adequate supportive shoes and with regular use of moisturizers. Ideally, the goal is to prevent cracks from first forming.

 

 

If you have developed dry, cracked heels, here’s a simple healing plan that works, which you can manage yourself:

 

Start With a Soak

 

Start your treatment with a warm soak to soften the skin, followed by a scrub with a  Pumice stone, to  remove some of the excess dead skin that is preventing proper healing.  Try the Cuccio Earth Lava Pumice Stone.  It is all-natural, inexpensive, and has excellent reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, Use a Good Topical Cream

 

Topical creams are documented to be the best skin care treatment, so after your soak and scrub, dry your foot thoroughly and apply a cracked heel cream.   Mild cases may have success with petroleum jelly, but a cream developed specifically for cracked heels will provide a more effective remedy for cracked skin.

 

I have two recommendations for cracked heel cream, both of which have my husband’s seal of approval.  My husband, Mark suffers from chronic dry, cracked heels.  He wears flip-flops most of the time, which is probably the largest contributing factor to his problem.  These are the products which have worked best for him (when used consistently).

 

 

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