Cracked Heels 101: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Cracked heels: causes, symptoms and treatment

Your skin is like a human shield. It protects you from dirt and infections¹ but when cracks begin to appear it can’t do its job properly. Cracked heels begin when tiny splits occur in dry, damaged skin.² Unless you remove the dry skin and regularly moisture with a specialised product like Scholl Foot Cream the tears can grow into deeper cracks, also known as fissures.³ These can be painful and are certainly aren’t attractive.

Symptoms

At first your heel may start to feel tight when you’re standing for long periods.³ The next signs are often intense dryness, itching and tenderness. Finally, skin may turn yellow or brown and feel hard to the touch.⁴ Cracked heels may seem like nothing more than a nuisance, but over time it can become more and more painful until it hurts just to walk. In advanced stages heels may be so dry that they turn white, yellowish and begin to flake. Cracks can deepen and may even bleed and become infected with bacteria.³

Causes

Dehydration is one of the biggest causes of cracked skin.⁵ Once moisture is lost your feet start to produce thick areas of rough skin as a form of protection. That’s why moisturising with a specialised product like Scholl Foot Cream is important.

Other factors that can contribute to cracked skin are:

• Harsh soaps and vigorous scrubbing⁵
• Lack of minerals and vitamins such as iron⁵
• Obesity, diabetes, and hypothyroidism⁵
• Chronic skin conditions like psoriasis³
• Dry indoor heating or exposure to cold weather³
• Problems with pronation of the foot⁶

Treatment

Taking care of your feet regularly is always better than trying to treat a problem when it develops. Most of us don’t give our feet the same care and attention we give the rest of your body. We’re all busy, but it only takes a moment to apply a specialised moisturiser like Scholl Expert Care Dry Foot Cream. Or you can soften hard skin quickly by soaking your feet in warm water.⁷

If it’s a little too late for prevention, then try Scholl Cracked Heel Repair Cream Active Repair K+. It can help hydrate and soften cracked heels in just two weeks by improving the skin’s elasticity. Apply twice a day to clean, dry skin and massage into your feet until it’s completely absorbed. And don’t forget to use a good foot file like Scholl Dual Action Foot File and Hard Skin Remover for removing dead skin layer by layer until smoother, softer skin is revealed.