cracked heels

Cracked heels are a common foot problem that is sometimes referred to as heel fissures. They are caused by dry skin and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel is thick. For most people this is a nuisance and cosmetic problem but when the fissures or cracks are deep they are painful to stand on and the skin can bleed.

Some people tend to have naturally dry skin that predisposes them to the cracks. The dry skin around the heel that is more likely to crack is often due to mechanical factors that increase pressures in that area like the way you walk.

Other factors that can be involved in the cause of cracked heels include prolonged standing, being overweight, open back on the shoes. This allows the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increases the pressure to crack. Some medical conditions predispose to a drying skin.

At Advanced Foot Care Clinic we offer Gormel 20 cream. This has 20% urea which is the highest amount of urea that is offered over the counter. Urea is a exfoliate and a moisturizer. This is very effective if you are experiencing heel problems.