Cracked heels are a common problem experienced by people of all ages.
Most of the time, the problem just makes heels unattractive to look at, but when cracks left untreated and become deep, walking, running and even standing can be painful.
The Main Symptoms Of Cracked Feet
The symptoms of cracked heels often indicate the external abuse of feet:
- Flaky patches show that your feet need more moisture and care. If you ignore these problems, the condition will get worse.
- Rough skin on the heels is one of the main symptoms that show that you are going to develop cracked heels. The callus will turn into cracks with time.
- Itchiness means that upper layers of your skin are shrinking which causes itching and stretching of the skin.
- Crack on the underside is a symptom that appears if you do not treat flaky patches. These cracks require immediate remedy. Do not pull the skin because it will make the cracks deeper. Take the small scissors and clip away the dry skin, and then apply a moisturizer.
- Rash appears if itching was left untreated. It can lead to pain and cracks.
- Bleeding appears when cracks affect deep layers of skin. This increases the chance of infection.
These symptoms can be worse during winter, especially if you already have itchiness, dryness and rash.
Complications Associated With Cracked Feet
It is necessary to treat cracked heels or they can cause complications. If you leave the condition stay, it can lead to severe consequences. The symptoms become impossible to manage, cracks become painful and there are also problems such as:
- increasing difficulty in walking;
- inability to spend time on feet, which affect working ability and limits movement;
- infections and diseases of the cracked feet;
- burning sensation, itching and bleeding;
As a result, a person with cracked heels will have to undergo complex treatments instead of getting rid of the problem quicker at earlier stages.
What Is The Treatment For Cracked Heels?
If moisturizing creams do not help or if you have severe cracks, a visit to a professional is required. A podiatrist will examine your feet and prescribe a treatment:
- strapping – a dressing around heels to reduce movement of the skin;
- debridement – cutting the dry skin away. Do not try to do this at home because removing too much skin may lead to infections;
- prescription of debriding and softening creams;
- heel pads or insoles to provide better support to heels and prevent cracks from expanding;
- special glue that is applied to heels to hold the edges of cracks and keep them together, so that the skin can heal faster.
Need More Help?
Are you having cracked heels? Do you want to get rid of them easily and get examined by a professional podiatrist?
Contact The Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center now to see what works effectively on your heels.
