Schunde: Causes, Treatment & Help

A schrunde, also known as a rhagade in medical terminology, is a skin crack that forms like a fissure. In particular, those parts of the body that are regularly exposed to intense stress, for example the soles of the feet or even the palms of the hands, are particularly often affected by the disease.

What is a fissure?

In medicine, the Schrunde is defined as “usually scarless healing gap-shaped tear in the skin as a result of overstretching with reduced elasticity”. In medicine, a fissure is defined as a gap-shaped tear in the skin, usually healing without scarring, as a result of overstretching with reduced elasticity. In this respect, the term characterizes uneven, brittle, cracked and rough skin. The main feature is that in the advanced stage, the affected areas are marked by visible cracks. In particularly severe cases, the cracks can even reach deep layers of the skin, which is usually very painful for those affected. In addition, infections or abscess formation can even spread, so that medical care is unavoidable. Meanwhile, if the cracks form on the mucous membranes, for example in the anal area, this condition is called a fissure.

Causes

A variety of factors can be considered as causes for the formation of fissures. However, these none have in common that the natural skin elasticity is reduced. Accordingly, dry skin is the classic case for the development of the disease. At first, the skin only feels brittle before it eventually cracks. Dry skin is favored by various causes, both internal and external. During the cold season and the associated dry heating air, the acid mantle that surrounds the skin is permanently disturbed. The same applies to the use of harsh household cleaners. Chapping is also frequently caused by the fact that those affected have worn shoes that are too tight. Furthermore, the malpositioning of the feet is considered to be the main cause of the disease, as physical stimuli are emitted as a result. This leads in a first step to the formation of callus. However, as soon as this hardens, the cracks typical of the disease form. Aged skin is particularly affected. This should be regularly supplied with sufficient moisture, otherwise the formation of fissures is promoted. Disease-related other diseases, such as psoriasis or even neurodermatitis, can also stress the moisture of the skin, so that an ideal breeding ground for chapped skin is created.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Psoriasis
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Vitamin deficiency
  • Neurodermatitis
  • Obesity
  • Flatfoot
  • Skin fungus
  • Hollow foot
  • Arterial occlusive disease

Diagnosis and course

In the early stages, it is particularly difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease with a fissure. The diagnostic process is problematic because at this stage, barely noticeable cracks in the skin have formed. As a rule, patients do not seek medical help at this stage. However, as soon as the disease progresses and symptoms are triggered, medical advice is sought. The medical professional will perform physical examinations in addition to an apparent assessment. In particular, the disease may also cause bleeding as well as oozing on the affected areas of the skin. When making a diagnosis, the specialist will regularly orientate himself on the classic symptoms of the disease. These include, in particular, the conspicuous appearance caused by the formation of the fissures. Conclusions can also be drawn from increased callus formation and a yellowish discoloration of the affected skin areas. In difficult cases, the attending physician may also take small skin samples for examination in the laboratory. Usually, this concludes the diagnostic procedure, which also applies to fissures.

Complications

In most cases, a fissure heals without causing further complications. In most cases, no treatment is necessary either, so the fissure heals on its own. However, it can lead to relatively severe pain. This is especially the case if the fissure occurs in the regions that are stressed in daily life.These include, for example, the hands, feet and arms. Pressure pain and unpleasant feelings of tension can develop in these regions. The wound thus restricts the patient’s activities and makes everyday life more difficult. If the wound is not treated hygienically, it can lead to inflammation and infection. These should always be treated by a doctor. Treatment is by antibiotics, surgical intervention is usually not necessary. The affected area should be subjected to little stress. In most cases, healing occurs after a few days and there are no further complications or discomfort. If the affected area continues to be put under load, the fissure can spread further and lead to severe pain. Fungal diseases can also develop on the fissure due to carelessness and an unhygienic condition.

When should you go to the doctor?

