Cracked heels can range from an unattractive nuisance to an extremely painful condition. Cracks or fissures can become so deep that standing, walking or applying any pressure becomes painful, and serious cracks may also begin to bleed.
Cracked heels may start with dry skin or result from other conditions, including psoriasis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and atopic dermatitis. Corns and calluses can also cause cracked heels, particularly if a person is overweight, stands for a long time on hard floors, or wears open-back shoes or sandals.
If you care for your heels properly, you will most likely prevent cracked ones. Proper care is simple — use a moisturising cream regularly. If cracked heels are already a problem, use the moisturiser two to three times a day. Before using moisturiser, rub callused areas with a pumice stone to reduce their thickness. Look for foot moisturisers containing urea, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids or saccharide isomerate because these water-retaining agents help keep the foot.
See a podiatrist if your home treatment of cracked heels doesn’t work after a week. Treatments include debridement, which involves cutting away the thick skin and strapping, a method used to hold cracks together as they heal. Consider using prescription creams and special insoles or other products to redistribute the weight on the heel and provide better support.
Good moisturising doesn’t just help prevent or cure cracked heels; it can also help keep away corns and calluses.
Be Kind to Cracked Heels
Never use a razor blade or scissors to remove hardened skin from your feet. If you remove too much skin, you run the risk of infection. This advice also applies if you’re getting a pedicure in a salon.
Treating Corns and Calluses
Corns and calluses are quite similar. Both are tough, thick layers of skin formed by friction and pressure. Corns are usually smaller than calluses and have a hard centre known as the kernel. They can develop in several areas on the foot but are more often found in areas that are not weight-bearing, such as the tops and sides of toes. Calluses typically develop on the soles of your feet and don’t usually become painful unless you develop cracked heels.
As with several foot ailments, prevention is your best line of defence. Shoes that don’t fit—both too tight and too loose— can cause corns and calluses to develop. High-heeled shoes are another common culprit, as are narrow, pointy shoes. Wearing shoes without socks or sandals that rub against your foot might also lead to corns and calluses.
Corns or calluses that don’t cause too much discomfort and aren’t inflamed can usually be treated at home. Treatment is simple. Use over-the-counter pads to provide a barrier between your foot and the cause of the friction on your foot. Use caution with liquid corn removals or pads with salicylic acid, which can irritate.
You can also soak your feet in warm, soapy water to soften the hardened skin. While soaking or right after, use a pumice stone to remove some toughened skin. If you use a pumice stone, only remove a little skin at a time. Then, use moisturiser to help keep the skin pliable.
See your doctor if your efforts to treat the problem at home are ineffective. A podiatrist can use a scalpel to remove some of the problem skin. He or she may also apply a patch with 40 per cent salicylic acid, prescribe an antibiotic ointment, or suggest you use custommade shoe inserts.