Cracked heel is not just something that looks ugly, but is also a matter of health concern, since it can invite various other associated issues. However, in some cases though, this problem doesn’t seem to a cause much concern, but it is always advisable that you do not to live with it, especially if you have medical conditions like high blood sugar or diabetes. Also, if your conditions are potentially serious, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
While your feet may show some improvement after beginning your treatment, it may take up to several weeks, or even months, to get the cracks healed completely. In this article, we vividly discuss how cracked heels develop, its common symptoms, as also, the causes that are directly or indirectly responsible for its development so as to help you understand the problem in a better way than ever before. Here we go:
Dry or dehydrated layers of your skin serve as the biggest factor for your skin to develop cracks around the heel areas. As the thick skin layers around your heels begin to lose the natural moisture, they begin producing layers of rugged and chapped skin as a natural shield for protection, eventually preventing those areas to get healed, thus forming ‘cracked heels’.
Initially, as the skins in those areas begin to crack, it apparently seems to be a mere visual issue. However, gradually, things become worse, leading to issues like itchiness, pain, and even bleeding, especially if left untreated.
Several potential causes lead to cracking of your heels, depending on your daily routine, and if you find that any of your daily works is responsible for the same, you need to alter your habits to get rid of such conditions. The following are the most common causes which can easily lead to heel cracks:
We all probably understand that this is the most common cause for your heels to develop cracks. While the area around your heel region are characteristically less elastic and has less number of sweat glands, it can very easily lose moisture, leading to dry skin and resultant roughness.
As you age, the regions of your body that have relatively thick skin, can turn scaly and dry because of the loss of natural elasticity. Hence, the chance of developing cracked heels is directly proportional to your increasing age.
Obesity or gaining more than average body weight can be directly responsible for increasing the pressure on the fat pad located under your heels, which, in turn, result in the expansion of the heels sideways. In such cases, if you are already ageing with a less elastic skin, your feet might not be able to bear the body’s pressure, leading to worse cases of cracked heels.
This is also a very common internal cause for cracked heels. If your body suffers from the deficiency of the essential minerals, especially zinc and iron, and your daily diet does not contain sufficient amount of vitamins, the health of your heels might get affected dramatically, giving you chronic issues of cracked heels.
Keeping your feet wet for too long, regularly, can lead to loss of natural oils, leading to rugged skin. You should also remember not to spend prolonged periods of time in humid areas including bathroom and washroom.
Several other health problems including eczema, thyroid disease, diabetes (blood sugar), athlete’s foot, psoriasis, and other dermatological health conditions can also be responsible for developing cracked heels.
Genes directly derived from your parents, or other close relatives, can well contribute to the issue of calluses or cracks in the heel areas.
If your type of work, both domestic and professional, requires long hours of standing, it can well lead to stress of your heel skin, gradually developing cracks around your heels.
Shoes and sandals that are open at the back (heel region) can allow the fat around the heels to spread sideways, increasing the chances of cracks on your heels. Walking barefoot regularly or using footwear that make you feel uncomfortable (like badly-fitting shoes, sandals, slippers, etc. that are too loose or too tight) can also be the direct causes to develop such symptoms.
Common awareness for hygiene is necessary for all of us in general. This holds good for issues like cracked heels as well. If you fail to maintain general cleanliness of your feet, you will invite the problem of cracked heels. Always keep try to keep your feet covered when walking, as also, refrain from using harsh chemical-based soaps, or scrubbing your feet vigorously even during cleaning.
Apart from the characteristic open cracks around your heel region, following are the most common symptoms for you to be sure that you are developing chronic cracked heels:
If any of the above symptoms seem to be severe, you are advised to get an appointment with your dermatologist or doctor without delay.
