Cracked feet are a very common problem that can have many causes. Crucial to the formation of cracked feet is excess callus, which hardens more and more. However, with proper care, the development of cracked feet can be avoided.
What are cracked feet?
Cracked feet are often referred to as scabs or calluses. Cracked feet are often referred to as scabs or calluses. The two terms are widely used in medical jargon as well as in the vernacular. What is meant is skin irritations, such as dry skin, that lead to cracks on the surface. These tears appear mainly in the upper layer of the cornea. In the cornea itself often occurs a classic fissure formation. However, the symptom of cracked feet usually does not manifest itself in the entire foot area, but is often locally limited to the heel and ball of the foot. In this respect, it is not entirely correct to refer to the symptom as cracked feet.
Causes
The causes of cracked feet are very diverse, but often external influences are responsible for the development of this symptom. Typical is, for example, a continuous pressure load that occurs on the balls and heels. This increased stress, which can be caused by incorrect footwear, for example, puts a lot of strain on the skin and the cracked feet develop accordingly. Likewise, prolonged friction on the affected areas can lead to cracked feet and a very dry skin environment. Therefore, patients who are prone to cracked feet should pay attention to the appropriate footwear and thorough foot care. Especially moisturizing creams are recommended here. Another cause of cracked feet is hyperkeratosis. This is an increased formation of calluses on the feet, which can be caused by metabolic disorders and/or a lack of blood circulation. Due to the increased callus, cracked feet are then not uncommon.
Diseases with this symptom
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperkeratosis
- Metabolic disorder
Diagnosis and course
The course in cracked feet is directly related to the formation of the cornea. This is formed by the body to protect it from the penetration of pathogens and foreign substances. The cornea can be seen as a protective shield. However, the cornea is not as elastic and stretchable as normal skin, which favors tears in the skin. The stronger the cornea is now formed, the harder and more prone to cracking it becomes. Dry calluses can thus be the ideal trigger for cracked feet. As a rule, patients remain pain-free. However, if pain occurs in connection with cracked feet, the doctor should be consulted. Often, this is advisable simply because discomfort and impairment when walking are associated with cracked feet. Diagnosis is made with the help of visual assessment by the dermatologist and palpation of cracked feet.
Complications
Cracked feet occur due to severely dried and sometimes thickened skin. Cracked feet need medical treatment with special ointments to make the skin supple again. If cracked feet are not treated, the skin may crack. The lower layers of the skin, which are below the callus, the outermost layer of the skin, are exposed. Due to the heavy use of the feet and the surrounding warm and sometimes somewhat moist environment, inflammation and infection of the feet can then quickly occur. These must be treated as quickly as possible, as they can spread further and lead to considerable pain for the affected patient, not only when walking but also at rest. Such inflammations heal only poorly, because the feet are regularly stressed. In order for these inflammations to heal well, wound dressings must be applied and walking long distances must be avoided. Care must be taken to ensure that the resulting wounds heal well so that chronic wounds do not develop. These are then more difficult to treat and the healing process takes much longer than with a normally occurring wound. Also, the inflammations can penetrate into deeper tissues of the foot, which makes treatment more difficult.
When should you see a doctor?
Cracked feet are often a sign of lack of care.The skin dryness can have various causes – for example, the wearing of compression stockings can be the cause, these dry out the skin. A visit to the doctor is usually not indicated, but adapted skin care is. Cracked feet may also require special care due to lifestyle-related or age-related circumstances. A visit to the doctor is indicated if the feet suddenly become cracked. If the affected person suspects a skin fungus or other skin disease, he should not treat it himself. First of all, a correct diagnosis is important. Wrong skin care can aggravate the cracked feet. If the heels or soles of the feet are cracked, inflammatory processes may occur. These may require treatment. Viruses, bacteria or skin fungi can settle in skin cracks. Consequential problems may include relieved posture and cracked toenails. Clarification of the cause should be made promptly. If necessary, a visit to a podiatrist is indicated. Cracked feet can be promoted by incorrect footwear or synthetic stockings. Breathable cotton stockings and leather shoes provide relief. Allergic reactions to ingredients in cosmetics are also possible. Dry skin often results from diabetes or kidney damage. Metabolic problems, circulatory disorders or problems with the thyroid gland can also draw attention to themselves through cracked feet. Since there are many possible causes, a visit to the doctor can not hurt.
Treatment and therapy
Cracked feet are primarily treated with specially tailored care measures. These serve to close the torn areas again and to keep the dry skin supple and moisturized. If no painful symptoms occur, treatment of cracked feet by a specialist is not absolutely necessary. In most cases, it is sufficient to use natural remedies and home remedies. Mild foot baths, which should be provided with lipid-replenishing and vegetable additives, are an example of this. Appropriate foot baths also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and soften the callus. The aim is to accelerate the healing process of the cracks. If the foot baths are used regularly, the feet can become supple and soft again after a short time. Greasy care for the cracks, such as medicinal ointments and oils, is also advisable for the treatment of cracked feet. If all these treatment methods do not promise success, it can also be useful to remove the excess callus mechanically. For this, however, the chiropodist should be consulted. In case of pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, cracked feet should always be treated by a specialist. Here, a check of the adjustment of the blood sugar level and dietary measures are useful to treat cracked feet. In the worst case, surgical intervention must be performed, especially if cracked feet lead to inflammatory processes.
Outlook and prognosis
Cracked feet are caused by a strong stress on the skin, which at the same time is very dry and brittle. This causes deep cracks, which are also known as fissures. The further course of this clinical picture is that the cracks will continue to enlarge if they are not treated. Under certain circumstances, severe inflammation may develop, accompanied by infection. If this clinical picture remains untreated and without any medical care, in the worst case it can lead to blood poisoning. For this reason, treatment should be considered at the first signs of cracked feet. With appropriate medication and medical advice, the prospect of complete healing looks many times more positive. Affected skin areas can be treated with moisturizing creams or ointments. This gives the skin more elasticity. However, the healing and regeneration of affected skin areas is very protracted, as these are usually areas that are frequently in motion. Thus, it can happen that wounds tear open again and again, so that immobilization of the respective area is very important. Overall, a complete healing of a wound can take several months.
Prevention
To prevent cracked feet from occurring in the first place, comprehensive foot care is advised. Regular massages, treatment of the feet with nourishing, moisturizing ointments and creams and the selection of comfortable shoes are preventive measures.When wearing shoes, make sure that they are not too tight. Shoes open at the heels can cause increased pressure in this area, so they should be avoided. In addition, calluses should be gently removed at regular intervals to prevent cracked feet in the first place.
What you can do yourself
Cracked feet are mostly harmless and can be treated with various home remedies and measures. Often it is enough to scrub the feet carefully to remove dead skin cells and calluses, thereby accelerating the healing process. A pumice stone combined with an anti-inflammatory foot bath is particularly effective. On the other hand, bubble baths, perfumed soaps and other products that cause skin damage should be avoided. The same applies to alcohol, caffeine and dehydrating foods. Castor oil provides relief for particularly hardened feet. Papayas can be used for parched heels, while glycerin is ideal against calluses. It is recommended to shower with lukewarm water after application and to moisturize the feet with water and coconut, castor or rose oil after each contact. Other effective home remedies include banana and avocado applied to the affected area or a lotion made of petroleum jelly and lemon juice massaged into cracked feet. Wearing breathable shoes can prevent excessive sweating and drying of the skin. If the symptoms persist despite all measures, a visit to the family doctor or dermatologist is recommended.
