Cracked Heels: Hidden Health Signs You Should Never Ignore

 

Your feet are under a lot of strain all day long, and some of your even have to contend with cracked heels. As if you already painful feet aren't already suffering enough, a cracked or fissured heel can add insult to injury. Fissure heels are a frequent issue with the feet, and are caused by either excessive dry skin or an enlarged fat pad beneath the heels. If left unchecked, a cracked heel can become a nuisance. Heel crack is a common foot problem, and can affect both adults and children. It appears to be more common in women than men, and can even cause pain if one is walking barefoot. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available to help with dry skin and a cracked heel.

This article explore more about the best treatments for cracked heels and the best preventative measures.

 

Cracked Heels: Hidden Health Signs You Should Never Ignore

What Are Cracked Heel Or Heel Fissures?

Cracked heels, also known as heel fissures, develop when the skin on the bottom of your heel becomes dry and hard. Whatever the reason for your cracked heels, there are treatments you can apply. There are remedies for heel fissures as well as ways to keep your skin soft through prevention. There are also methods for preventing heels from initially cracking.

Having callouses, or patches of dry, thickened skin, around the rim of your heel is the first indication that your heels are cracked. This causes your callouses to crack.

Other factors that can cause cracked heels include:

• Standing for long hours
• Walking around barefoot,
• Using abrasive soaps that could deplete your skin of its natural oils
• Shoes that don't support your heels or fit properly
• Climate-related dry skin due to low humidity or cold temperatures
• Wearing open-heeled footwear such as sandals
• Taking hot baths or showers
• Dry, cold weather

Medical causes:

Some medical conditions can lead to cracked heels, as well. These include:

• Hypothyroidism, in which your thyroid doesn't make enough of certain hormones
• Athlete's foot, a fungal infection
• Heel spurs, bone protrusions on the bottom of your heel
• High blood sugar
• Poor circulation resulting from diabetes are common causes for dry skin.
• Vitamin deficiency
• Hypothyroidism
• Atopic dermatitis
• Juvenile plantar dermatosis
• Psoriasis
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Aging

 

What Are Symptoms Can Accompany Cracked Heels?

In addition to having cracked heels, you may experience:

• Flaky skin
• Itching
• Pain, possibly severe
• Bleeding
• Red, inflamed skin
• Ulceration
• Brown or yellow discoloration of the skin
• Thickening of the skin around the crack
• Visible cracking 

In severe cases, you may develop complications with a cracked heel, especially if it’s caused by a medical condition. Complications can include:

• A loss of feeling in your heel
• Cellulitis, an infection
• Diabetic foot ulcer
• Bleeding from the cracks in the heels
• Open wound or wounds on the heels
• Pain when putting pressure on the heels or walking
• Infection signs include discomfort, warmth, redness, and swelling. If you suspect an infection, make a quick phone call to your doctor.

 

How to Prevent Cracked Heels?

• Your footwear is important - Try to find shoes that fit comfortably and support your heels if you frequently get cracked heels. Wear shoes with a strong, wide heel that supports and cushions your heels whenever possible.
• Every day, check your feet - The importance of this increases if you have diabetes. By regularly checking your feet, you can identify issues before they get worse. Look for warm spots, cuts, athlete's foot, and swelling.
• Every day, wash your feet - Wash your feet with warm water. Since the skin between your toes has a tendency to remain wet, be sure to thoroughly dry them.

Wash your feet with warm water to prevent cracks

• Cut your toenails short - Trim your toenails straight across if they need to be cut. Then use an emery board to gently file them down.
• Put on supportive shoes - Start with a pair of well-fitting, clean, lightly padded socks. Put on comfortable, supportive shoes.
• Shield your feet from extreme temperatures - When going to the beach or walking on hot pavement, wear shoes. To protect the exposed areas of your feet, use sunscreen. Wear socks to bed if your feet get cold at night. Wear lined waterproof boots during the winter to keep your feet warm and dry.
• Try to avoid wearing open-toed shoes - Wearing sandals or sling backs that expose your heels can cause the skin on your heels to become dry. Avoid frequently walking barefoot on uneven surfaces. When walking outside, try to wear shoes, and when you're inside, wear non-skid socks or slippers with a back.
• Regularly moisturize your feet - Keeping your feet moisturized, especially in the morning and evening, will keep them soft and smooth.
• Wear shoes with protective heel cups - Heel fissures can be prevented by using heel cups to lessen the strain on your heels.
• Exfoliate often - To avoid the build-up of too many dead skin cells, gently scrub your feet with a loofah, pumice stone, or foot scrubber. This shields your heels from damage and stops fissures.

Avoid:

• Shoes with open backs typically don't provide enough heel support.
• Shoes with a tall, skinny heel can cause your heel to expand sideways.
• Shoes that are too tight. Standing still or sitting with your legs crossed for an extended period of time.
• Flip-flops and sandals, which can increase the risk of your feet drying out.
• A few lifestyle modifications can aid in preventing heel fissures in addition to underlying medical causes.

 

How to Treat Cracked Heels at Home?

By soaking your feet first and moisturizing them at least twice daily, you can treat the majority of cracked heel cases at home. Pick thick creams that contain skin softeners. Following these steps will help you fix cracked heels:

• Spend 20 minutes soaking your feet in soapy water.
• Use a loofah or pumice stone to gently scrub away the tough, thick skin on your heels. Dry your feet completely.
• Put petroleum jelly or another thick moisturizer on your dry feet.
• To keep the moisturizer in place, put on a pair of thick socks.

