HEAL THOSE CRACKING HEELS

Don't let your heels crack under pressure, cautions Axel Rohrmann, a podiatrist at Advanced Foot & Ankle Health Pte Ltd. He tells you how to get them back on the recovery track.

 
 

In an average lifetime, a person will walk 192,000 kilometres, making the feet one of the most active parts of one's body. Cracked heels are a common problem seen in foot care. The skin on the bottom of our feet is significantly thicker than other parts of our body and yet is prone to an ailment known as heel fissures.

While people everywhere are affected, those who live in dry or wet climates, are moderately to severely obese, who consistently go barefoot or who wear sandals tend to experience it more often. It is due to lack of hydration of the skin and may sometimes be caused by a fungal infection or other skin condition such as psoriasis.

FIRST SIGNS

It is important to treat cracked heels at the first sign of their appearance. Heel fissures seem to form at the junction of the two types of skin in the foot, glabrous and hairy skin. These two types of skin come together at the rim or junction of the side and bottom of the heel.

For overweight folks, the rim becomes an abrupt turn caused by overloading. This abrupt turn seems to stimulate the formation of callus around the rim of the heel through continuous reactive hyperemia and increased cellular mitosis. This hyperkeratotic tissue then looses its elasticity and fissures under pressure. If left untreated, they develop into painful deep cracks, which may bleed or even become infected.

FISSURES UNDER PRESSURE

Heel fissures can be particularly troublesome for those people that lack sensation in the foot such as diabetics. Prevention is the best medicine.

The best that we can hope for with heel fissures is to prevent deep, painful cracks.

The most important step in treating and preventing cracked heels is to establish a regular morning and evening regimen of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising. In the morning cleanse your feet with an anti-bacterial soap, then exfoliate them using something like a pumice stone/callus brush or emery board.

Dry your feet well then apply a deep penetrating foot balm to the affected areas. This assists in chemical debridement of the overlying callus thus restoring elasticity to these areas.

CREAM OF THE CROP

The best creams contain urea. Found in a 10% concentration, this also assists in moisture balance together with sodium PCA. Other ingredients, which assist in both repair and prevention, are Vitamin E and AHAs. When possible, put on a pair of 100% cotton socks for the day. In the evening before you are ready to go to bed, you can soak your feet in lukewarm water with some antibacterial soap for approximately ten minutes. Dry your feet well and apply a deep penetrating urea foot balm. Perform this morning and evening routine for about five days.

When the cracks have healed and your heels are once again smooth to the touch, move to a preventative regimen of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising twice a week. If the heels do not improve, the condition may lead to something more serious. Do not delay in seeking medical advice. See your podiatrist for assessment and discussion of treatment options.