Cracked Heels

What is meant by cracked heels?

Cracked heels are a very common skin condition. Heels become cracked due to the physiological stresses to which the heels are subjected to during the day, whether it be from supporting the foot while walking or from using shoes with a rigid sole. This problem should not be overlooked, as it can lead to serious complications over time, in addition to cracks and fissures.
In addition, it creates aesthetic discomfort by complicating the wearing of footwear such as sandals and making it difficult to put on certain items of clothing such as tights.
A cracked heel shows very conspicuous signs such as cracks and fissures, the skin is very dry and the skin also tends to turn from grey to yellowish in colour.

What are the causes of Cracked Heels?

The causes of the formation of these cracks on the heels can be divided into two groups: behavioural and pathological.

Behavioural causes

Dry, cracked heels are often the result of certain wrong habits and behaviour. These behavioural ‘mistakes’, repeated over time, can lead to unpleasant and annoying foot problems, in particular, as regards the heels, which are often stressed. The main behavioural causes include:

Sporting gymnastic activity involving significant demands on the feet
Use of rigid footwear
Frequent washing with soap
Walking barefoot

Pathological causes

In other situations, the causes of cracked heels are a direct consequence of pathological conditions.
The main pathological causes are instead:

Overweight, obesity
Psoriasis, Atopic dermatitis
Menopause
Cardiovascular problems

How to treat cracked heels

Early intervention is very important to avoid complications. Neglecting this issue can lead to the formation of cracks and fissures, openings in the skin through which viruses, bacteria and fungi can easily pass, generating infections that are much more complex to manage. So, how to treat cracked heels?
To get rid of cracked heels and keep your feet smooth and soft, apply Glycocream+ once a day in the evening, massaging it in until it is absorbed. With its peeling action, this ointment thins the stratum corneum, reduces calluses and roughness to the touch and makes the skin soft again.

Glycocream+ is also very useful for removing heel scars. With its exfoliating action, it removes thickened layers of skin that are discoloured due to cracking. Four to five days of constant application are necessary for this treatment to be fully effective.

To be avoided

Footbaths containing softening substances, bicarbonate, honey, and essential oils, do not actually bring about any improvement. Immediately after the footbath, a feeling of softness is perceived because the thickened areas are swollen with water; however, shortly afterwards, they lose their momentary moisture and become drier than before.
Mechanical smoothing agents such as electric files and pumice stone remove layers of dry skin for the time being, but rubbing may cause irritation on the affected area, which reacts by developing other protective layers of cells.