What Are Heel Fissures?
Cracked heels aren’t usually dangerous, but sometimes they can get infected and lead to a skin infection called cellulitis. Heel fissures, or cracked heels, happen when the skin on the bottom of your heel becomes hard and dry. No matter what the cause of your cracked heels, there are steps you can take to treat them. There are also ways to keep your heels from cracking in the first place.
What Causes Cracked Heels?
When the skin around your heels becomes dry and thick, it can be the start of cracked heels. Extra pressure on the fat pad of your heels can cause dry, thick skin to form cracks, or heel fissures. While anyone can get heel fissures, some things make them more likely, including:
- Wearing open-heeled footwear, such as sandals
- Taking hot baths or showers
- Using harsh soaps
- Having cold, dry skin
- Dry, cold weather
- Standing for long periods
Medical conditions that can lead to cracked heels include:
- Hypothyroidism, in which your thyroid doesn’t make enough of certain hormones
- Juvenile plantar dermatosis, a skin condition in young children
- Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic condition that prevents your body from making enough moisture
- Athlete’s foot, a fungal infection
- Heel spurs, bony growths on the bottom of your heel
How to Treat Cracked Heels at Home
Most cases of dry, cracked heels can be treated at home. Home remedies include soaking your feet and then moisturizing them at least twice a day. Choose thick creams that have skin softeners in them. A cracked heels remedy includes these steps:
- Rest your feet in soapy water for 20 minutes.
- Gently scrub with a loofah or pumice stone to remove the thick, hard skin on your heels.
- Dry your feet thoroughly.
- Apply a heavy moisturizer, such as petroleum jelly, to your dry feet.
- Put on a pair of thick socks to keep the moisturizer in place.
When looking for over-the-counter solutions for dry feet, search for labels that say things such as:
- Urea
- Salicylic acid
- Alpha-hydroxy acid
- Saccharide isomerate
- Lactic acid
These ingredients help soften skin while removing dead skin, but they might cause some stinging or irritation.
Cracked Heels Treatment
If your heels are severely cracked or don’t improve after you’ve treated them for a week, talk to your doctor. “It’s almost like a desert,” Singh explains. “If it’s very dry and cracked, you’ll never get good skin to grow across those areas.”
You may need treatment from a podiatrist or a doctor who specializes in foot, ankle, and lower leg conditions. Possible treatment options include:
Strapping. This involves using a bandage or dressings around the heel to keep your skin from moving around.
Debridement. In this procedure, a medical professional cuts away the thick, hard skin on your heels. Don’t try to do this yourself. You may cut away too much skin, causing an infection.
Medicated cream for cracked heels. Your doctor may give you a prescription for a stronger cream than you can buy over the counter. Prescription-strength creams usually contain a higher percentage of active ingredients, such as urea or salicylic acid.
Skin glue. Your doctor may use glue designed for use on the skin to hold the edges of the heel fissures together. This can allow them to heal.
Shoe inserts. Insoles in your shoes may offer better support by redistributing the weight on your heel. This can prevent the fat pad from expanding sideways and cracking your heels.
Singh also suggests seeing a doctor if you notice redness or other signs of infection, such as an odor or leaking cracks. “If you have cracks that expose your feet to the outside world and germs, then you no longer have an intact barrier against infection.”
How to Prevent Cracked Heels
Check your feet daily. This is particularly important if you have diabetes. Checking your feet every day will help you find problems before they become serious. Look for:
- Swelling
- Cuts
- Athlete’s foot
- Warm spots
Wash your feet every day. Use warm water to wash your feet. Dry them well, making sure you get between your toes because the skin there tends to stay wet. Then apply cornstarch or talcum powder between your toes. This will keep the skin dry and help prevent infection.
Trim your toenails. If your toenails need to be cut, trim them straight across. Then, file them down gently with an emery board. This will help prevent ingrown toenails.
Wear supportive footwear. Start with clean, lightly padded socks that fit well. Wear shoes that fit and support your feet. Shop for shoes at the end of the day, as feet tend to swell as the day goes on.
Protect your feet from extreme temperatures. Make sure you wear shoes at the beach and on hot pavement. Use sunscreen to protect exposed areas of your feet. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks to bed. In the winter, wear lined waterproof boots to keep your feet warm and dry.
Credit: webmd.com
