Cracked heels, commonly referred to as heel fissures, are a sign of lack of attention to foot care rather than just overexposure or lack of moisturizing, as we tend to forget our feet more in the winter months.What Causes Cracked Heels?
Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin. The skin around the rim of the heel can have a thickened 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.
Factors than Lead to Pain or Infection of Heel Fissures
If the cracks are bad enough, there will be pain upon weight bearing. Wearing open or thin soled shoes usually make the symptoms worse. Factors that can be involved are prolonged standing especially on hard floors, being overweight, open back on shoes, autonomic neuropathy in those with diabetes - which leads to less sweating - or an underactive thyroid which can cause less sweating, psoriasis and eczema.
Introducing Kamea G Exfoliating Foot Cream and Kamea 20 Emollient Foot Cream
For just this reason, we are now carrying *Kamea G exfoliating foot cream (an alpha hydroxyl acid) that exfoliates scale from the sole of the foot with followup of *Kamea 20, an emollient foot cream that conditions by adding elasticity to the skin, thus creating suppleness. A pumice stone can also be used to reduce the thickness of the hard skin. Never, and we mean NEVER, use a razor blade or a pair of scissors to reduce the hard skin yourself. There is a risk of an infection developing and taking too much off.
*Product purchased only in a physician’s office for patient monitoring
Contact Our Fort Worth Podiatrists
If you're suffering from painful cracked heels, it's important that you seek out treatment and don't try to heal it on your own. Contact our office online to schedule a time to speak with our foot specialists, or just stop by to pick up your Kamea creams today!