Do you have cracked heels? See what’s to blame and what you can do

Write an article about Do you have cracked heels? See what’s to blame and what you can do – healthmag.gr
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Dry cracked heels? A problem that is particularly unsightly in the summer, due to the fact that they look strong with sandals or flip flops or even on the beach. And while for most this change in appearance is just a cosmetic problem, for some it can be a painful condition, with deep cracks reaching deeper layers of the skin, which can bleed and become infected. For others it may be a sign of systemic or skin diseases.
Open shoes cause dryness in the soles and heels. The skin gradually loses its elasticity and cracks, while its color darkens, taking on a yellowish hue.
One of the most common causes is dehydration. The summer heat makes us more vulnerable if we don’t get enough fluids. The dry environment, e.g. from the air condition, also contributes to the appearance of dryness in the skin of the nails, as well as the whole body.

There are many other factors that contribute to this skin condition. When we walk the heels receive all the weight of the body and to absorb the shocks there is a pad of fat under the heel bone. When too much pressure is applied, without support, this fat recedes to the side. To enable the body to respond, it increases its protection by hardening in the places that receive the highest pressure. The thickness of the dead skin essentially depends on the amount of pressure the heel has been subjected to. As the hard skin “builds”, it dries out and is no longer elastic, and as the pressure continues it begins to crack.
Closed-toe shoes offer support, unlike open-toed shoes, where the fat pad undergoes lateral retreat, increasing the risk of cracks.
This also explains why cracked heels appear more often in women than in men.
People who are overweight are more prone, due to the increased pressure on the heels and the receding fat.
Another factor that can increase the risk is standing on hard floors for extended periods. This risk can be minimized by wearing footwear that is properly padded on the heels and soles to provide extra support. Conversely, shoes with thin soles can make the problem worse.
In addition to dryness and excessive pressure, there are also diseases that often become the cause of cracked nails:
Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common. The condition can make the skin drier and the heels more susceptible to cracking.
Psoriasis, which causes dry, scaly and flaky skin on various parts of the body (including the soles of the feet), has the same effects, as does palmoplantar keratosis, which causes thickening of the skin on the palms and soles and a predisposition to crack formation.
Painful, cracked heels can also be the first signs of diabetes or thyroid disease. That’s why diabetic patients have to be doubly careful to avoid forming any ulcers on their heels.
This unsightly condition can also be due to thyroid dysfunctionwhich causes dryness and eventually cracks.
What can you do:
Take some time every day to care for your heels:
Take a 10-minute foot bath every day
Use a pumice stone to remove dead cells and reduce the thickness of the stratum corneum.
Moisturize the area with fatty ointments. Choose products with ingredients that help remove dead skin and restore moisture.
Avoid wearing shoes with thin soles that do not absorb shock as much as possible
Avoid standing
Stop walking barefoot!

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