P407
Dry, Cracked Skin on Heels (Fissures)
Dry skin on any part of the body can be annoying and can cause flaking and cracking, redness due to scratching, and unsightly patches of thick or hard skin. When dry skin occurs on the feet, the symptoms are magnified due to wearing shoes, the stretching of the skin on the feet with every step, and by certain synthetic materials in shoes or socks that may dry the skin out even more. Because of the confining nature of shoes and the lack of fresh air circulation, dry feet need special care.
Heels are the most prone to develop dry, hard, and painful cracks or fissures. For many people, cracks on the heels are only a cosmetic problem; however, when the fissures are deep they can be very painful and may bleed. Once bleeding occurs, the skin is prone to bacterial infections and athlete's foot.
Causes of dry skin and cracked heels include:
• Inactive sweat glands. This is usually genetic.
• Obesity. Extra weight on the feet will destroy sweat glands.
• Years of prolonged standing will also destroy sweat glands.
• Using excessively hot water when bathing can reduce sweat gland activity.
• Certain chronic skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis cause dry skin.
• Biomechanical foot defects cause abnormalities in walking, which can cause certain areas of the feet to bear abnormal amounts of weight. This abnormal weight not only destroys sweat glands in these areas, but produces areas of thick, hard, and dry skin.
Checked 3/1/08