Cracked heels

Why do heels crack?

Cracked heels are caused by cracking or splitting of the skin – this may be due to dryness or callus build-up which splits when under pressure.
When skin becomes thickened or dry, it loses its elasticity and becomes less supple. When day-to-day pressures are placed on the heel from activities such as walking, it can cause the skin to split which can be painful. Additionally, many medical conditions can cause dryness of the heels such as diabetes, psoriasis, lichen planus, heart disease and many more.

How can I get rid of this?

With some minor cracks or dryness to your heels you should be able to treat this at home but for the best results and especially more extensive cracking, seeing a Podiatrist is your best option.

The Podiatrist will be able to provide a diagnosis of any underlying medical condition which may have been causing the cracked heels. They will also remove any dry or thickened skin quickly and easily. By seeing a Podiatrist get this excess skin removed, will then make it much more manageable to treat at home in between podiatry appointments through filing regularly; around 3 times a week, and creaming daily with a urea-based cream.

If you would like to see one of our Podiatrists, you can book an appointment online or give us a call on 01380 730473.