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Home Tag: "cracked heels"

Tag: cracked heels

6Sep
Summer-Proof Your Feet: Beat Cracks, Fungus & Blisters

Summer is all about sandals, beach days, and showing off those toes. However, the warm months bring a few foot-related health issues, such as cracked heels, toenail fungal infections, and painful foot corns. If you have dealt with any of these summer foot problems, you know how they can turn your vacation into a nightmare.

Read More “How to Summer-Proof Your Feet”
22Jan
Close-up of dry, cracked heel with magnifying glass showing skin texture.
Dry feet can cause discomfort and itching, potentially leading to more serious foot problems if not addressed.

Dry feet can be a common and bothersome condition that many individuals experience at some point in their lives. While it may seem like a minor concern, persistent dryness can lead to discomfort, cracking, and even more serious foot problems if left untreated. In this article, we will delve into the causes of dry feet, the importance of proper foot care, and how podiatrists play a crucial role in addressing and preventing this condition.

Read More “Managing Dry Feet: A Podiatrist’s Perspective”
28Aug
Dry and peeling skin on the soles of your feet can lead to discomfort and even pain.
Dry and peeling skin on the soles of your feet can lead to discomfort and even pain.

Having dry and flaky skin on the bottom of your feet can be uncomfortable and even painful. Not only does it affect the appearance of your feet, but it can also lead to itching, cracking, and discomfort. In this article, we’ll explore the common causes of dry feet bottom and provide practical solutions to help you regain soft, healthy, and comfortable skin.

Read More “Say Goodbye to Dry Bottom of Feet”
Close-up of cracked heels on feet, showing dry, damaged skin.
2Oct

crackedheels

Cracked heels are common, with 20 percent of adults having experienced cracked heels at one time. It can happen in children also, though it seems to affect women more. In severe cases, dry cracked feet with cuts cause discomfort and pain when walking.

The best-cracked heels remedy is to prevent them. Look at your daily routine and identify any habits that leave the heels vulnerable to cracks and alter them to prevent cracked heels.

Some factors that pose a risk to the development of cracked heels include

  1. Lack of moisture

This causes most cracked heels because the skin under the feet is rough, chapped, and dry. It has a small number of sweat glands and hence less skin elasticity. Exposing your feet to water for long strips off the natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry.

Apply thick moisturizers to soften and moisturize the heels. Find moisturizers with the following ingredients urea, salicylic acid, saccharide isomerate, and alpha-hydroxy acids. These also are the best cream for cracked heels and help in treating cracked heels.

  1. Deficiencies

Inadequate intake of zinc, vitamins, and minerals affects the health of your heels and they may crack. Increase the intake of these in your diet for a supple heel skin.

  1. Applied Pressure

If you spend a long time standing during the day, the excess stress is applied to the skin of the heel may cause a crack. The pressure put and the lack of a flexible heel skin leads to cracked heels. Being overweight also increases the pressure on the fat pad under the heel as it expands sideways. The wearing of exposing footwear, such as open back sandals and shoes, forces the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increase the possibility of cracked heels.

Regular foot care through soaking and moisturizing is crucial, especially where pressure is applied. Keep your feet for up to 20 minutes in lukewarm soapy water. Then use a foot scrubber or pumice stone to get rid of thick hard skin. Wipe your feet off and apply a thick moisturizer. Apply petroleum jelly to lock in moisture and put on socks. One can also use moisturizing heel sleeves that contain vitamins and therapeutic oils to treat the dry skin.

  1. Disorders

Some skin conditions leave the heel susceptible to cracking. These conditions include athletes’ foot, eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, thyroid disease, among other skin conditions. Aging skin also loses its elasticity with age and chances of dry cracked heels are high. In case you experience cracked heels due to medical conditions or aging you need to cracked heels treatment from a podiatrist before applying any foot crack cream. Also, if you experience severely cracked heels, seek evaluation by a foot doctor regardless of your medical history.

However, the best form of treatment for a cracked heel is to prevent cracks from occurring in the first place. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist if you have been unsuccessful in getting rid of your cracked heels. Our foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide you with the care needed to get you up and running in no time.

Close-up of cracked heel skin showing dryness and peeling.
5Apr

heelCracked Heels – What You Need To Know

Is it hard for you to wear strappy heels or simple sandals to show off your good looking feet without getting worried because of dry cracked heels? A crack in heel and dry feet are more common during summer because the feet are exposed most of the time. Foot care should be easily incorporated into one’s daily routine for the prevention of cracked heels. Care for your feet the same way you care for your face and your body and enjoy healthier, happier feet always.

Causes of cracked heels

There is more than one cause of heel cracks, but it is possible to have more than one cause to affect you.  If you are looking for some expert advice on cracked heels, you may want to seek help from a podiatrist. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist. Our foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet

 

  1. Lack of moisture; the skin underneath the feet is usually dry, chapped and rough since fat cells are not present underneath the feet skin and have less elasticity.
  2. Deficiency or lack of zinc, minerals, and vitamins affects the health of the heel.
  • III. Your feet are under pressure to carry the weight of your body in shoes, walking and standing for long hours.
  1. Aging causes the skin to lose its thickness and elasticity, leaving it more susceptible to cracking.
  2. Being overweight can potentially cause cracked heels because of the pressure on the fat pad under the heel causes it to expand sideways.
  3. Exposing footwear with an open back allows the fat to expand and increase the possibility of cracking. If you have to wear the exposing footwear take extra care of your feet.
  • VII. Maintain hygiene to avoid fungal infections.
  • VIII. Spending long periods in the water or damp areas easily cause cracking because water drains the skin of natural oils leaving it dry and rough.
  1. Wearing poorly-fitting shoes will likely cause a change in walking posture and cause poor standing postures.
  2. It is believed that callus skin is sometimes genetically passed on.
  3. Medical causes such as diabetes and high blood sugar which results in poor circulation leading to dry skin.
  • XII. Pregnancy due to hormonal changes.

Simple cracked heel treatments

Cracked heels happen because of the formation of callus, lack of proper exfoliation and hydration.

Cracked heel treatments include:

Exfoliation

Calloused heels happen due to daily wear and tear and exfoliation is the safest way to remove them.   Use a foot scrub; pumice stone and foot file to exfoliate every two weeks, but if the calluses are moderate increase exfoliation to once or twice a week. Do not completely get rid of them because they have a function to protect the feet, do not expose your feet to harm.

Moisturize

The feet do not have sebaceous glands, so they are less moisturized unlike other parts of the body. Look for moisturizer products with macadamia, urea, and Shea butter oils because they penetrate the skin. For already cracked feet products with Aloe Vera are suitable because it speeds up the healing process.

Inserts and socks

Wear custom shoe inserts because they distribute your weight evenly. Also, consider silicon heel cups which keep the heel moisturized and prevents it from expanding. Use clinically-tested padded socks.

Cracked heels take time to heal even after showing signs of improvement following initial treatment. Seek medical attention to prevent serious complications from underlying medical conditions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Cypress, TX. Our Cypress office can handle all of your cracked heel issues. We will provide you with the latest diagnostic and treatment methods for all foot-related issues.