I always thought that cracked heels (or heel fissures) meant that I was in desperate need of moisturizer. However, cracked heels are more of a foot care maintenance problem. Heel fissures can also appear due to a deficiency in vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.

Cracked heels occur when the thickened skin becomes very dry and splits due to the pressure of standing or walking. Some people, like me, have dry skin (xerosis) which makes them more likely to develop cracks. Cracks in the skin can occur around the rim of the heel and the web of your toes. Cracked heels can occur on one or both feet, but usually affect both feet.

It’s important to pay attention to the condition of your feet and not to neglect them. If the cracks in your heels start to bleed, you could develop an infection.

Risk Factors

Some common risk factors for cracked heels include:

• Standing for prolonged periods of time, especially on hard floors
• Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
• Being overweight which increases the pressure on the fat tissue under your heel
• Wearing open back shoes which causes the fat beneath your heel to expand sideways and increases the pressure to crack
• Certain medical conditions that cause dry skin—psoriasis, athlete’s foot, thyroid disease, diabetes

Cracked Heels Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

• Peeling and flaking of skin
• Skin feels tight and painful
• Skin appears yellow or brown and may become inflamed due to itching and scratching
• Dry skin becomes thick and hard, usually around the edges of the heels
• Feet become painful when walking
• Discomfort is increased when walking barefoot, in thin sole shoes or open back shoes
• Bleeding may occur if the cracks are deep
• Dry and cracked skin is prone to bacteria and fungal infections which can cause serious problems

Home remedies for Cracked Heels

• Try an oil-based moisturizer 2 times a day. You can even use shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil after you wash your feet. After applying cream or shortening, put on some thick socks and leave them on overnight. You will see results in a few days.
• Use a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the hardened skin.
• Apply banana pulp to the cracked skin, leave on for 10 minutes and wash it clean.
• Melt paraffin wax and mix it with some mustard oil. Put this mixture on the dry or cracked area of your heels and rinse it off in the morning. Using this method for 15 days can provide you with desirable results.
• Cracked heels can occur due to a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced naturally by the body and need to be ingested from either food or supplements. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in flax seeds, cold water fish and purslane herb.

Warning:
Do not try to cut off the hard skin with a razor blade or scissors—you will increase your risk of infection.

Foot Care Tips

• Always keep your feet clean and free of dirt
• Exercise your feet on a daily basis
• Wash, moisturize and exfoliate your feet regularly
• Check your feet for any changes in condition
• Try not to walk barefoot

—Nolan

Do you have any home remedies for cracked heels? Comment and tell us!

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