Treating Cracked Heels / Heel Fissures
LET’S TALK ABOUT FEET baby!
You are not alone!
Are you reluctant to wear open-backed sandals, jandals or shoes? Do you raid the bathroom drawer in search of something to relieve your pain? As we experience warmer weather, we become more conscious about the condition of our feet. Cracks develop, affecting the outer layer of skin and, in more painful cases, a much deeper crack can affect even the healthiest of skin beneath. Heel cracks can be painful, unsightly, and frustrating!
A build-up of hard skin is a natural body process to protect areas of skin that are under a lot of pressure. But dry thickened skin around the rim of the heel is the first step towards cracking. Increased pressure on the fat pad under the heel causes the skin to expand sideways, leading to splitting or cracking of the callus.
Some factors that contribute to those nasty cracks can be:
- Prolonged standing, especially on hard floors
- Open-back shoes and sandals, as they provide no support to hold the fat pad under the foot
- Not moisturising the feet
- Barefoot walking
- Excessive weight or obesity
So, why is the treatment of heel cracks important?
Apart from being unsightly, embarrassing and painful, heel cracks made you vulnerable to infection, opening a pathway for dirt and bugs to enter the body.
A podiatrist can treat thick, hard cracks but the best course of action is prevention. To avoid heel cracks and their complications, we recommend using our Save My Heels Home Care Kit to keep your feet healthy this summer.
We also recommend the Save My Heels Home Care Kit for those with heel cracks who are yet to see a podiatrist. Using these podiatrist-approved solutions will improve your skin’s condition, making further treatment easier and more comfortable.
Take the guess work out of your home treatment options. Merivale Podiatry recommends Gehwol Salve and Gehwol Lipido including Pedi Paddle for your continued care and prevention of heel cracks. Give it a go and enjoy foot freedom this summer!