A chapped skin is a deep crack of the skin that should always be examined by a doctor, as a rule. It does not matter whether the affected person sees a dermatologist or their own family doctor. Both doctors can take effective measures that will help speed healing and recovery. At the first signs of a chapped skin, the affected person can of course also resort to home remedies or the medicine cabinet. Since chapped skin occurs due to excessively dry and brittle skin, hydration is very important. Soothing and moisturizing creams or ointments can therefore be very helpful. However, if a chapped skin has already developed, then utmost caution is required. Since a chapped wound is an open wound, it is very important to keep it clean and pure. Otherwise, an inflammation can develop, so that in the worst case even an abscess develops. In such a case, there is a risk of blood poisoning, so a visit to the doctor is highly advisable. The general rule is therefore: If a wound has already developed, a visit to the doctor is unavoidable. At the first signs of a chapped skin, the skin should be provided with sufficient moisture, so that the chapped skin can possibly slowly recede.

Treatment and therapy

When treating chapped skin, the first step is to determine the relationship to the condition. Since the formation of cracked skin may be due to other diseases, these must be treated as the main cause. In this way, also chapped skin can be effectively treated. However, insofar as no underlying disease can be diagnosed as the trigger, the affected skin areas must be treated, whereby the therapy can sometimes be protracted. The difficulty lies in the fact that particularly those skin areas are affected which are regularly stressed by movement. This promotes the risk of infection as well as the formation of abscesses, so that sterile aftercare is required in such cases. Thus, the viruses and bacteria can be treated effectively. On the other hand, the treatment can be carried out in the initial stage itself. Here it is important to give the skin what it has been deprived of. The formation of healthy skin is promoted especially by fat and moisture. Particularly effective is the use of ointments for chapped skin, which have a high content of urea. Furthermore, such ointments contain the skin vitamin panthenol as well as bisabolol, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. The care products should preferably be applied overnight. This prevents the risk of excessive stress. In addition, skin regeneration is particularly intense during the night hours. However, as soon as the disease has progressed, a dermatologist or podiatrist should be consulted, who will disinfect the skin areas. Furthermore, he will remove excessive chapping and also initiate a drug therapy.

Outlook and prognosis

To give an exact prognosis in case of a chapped skin is very difficult, because in such a case it depends very much on the condition of the affected skin. If the skin is very dry and brittle from the ground up, the healing period may be delayed to several weeks. However, if the skin is still quite young and elastic, healing is possible within a few weeks. If no treatment is given for a chapped skin, a severe inflammation may occur, which should definitely be treated by a doctor. Because the skin crack can become deeper, so that bacteria can settle ideally. Only with appropriate medication can such an inflammation be brought under control.If a fissure is treated with a suitable treatment, different ointments and creams are used. The fissure will slowly recede and, ideally, close permanently within a few weeks. However, there may be setbacks during the healing process. Even with explicit treatment, the fissure can tear open due to recurring stress. However, if the area around the fissure is kept as still as possible, nothing should stand in the way of a quick healing process.

Prevention

To prevent chapped skin, it is advisable to care for the skin regularly and not to overload the acid mantle. pH-neutral soaps or special bath additives are advisable. Furthermore, the skin should be treated several times a day with creams and ointments that moisturize it. Anyone who has frequent contact with irritating ingredients, such as alcohol or chemicals, should use gloves so that the skin does not come into direct contact with the irritating substances. A healthy diet, consisting in particular of the supply of vitamins and the intake of plenty of fluids, further protects the skin from chapping.

This is what you can do yourself

Behind chapped feet are cracked heels, which can be optimally treated by yourself. Chafed feet can be healed excellently with oil massages. Oils provide moisture. You can make your own mixture with oils from almonds, olives, coconut and grape seed as well as sesame. Oil massage should be done about ten minutes before bedtime. It is recommended to put on thick woolen socks afterwards, so that the oil continues to unfold its effect. In addition, fruit masks provide relief. The valuable components of fruits provide soothing and gentle skin. The mask should be massaged onto the affected heel and left to soak in for about ten minutes. Afterwards, the feet must be washed off well as well as creamed. For the fruit mask, sufferers need a banana, the flesh of a coconut as well as half an avocado. This is mixed into a paste and applied. Chapped skin can also be treated with a milk and honey bath. A foot bath is particularly suitable for this purpose. The bath not only provides moisture, but the honey also has an antibacterial effect. Affected people mix half a liter of milk with a little honey. The feet should be bathed in it for ten minutes. Afterwards, sufferers massage their feet for about five minutes.