Cracked heels describe the little cracks that occur around your heels after they have built up with dry skin (callus). Cracked heels affect the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). They can be uncomfortable, frustrating and sometimes painful if the cracks are deep enough to crack into the healthy skin beneath the callus (dermis).
The first step in getting cracked heels is getting a build up of dry skin (callus)
around your heels. Callus often occurs as a result of excessive force and pressure through an area of the skin, which in this case is the
heels. Various causes include:
Building up callus is a natural body process to protect areas of the skin that are under a lot of pressure and at a high risk of damage. When the callus loses a lot of moisture and is subject to pressure, cracks form.
Aside from the obvious cracks in the callus around you heals, you may experience:
Another cause of itchy, dry-looking feet can be Athlete’s Foot – click here to learn more.
Cracks in the dry skin can also crack the healthy skin beneath the callus. This will cause it to bleed and become painful. It will also be very vulnerable to infection, as the cracks can easily trap dirt and bacteria and be difficult to clean. We’re able to treat and manage your cracked heels safely and effectively. We can:
Moisturising your heels daily can help with cracks. Improving circulation to the feet can help heal cracks and discourage them from recurring. If cracks or deep fissures are persistent, a diet lacking proper nutrients may be the culprit. Your Podiatrist will be able to give you the best advice and treatment plan that is specific to your symptoms. We remove thick, hard cracks from the heels in our medical pedicure and skin and nail care appointments.
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Keeping your family on their feet and helping them to walk, run, play and exceed their goals is why we love getting up in the morning.
We're located inside the One Health medical centre at Building 122 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland 1050, New Zealand
| MON - SAT | 8:30am – 6:00pm |
| SUN | Closed |
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