DRY, CRACKED HEELS? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What usually causes dry, cracked heels?

dry cracked heels is another name for heel fissures. It starts with the skin around your heels becoming dry and thick. Pressure will cause this thick deak skin to crack. Ill fitting shoes can be a cause as well as heel spirs or bony changes. Fungal infection hypothyroidism and obesity can contribute.

1. What are some of the most effective treatments for dry heels?

Moisturizing at least twice a day. For worse cases begin  soaking your feet in soapy water for 15 min and gently scrub with a loofah or pumice stone to remove some of the dead skin. Then apply thick later of moisturizer. Then put on thick socks to hold the moisturizer in place.

1. What type of products/ingredients work best for treating dry heels? Why do these work?

1. One focus of treatment is keratolytic or descaling treatments    keratolytic means to break down the dead tissue or loosen it so its not so thick

Common helpful agents are Urea, Salicylic acid, glycolic acid   they are usually in a moisturizer

1. Do dry heels typically occur in the wintertime, or can it be all-year round?

Dry heels occur year round

1. What specific product recommendations do you have that can help treat dry heels? Please include a brief explanation, if possible.

Cerave Renewing SA Foot cream has salicylic acid to loosen the dead skin and also hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture

Kerasal is in an inexpensive time tested exfoliating foor ointment

Eucerin roughness relief cream  has multiple agents and their Roughness Relief Spot Treatment has  high concentration of urea along with ceramides and is fragrance free

1. What can make dry heels worse? Is there anything people should avoid?

Flip flops or open back shoes like sandals can put extra pressure on the fat pads in your heel.

1. What other tips do you have for people who suffer from very dry heels?

Wear comfortable heel cushioned shoes

1. Are there in-office treatments that can help with severely dry, cracked heels?

Strapping means dressing a dressing or bandage around your heels  Debridement means cutting awat some of the dead skin which can cause bleeding and infection so it should be done by a professional

1. Why see a dermatologist?

Prescriptions may be available in your providers office that may contain a higher concentration of active ingredients like salicylic acid or Urea