Understanding the Reasons Behind Cracked, Dry Feet | Cracked Dry Feet Causes

Dry, cracked feet are more than just an aesthetic issue. They can be embarrassing, shameful, and may be a sign of a serious medical condition.

Around 20% of people in the USA have cracked heels and fissures on the soles of the feet. They are one of the most common foot problems in the world treated by podiatrists. But most people treat them using a normal lotion and wonder why they're not getting better. Nature has the answer. The first rule about dry, cracked feet is that the plantar skin is different from the skin on other parts of the body. Most moisturizers are not designed for it.

Since 2001, Imperial Feet has been creating professional foot care products. In this blog, I will tell you the causes of cracked dry feet, including lifestyle, environmental and medical. Also, effective methods to treat severe problems. 

Why Heel Skin Is Different: The Biology Behind Dry, Cracked Feet

The plantar skin on the bottom of the foot is the thickest skin on the human body up to 4-5mm thick. It has only a few sebaceous (oil) glands which can't keep itself moisturized, unlike the face or arm skin.

Oil glands are essential to the presence of a natural moisture barrier. The skin on the soles becomes brittle before any other part of the body due to dehydration without external watering.

Cracks are caused by the shock absorbed by the heel fat pad with every step. Dry and non-elastic skin makes it impossible for the skin to flex with the outward expansion of the fat pad as the body weight is applied. It creates a lateral strain, causing the hard brittle skin to split horizontally. That’s how it creates cracks.

Stages of severity of a fissure: 

To understand heel fissures treatment, you first need to know about its stages of severity:

• Stage 1: no discomfort, surface crack. 

• Stage 2: further cracked areas and pain with movement. 

• Stage 3: deep dermal fissures, pain, may bleed and risk of infection. 

Dry and Cracked Heels Causes | Lifestyle and Environmental 

Your lifestyle has a huge impact on your foot health. You might wonder why my feet are so dry. The reason is you yourself. It's your daily habits and lifestyle that are causing your feet to suffer: 

Prolonged standing: 

Heel fissures are affected three times more in workers who stand for 6 hours or more per day. Callus production is promoted by continuous pressure on the heel fat pad, and callus cracking occurs when they dry out.

Open-back footwear: 

Sandals and backless shoes that do not restrict the vertical movement of the heel. This enables the fat pad to grow laterally permitting normal development. The outside force on dry skin results in cracks. Flip-flops also produce a greater plantar biomechanical load per step, as they remove the shock absorption.

Hot water and hard soaps: 

Hot water strips away the lipid barrier of the skin. It also breaks down the intercellular lipids that are the "mortar" between skin cells and help retain moisture. Strong detergents in hard soap at acidic pH (pH 4.5 – 5.5) accelerate the moisture loss in the skin.

Dehydration: 

Skin turgor and elasticity are reduced in the body because of inadequate water consumption. 

Cold and low-humidity environments: 

Dry skin dries out faster due to the low humidity in the air. Thus, in the winter months, the skin of the heels dries up much faster.

Overweight: 

Extra weight adds additional weight to the heel fat pad. It increases the amount of skin that is stretched out with each step and causes the fat pad to spread out. 

The Wrong Footwear: How Shoes Directly Cause Cracked Heels

Open-back shoes are the most popular shoes that cause heel fissures. It is not necessarily for their appearance, but because they physically remove the lateral restraining influence of the fat pad. If that wall is removed, the fat pad is forced to spread out when the body weight is applied and drags the skin of the heel with it.

With each step, shoes with thin soles enhance the ground response force. When shoes fit too tightly, there are areas of friction that create calluses at specific points of pressure. As the calluses get dry, they split.

Everyday shoes should be closed-back shoes with good cushioning and socks should be cotton. This is not high-level advice, but it's effective advice. 

Medical Conditions That Cause Dry, Cracked Feet and Heel Fissures

This is important as a regular moisturizing routine may not be enough because the skin may have an underlying condition.

Diabetes: Why Diabetic Feet Are Prone to Dangerous Heel Cracks

Diabetic feet are particularly susceptible due to two different mechanisms. 

• Diabetes-related autonomic neuropathy also results in a decrease in sweat production. It makes the skin of the plantar surface very dry, with no typical warning signs. It also affects the nerve supply to sweat glands. 

• Second, in peripheral artery disease, the decreased blood supply to the skin impedes cell renewal and the skin's ability to maintain its barrier function.

Why this is important: Cracks are a way for germs and fungi to get into the skin of diabetics. According to the American Diabetes Association, the most common reason for non-traumatic lower limb amputations is diabetic foot problems. The incidence of deep fissures in the heel is 2-3 times higher in diabetics than in nondiabetics.

The Urea Foot Balm for Diabetics, created by Imperial Feet is made with no salicylic acid and is non-irritating to skin that has poor circulation. If circulation is affected, diabetics with heeled fissures should also consult with their podiatrist or GP.

Hypothyroidism: How an Underactive Thyroid Dries Out Your Feet

Slower metabolism slows down sweating and sebum production on all skin types and thus slows down the body's processes. The most affected are the feet, which are already deficient in oil glands.

Also, with lower levels of thyroid activity, keratin cells turn over more slowly and thicker, rougher skin layers build up faster than they are shed. The primary difference is that those with hypothyroidism often suffer from cold intolerance, weight gain, hair loss and fatigue as well. The extent of this overlap is significant with basic dryness.

