Cracked heels or heel fissures manifest as dry and split skin around the heels and sides of the foot. If neglected, cracked heels could give rise to a thick callus. Not only are cracked heels painful, but they can also cause infections. The lock downs and work from home situations of our current reality has resulted in many people now walking barefoot at home, for most of the day. It has also prevented people from availing regular pedicures; they now go on for months together without any kind of foot treatment. This has increased the incidence of cracked heels.

How Do You Spot Cracked Heels?

     Dry skin around the heels

     Roughness around the heels

     Split skin or fissures

     Thick callus

     Bleeding around the heels

     Redness around heels

     Swelling

     Pus or other signs of infection around the heels

Home Treatment for Cracked Heels

If there is redness, roughness or dry skin around the heels, it could be a symptom of the beginning of cracked heels and with some care and maintenance at home, you should be able to prevent it from getting severe.

Read More: Top 5 Tips for Cracked Heels

To take care of cracked heels at home, soak your feet in water and massage a handful of Epsom salt into your heels for an added boost. After ten minutes, scrub the heels using a pumice stone. Moisturize the feet after the treatment. There will be an improvement within a few days of this treatment.

When to Consult a Doctor

If your heel pains when you walk or if there is swelling, pus or infection, you would need the more capable hands of a podiatrist to help in relieving the foot problem. The podiatrist will use a combination of medication, ointments and pediatric procedures to relieve the problem.

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