Cracked Heels Treatment in Adelaide

When the skin around your heels becomes dry, it leads to a condition known as cracked heels. Almost 25 percent of Australians developed cracked heels at some point. Though it affects adults and children, it has been seen that women are more often affected than men.

Painful cracked heels are a common sign during an Australian summer. Even cold, winter weather attributes to the condition. Though in most cases, the condition is not much to worry about, it does cause discomfort and pain when you walk barefoot. In certain cases, cracked heels or ‘fissures’ tend to go deep and lead to pain, which requires medical help.

Symptoms of Cracked Heels

Cracked heel develop in stages, the first stage is the appearance of dry, hardened skin called calluses. When more pressure is applied on the area due to walking or other such activity, cracks begin to develop in the area. The physical appearance of dried and cracked skin on the heel area is the most obvious sign of a ‘cracked heel’. There are also other associated signs and symptoms like:

Scaly skin
Itching in the area
Discomfort while standing and/or walking.
Pain and bleeding from the cracks
Swelling, warmth and redness in the area, which hints at infection.

Causes of Cracked Heel

Here are the cause for cracked heel:

Harsh weather:

Be it walking barefoot under the warm sun, or dry winter, both play their parts in getting cracked heels.

Age:

Reduced sebum (natural, oily substance) production and accumulation of damage from sun over the years can lead to cracked heels.

Prolonged hot showers:

It has been seen that taking long showers for an extended period of time can cause cracking in the heel area.

Poor hygiene:

Lack of applying a moisturizer on the skin can also cracked heels.

Eczema:

Dry skin on and around the heels that cause cracking in the area, due to the onset of atopic dermatitis or eczema.

Obesity:

Being obese can also lead to cracked heel.

Diabetes:

One of the common underlying conditions that cause cracked heel is diabetes.

Treatment for Cracked Heel

If your cracked heel cause discomfort, cause pain and/or look unsightly and do not go away even after applying an over-the-counter foot moisturizer or lotion, then it means you need medical intervention. Our team of podiatrists will give you the best medical help to resolve your condition of cracked heel as well as fungal nails.

We examine your cracked heel, take a close note of associated symptoms, find out the exact cause and work on personalized treatment for your condition. If these left untreated it may lead into orthotics. The treatment can vary from removing calluses using a specialized scalpel blade, to prescribing a dermatologically approved lotion for treatment and skin nourishment, suggesting appropriate footwear, and/or treating underlying conditions, if any.

Frequently Asked Questions for Hammer Toe

Do cracked heels cause pain?

It depends on how severe the condition is. If it is a case of minor cracked heel, it may not cause any pain, but if the condition is not treated, then these cracks can deepen, become painful, and also become susceptible to infections.

What happens if I ignore my cracked heels?

If left unchecked and untreated, cracks deepen. Open cracks are an invitation to infection. There can be a fungal infection like eczema or a bacterial infection like cellulitis. Unaddressed, the condition can lead to irritation, inflammation, bleeding an pain. If the patient is diabetic, it can cause complications like diabetic foot ulcers. So, it is important to get your feet checked by a specialized podiatric team like us.

Can you help fix my cracked heels?

If you are not getting any significant benefit by a foot moisturizer and your cracked heels continue to persist, please get in touch with us. We will closely examine the condition of your skin, assess the problem, and provide a specific line of treatment in accordance with your medical history. We will not only help treat your condition but also work on preventative strategies to avoid the condition from recurring.

If your cracked heel continue to give you trouble and a foot lotion doesn’t help, please get in touch with us. Make your heels soft, firm, and crack-free again by clicking on this link to book an appointment with one of our experts.

Cracked Heels Treatment in Adelaide