Every day, apply an intensive urea-based moisturiser that addresses the root cause. Heel improvement will be initiated with thyroid medication, but special chemical products can accelerate the effect. 

Psoriasis, Eczema and Keratoderma: Skin Conditions and Heel Cracks

The skin cells in psoriasis turn over so quickly that it creates thick, silvery patches that bleed and flake off on the heels. The skin on the heel of a person with psoriasis grows 3-4 times faster than normal skin on the heel.

Eczema disrupts the filaggrin protein in the skin, leading to a great deal of trans-epidermal water loss. Extreme itching is brought on by the ensuing dryness, and scratching results in further cracks.

Hereditary keratoderma is a condition characterized by abnormal thickening of the skin on the palms and soles and causing deep fissures and pain. However, it is a rare condition.

They all require high-concentration topical moisturization as well as treatment for the underlying condition for moderate results. 

How to Treat Cracked Dry Feet: From Mild to Severe Fissures

How to fix cracked heels depends on severity of the problem:

Mild fissures (Stage 1- Surface cracks, no pain):

1. Soak your feet in warm, but not hot water for 10-15 minutes.
2. Gently file with a foot file or pumice stone the outer skin of thicker skin.
3. Use Imperial Feet Urea Foot Balm (10% Urea) on soles and heels. Until absorbed, massage.
4. Cover and leave overnight with cotton socks.
5. Do this every day. Most Stage 1 cracks will close in 3-7 days. 

Moderate to severe fissures (Stage 2–3 - deep, painful cracks):

1. Don't use too much pressure when applying pumice to deeper fractures, since this may open fissures and lead to bleeding.
2. Apply Foot Fissure Cream for deep cracked heels, in the morning and at night for deeply cracked heels.
3. Tighten crazed areas with bandages before wearing shoes, as it will only make them larger.
4. During the healing period, wear shoes that close completely and have padded insoles. No shoes should have the back open.
5. Fissures – Stage 3: Consult a podiatrist who will have the ability to deal with fissures, and if the fissures are very deep, use a medical-grade skin adhesive. 

Urea Foot Balm is the podiatrist-recommended best cream for cracked heels. Get yours now.

The Overnight Cracked Heel Remedy: Fastest Way to Heal Severely Cracked Heels

This will be the best at-home procedure when it comes to deep fissures; it's a significant occlusion effect. 

1. If the skin is hardened, soak the feet in the foot soak for cracked heels for 15 minutes.
2. Don't rub; instead, pat dry. Patting will help maintain the moisture on the skin.
3. Cover any cracked areas with a thick layer of Urea Foot Balm or Foot Fissure Cream.
4. Immediately place cotton socks on. Occlusion increases the amount of cream absorbed by 30–40%.
5. Wear socks when you sleep. In the morning, remove and pat dry.
6. Repeat for 5-7 consecutive nights.

In most cases, people will see a difference after 3 to 5 nights of regular application, even in deep cracks. Learn more about how moisturising feet helps prevent nail fungus.

Best Ingredients for Cracked Heels: What the Science Says Works

The highest achieving products combine several components in one formula. For the full science behind aloe vera and its benefits in foot care, see benefits of aloe vera in foot care, and for penetration-enhancing qualities of jojoba, see jojoba oil properties and benefits.

Cracked Heels Around the World: Causes and Treatment by Country

How to Prevent Dry and Cracked Heels: A Daily Foot Care Protocol

1. After washing and drying your feet, apply a urea based foot balm to the soles and heels of your feet every night to moisturize your feet. 
2. Hot water removes the lipid barrier, so only use lukewarm water. Never rub; instead, pat dry.
3. For the majority of daily activities, wear closed-back shoes; avoid wearing flip-flops every day and going barefoot for extended periods of time on hard floors.
4. Cotton or bamboo socks reduce sweat production while keeping skin moist.
5. A foot bath combined with a foot file once a week will remove the surface callus before it gets to be a problem.
6. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 2L of water daily. Dehydration occurs first in the feet.
7. The bath mat at the shower exit will prevent pressure and heat shock on newly cleaned heel skin.

Take a look at all the dry and cracked heels products and choose a full daily program.

Imperial Feet Solutions for Cracked Heels: Find Your Perfect Match

Matching the severity of problem:

Urea foot balm is a daily moisturizer and exfoliator for mild dryness, contains 10% glycerin, lactic acid and urea and improves in 3-5 days, safe for diabetics.

Foot fissure cream for deep fissures, containing piroctone olamine, glycerin, jojoba oil, zinc oxide and lanolin; compatible with bandages; resolves fissures in 3 to 5 days.

Use Foot Soak+Fissure Cream overnight. Use the soak to prepare amd the fissure cream to seal and cotton socks to keep it in place.

One of our pedicurist clients, a professional pedicurist, said, "As a professional pedicurist, I have used many different foot care products but nothing beats Imperial Feet. The results are apparent after just a few sessions: soft and healthy feet.

Free shipping to all countries. 100% money-back guarantee. Podiatrists and pedicurists have trusted us since 2001 for help with their cases in over 20 countries. Explore the entire line of extra care foot products. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Cracked, Dry Feet