Look for labels that say things like:

• Urea
• Salicylic acid
• Alpha-hydroxy acid
• Saccharide isomerate
• Lactic acid 

All of these ingredients help soften skin while removing dead skin. Note that these ingredients might cause some stinging or irritation.

 

Home Treatments to cure cracked heel:

At-home treatments can help to soften your heels if you have mild symptoms.

1. Use a Thick Moisturizer:

Applying a foot cream or moisturizer is the simplest way to take care of your feet or heels. It moisturizes, hydrates, and locks in moisture for the dry skin on the heels. It can shield the calluses, cracks, and cuts on your feet. Additionally improving blood flow, foot moisturizing keeps your feet supple and soft.

Applying a moisturizer is the best way to take care of your feet

2. Apply Petroleum Jelly:

Apply petroleum jelly after taking a shower or as an overnight foot treatment. Vaseline Skin Protecting Jelly is advised. This multipurpose jelly is excellent for treating dry skin. The skin needs the natural oils and moisture it helps to lock in. Additionally, it shields your skin from bad weather and your heels from the drying effects of wind and cold.

3. Use Heel Balms:

Balms for heels are made specifically to address rough skin and cracked heels. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and other exfoliating ingredients like essential oils are abundant in heel balms. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, cleans the top layers of skin, and encourages cell growth. Urea is yet another crucial component of heel balms. A humectant called urea is used in skincare products to treat dry skin. By offering intense hydration to smooth the skin, it also heals and renews cracked skin.

4. Use Coconut Oil:

For psoriasis, eczema, and dry skin, coconut oil is frequently advised. It may aid in moisture retention for your skin. Coconut oil application following a foot soak may also be beneficial. If your cracked heels are prone to bleeding or infections, coconut oil's anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may help.

5. Use Honey:

Honey helps to heal cracked feet because it has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It also acts as a natural humectant, restoring and retaining moisture to keep the skin from drying out. Any type of fungus and bacteria are killed by the calming and anti-inflammatory properties. You can add honey to your bath and spend 20 minutes massaging your wet feet.

5. Vegetable Oil:

The skin readily absorbs cooking oils. Vegetable oils are rich in vitamins A, D, and E, which all rejuvenate the skin and treat cracked heels by generating new cells.

6. Shea Butter to Moisturise:

Shea butter has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is also a great emollient because shea butter's oils penetrate the skin on the feet and form a supple barrier that keeps moisture in. The redness of dry, cracked feet is diminished by anti-inflammatory properties. Shea butter also prevents infections in your feet.

7. Indulge in Foot Soaks:

Foot soaks are a quick and affordable DIY solution to fix cracked heels. A homemade foot soak encourages relaxation while treating dry skin and sore muscles. Fill a bucket or your bath with warm water until your ankles are covered if you have dry skin. Add a few tablespoons of oil, optionally coconut and oatmeal. The feet in water for 10 to 15 minutes. Additionally, foot soaks soften the skin, making pumice stone or scrub exfoliation simple.

8. The Paraffin Wax Fix:

It softens skin and treats dry, cracked heels. When the warm, melted wax is applied, it traps body heat and stimulates blood flow, which softens the skin. Due to skin moisture loss, the trapped heat will also increase moisture and help prevent cracked heels.

 

Consult your doctor if your heels are severely cracked 

When Should You See a Doctor About Cracked Heels?

Consult your doctor if your heels are severely cracked or if they don't get better after a week of treatment. Possible course of action includes:

• Skin cement - To hold the heel fissure edges together, your doctor may use a glue made for skin application.
• Sock liners - Your shoes' insoles may offer better support by spreading out the weight on your heel.
• Debridement - A medical professional will remove the thick, tough skin on your heels during this procedure.
• Strapping - To prevent your skin from moving around, use a bandage or dressings around the heel.
• Medications on prescription.- Your doctor might write you a prescription for a cream that is more potent than what is available over-the-counter.

 

Are there possible complications from heel fissures?

Deep heel fissures can cause excruciating pain, which can lower your quality of life. A heel fissure can make someone with diabetes more stressed and concerned that the area will get worse.

 

Conclusion:

Cracked heels are frequently not a cause for alarm. Home remedies or over-the-counter medications may be able to relieve the condition. It might take a few days or weeks for the cracks to heal, even though your skin might start to look better after the initial treatment. Wear shoes that fit properly during and after this period, and take good care of your feet to help stop new heel cracks. Lack of moisture leads to heel fissures.

If left untreated, this condition may progress to cause symptoms that are more severe. To help treat the symptoms as soon as possible, keep your feet moisturized and check them frequently for cracks and fissures. Speak with your doctor if you don't feel like your treatment and preventative measures are working.

 

FAQ:

Q1. What can happen if cracked heels are ignored?

Answer: Ignoring cracked heels can cause them to worsen, develop deep fissures, cause pain, bleeding, infections, and make it difficult to walk. If you have diabetes, deep cracks can also cause diabetic foot ulcers.

Q2. Can cracked heels cause any complications?

Answer: Yes, untreated cracked heels have the potential to result in side effects like infections,   cellulitis, and foot ulcers. Other issues include a burning sensation and trouble walking or standing for extended periods of time.

Q3. How to prevent cracked heels?

Answer: Regular foot moisturizing, avoiding prolonged contact with water, using a pumice stone or foot file to remove dead skin, and wearing well-fitting, supportive shoes are all important ways to prevent cracked heels.

Q4. Can diet affect cracked heels?

Answer: Yes, the development of cracked heels can be attributed to a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.