Cracked Heels & Common Foot Problems

Cracks develop in skin which has hardened and thickened around the edges of the heels. Eventually this causes the skin to split, resulting in a cracked heel. If the skin becomes too thick and too hard, the cracks will deepen, become very painful and may bleed. Any split of the skin which bleeds is at risk of becoming infected.

Causes
The most common cause of cracked heels is the wearing of open backed shoes, such as thongs and sling backs of high heels.
Patients who are overweight or have bare feet may also suffer from this painful condition.
Some conditions such as diabetes will cause the skin to become dry.

Treatment
The hard skin can be debrided (trimmed) by one of our podiatrists. It is painless and most patients enjoy the relief soon after.
It is also advised to use a good moisturiser containing Urea, such as Eulactol heel balm, which helps heal and prevent the cracking from forming.
Any questions please feel free to ask the podiatrist, who will be happy to help you.