Cracked Heels Dry Skin

What are cracked heels?

Cracked heels are a common foot problem that are often referred to as heel fissures. Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin (xerosis), and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel is thick (callus).

For most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem but when the fissures or cracks are deep, they are painful to stand on and the skin can bleed - in severe cases this can become infected.

Symptoms:

If the cracks are bad enough there will be pain on weight bearing, that is not there when weight is off the heel. The edges or rim around the heel will generally have a thicker area of skin (callus). Wearing open or thin soled shoes usually makes the symptoms worse.

Treatment Recommendations for Optimum Effectiveness:

Apply a small dab of CHRC to affected skin once or twice daily and massage in well. Best after bathing.

Use an exfoliating sugar scrub once or twice weekly, as directed, on wet feet.

A pumice stone may be used to help reduce the thickness of the hard skin. Use this once a week (after the foot scrub), while the feet are wet, for best results.

Cover feet with white cotton socks at betime for increased penetration.

A heel cup may be used to keep the fat pad of the heel from expanding sideways (cracks are caused by this expansion).