LET’S TALK CRACKED HEELS
What we mean by cracked heels?
The skin over the heels becomes:
- calloused (hard skin)
- dry or flaky (due to an underlying skin condition)
- fissured (deep cracks)
- Sometimes they even bleed (when cracks are very deep)
When does it happen?
Cracking of the heels tends to happen moreL
- in the hotter and
- very cold seasons of the year
Why does it happen?
The key reason why when things start to get hotter people get cracked heels is:
- open shoes, thongs, sandals or any shoe that doesn’t allow you to wear a sock to keep the moisture in
And in the winter the dryness tends to come from:
- lack of humidity in the air
What can you do about it?
Things you can do to try and manage this at home is;
- wearing closed shoes as much as possible (as hard as this may be in summer)
- minimising the amount of time you’re wearing thongs, sandals and open-type shoes
- moisturising,
**HOT TIP: put moisturiser on at night just before you’re about to go to bed so you can allow it to do its work properly.
What type of moisturiser should I use?
The type of cream will depend on the severity of dryness and if there are any other underlying conditions:
- Mild dryness -> Sorbelene or Vitamin E cream
- Moderate/Severe dryness -> Emollient cream (urea based)
- Tinea or fungal infection-> Antifungal spray
- Dermatitis or other skin condition -> Corticosteroid cream
What can a Podiatrist do for you?
We can help you get those heels summer ready by:
- providing treatment that will eliminate the hard/dry skin immediately
- a personalised management plan to prevent its reoccurrence
- advice on the best cream for you and the condition you present to us with
- assess your footwear and other contributing factors (why your getting cracked heels)
GET MY HEELS SUMMER READY!!!
If you are in Burwood, Caroline Springs or Taylors Hill click the link below to book your appointment now: https://holisticfootclinic.com.au/booking.
For more info check out our Podiatrist Caelin’s video from sunny Caroline Springs: