Now that it is Spring and we are wearing sandals more, it is time for our feet to look their best! You may find that your heels became dry and cracked over the winter months and now they need some “fixing up”. 

Dr. Wright’s Tip

Cracked heels are a common problem that is often referred to as heel fissures. They can be painful to stand on. If too deep, they may bleed and are unattractive, especially if you want to wear sandals now. Usually cracked skin on our heels is caused by excessive dry skin. However, prolonged standing, being overweight, thin soled shoes or wearing an open back on shoes can also aggravate the situation. Cleaning up your feet will require removing any thick skin around the rim of the heel and moisturizing. The first step is to wash with an antibacterial soap, then while the skin is moist, reduce the thickness of the hard skin with a pumice stone. A callous remover may be needed for very thick skin, but are not recommended for people with diabetes or circulation problems.  Using an exfoliating cream to keep the skin smooth is also recommended. Look for products that have natural acids, such as glycolic or lactic acid to work the best. After exfoliating, apply an oil based moisturizing cream with a high percentage of urea, to lock in the moisture. Flexitol Heel Balm (25% urea) is available in most stores. For really stubborn heels, you can ask your doctor for physician strength products and with a few minutes a day, you can have beach-worthy feet again!