Cracked heels
Cracks in the skin around the heels are very common in those people who are overweight, tend to have dry skin, have thick callused skin around the edge of the heels and often wear open heel shoes.
When we weightbear, the fat pad under the heel wants to expands outwards from under the heel. If the skin around the edges of the heel are not moist, supple or flexible, then the skin has a tendency to and is likely to crack or split. If some callused or thick skin is also present around the heel, these heel cracks tend to be very deep and painful. Cracked heels are best prevented with applying creams emollients to the skin, wearing shoes that are closed in around the heel or a heel cup to keep the fat pad under the heel from expanding out sideways.
To treat heel fissures, any thick skin that is present around the heel is best debrided or removed by a skilled Podiatrist on a regular or semi-regular basis. Once a cracked heel does occur, it is best to see a podiatrist as they are usually quite hard to heel. They are hard to heal as continuing to weightbear on them opens up the crack with each step. Heel fissures are best treated with removal of the hard skin and strapping or tape to hold the edges together. Once they have healed, long term regular removal of the callus by a Podiatrist and the application of creams or emollients to soften teh skin is essential as this will be an ongoing problem otherwise. The use of closed in shoes around teh heel are important, as the shoe helps keep the fat under the heel and prevent it expanding.
More on heel cracks.
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