Cracked Heels

-Cracked heels can be very painful, the symptoms are pain on weight bearing and thickening of the skin around the heel, this is called callous. Walking barefoot, shoes that are open such as sandals, not wearing socks with shoes, wearing damp footwear and thin soled shoes can make the symptoms worse. Thick dry skin (callus) can be due to the way you walk.

Treatment: Filing and creaming with a heel balm will help but a foot health practitioner can debride the area more successfully and use a skin glue, if necessary to seal the cracks. If the cracks become infected, then an antispetic cream needs to be applied.

Never use a razor or scissors to remove any skin.

Wet/dry Sock Home treatment: This is done at night on a daily basis for about 2 weeks for best results. Dampen the heel of a sock and apply to the affected foot. Place a dry sock over the top. In the morning remove both pairs, wash your feet and dry. Apply a foot balm of at least 10% urea. 

Contact me for a consultation in my Lymington surgery for treatment of cracked heels.