Medical expert of the article
New publications
Cracks in the skin of the heels
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Cracks in the heels are a modern problem that worries a growing number of people. Fight this problem better by therapeutic methods, because cosmetic methods do not completely solve the problem, they only mask it by suppressing symptoms. The problem is equally common for both women and men. Can occur at any age, and even in children.
[1]
Epidemiology
According to statistics, cracks are most often observed in women, because they often wear tight shoes, heels. Also, features of the anatomical structure of the skin, especially the physiology of women, contribute to the fact that their skin is more quickly exposed to various injuries, including cracks, disruption of integrity. In women, cracks are observed 2-3 times more often than in men.
Cracks are most often observed in people aged 35 to 45 years (approximately 61% of cases). The least likely - in people under the age of 18 (5.6% of cases). Most often, cracks are observed in the summer (in 55% of cases), in 40% of cases - in the autumn-spring period, when the body lacks vitamin. In winter, cracks are observed in 5% of cases. The main cause of the appearance of cracks is a lack of vitamin E (33% of cases).
Risk factors
The risk group includes people suffering from various leg diseases, including varicocele, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. The risk group includes people prone to persistent corns, calluses, cracks in the legs, and various skin diseases. Risk factors are fungal, bacterial, viral infections, especially if they affect the skin of the legs.
A special risk group consists of people with diseases of the immune system, with endocrine disorders, decreased blood flow and impaired lymph circulation. The lack of vitamins, especially of vitamins A and E, is the cause of the development of cracks, disruption of the integrity of mucous membranes and skin.
For other reasons for the development of cracks in the skin of the heels, see this article.
Pathogenesis
At the heart of pathogenesis is a violation of vitamin metabolism, as well as a violation of the total metabolism in the body. Often a trigger mechanism is a deficiency in the body of vitamin E, as a result of which the integrity of cell membranes is violated, the metabolism both inside the cell and in the intercellular space is disturbed. This leads to a further disruption of tissue metabolism. As a result, the tissues lose their elasticity and elasticity and become brittle and brittle. Quite quickly, a breach of integrity occurs, and cracks appear.
Also, the appearance of cracks on the legs can contribute to rough bone tissue, the appearance of bone deposits, the presence of heel spurs and other pathologies.
Symptoms of the cracks in the heels
The main symptoms of cracks on the heels are pain and burning in the heel area, especially when walking. There is also a visible crack, which can be recognized by the presence of a violation of cutaneous integrity. The crack can be either dry or wet. In some cases, blood may appear. In some cases, blood and discharge are not observed. In many cases, cracks are accompanied by itching.
The first signs that can serve as precursors of cracks, are burning, itching, and sometimes pain in the heel. In this case, pain is often worse at night, and after a long walk. Also, dry skin, roughness and flaking are often observed.
Read also:
- Cracks on the heels of pregnancy and after childbirth
- Cracks in the heels of children
- Cracks on the heels of men
Complications and consequences
The consequences can be very unfavorable: from simple discomfort to serious diseases, complications. First, it just hurts on the leg, the cracks can become wet, spread. Sometimes they can bleed, or get bogged down. Especially dangerous is the penetration into the fracture of the infection, which can spread, cause inflammatory-infectious processes.
Infection can cover not only the crack, but the entire heel, then it can spread to the entire leg, causing gangrene, sepsis. Especially dangerous contact with open soil, because the soil can contain fungus, or pathogens tetanus. With the penetration of the fungus, a fungal infection develops, which is difficult to get rid of, it tends to progress. Tetanus is a rather dangerous fatal disease, which is accompanied by the defeat of the brain and musculoskeletal system, paralysis of the motor and respiratory muscles.
The most dangerous complication is the spread of the infection through the body, especially the blood infection (sepsis).
Read also: Why do cracks on the heels do not heal, hurt and what to do?
Diagnostics of the cracks in the heels
In order to diagnose, you need to pass the diagnosis first. To do this, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. It will take an examination, on the basis of which the doctor will diagnose. Usually the doctor first interrogates the patient, collects general information about him, an anamnesis of life. This helps to determine the cause of the pathology, to identify the main links of the pathological process.
Eliminate pathology only by reducing the impact of negative factors. Therefore, etiologic therapy is often used to eliminate this cause. So, if the cause is an allergy, antiallergic drugs, antihistamines are used. Also in the case of fungal infection, antifungal therapy is used, probiotic may be indicated for dysbiosis. Antibacterial therapy is also often used if the cause is a bacterial infection.
Then the doctor examines the patient. Usually enough of such classical methods of research, as palpation, percussion, auscultation. During palpation, the doctor probes the leg, foot, heel. By probing you can identify a number of pathologies, for example, densities, bruises, neoplasms. It is also possible to assess the degree of hyperemia, swelling of tissues, local temperature, which can be very informative, to provide meaningful information for diagnosis and subsequent determination of treatment.
With auscultation, the doctor listens for breathing, palpitation, which can indirectly also indicate the cause of the pathology. For example, with bacterial infection, heart rate may increase significantly, with viral arrhythmia, some autoimmune processes may be accompanied by noise in the heart, lungs. With percussion, you can also identify multiple lesions, for example, foci of inflammation, swelling, and seals. Also, percussion determines the area of soreness and the degree of its severity.
If necessary, laboratory and instrumental methods of research can be assigned to clarify the diagnosis and expand information about the disease. The choice of methods of research depends on the organ in which the possible pathology is located.
Analyzes
As with any pathology, prescribe in the first place, clinical tests: blood, urine, feces. It is with the help of these analyzes that one can assess the overall orientation of the processes occurring in the body. Thus, tests can indicate an inflammatory, infectious, or allergic process. Then, with the help of other, refining analyzes, put the final, differential diagnosis.
Clinical analyzes make it possible to choose from among a variety of diagnostic methods those that will be most rational and help advance in the diagnosis. For example, if you detect a large amount of protein in the urine, you can talk about the development of the inflammatory process in the kidneys. The appearance of blood or mucus in the stool can indicate the development of inflammatory processes in the stomach, intestines.
Then, after we received the preliminary data, we can determine the course of further diagnostics. For example, with a high content of eosinophils and an elevated level of histamine in the blood, one can assume an allergic process.
In order to advance further in diagnosis, to put or refute the diagnosis, allergens are prescribed. In more severe cases, an analysis may be required for the content of total and specific immunoglobulin E, on the level of histamine. You may need a detailed immunogram that will display the current state of the immune system, and help you choose the optimal treatment for normalizing all the basic processes in the body.
If there is a suspicion of an infectious disease, a virological or bacteriological study is performed. Bacteriological screening, analysis for dysbiosis may be required. This will accurately determine what caused the pathology, identify the pathogen, choose the optimal therapy for it, which will be the most effective and safe for the body.
In some cases, it may be necessary to scrape the skin of the affected area. For this, the sample is microscopically sampled. With this analysis, it is possible to identify microorganisms that develop on the skin and cause inflammation. Also, using this method, you can identify a demodex mite that develops in the skin of a person and leads to the development of itching, burning, the appearance of rashes and cracks.
Instrumental diagnostics
Targeted diagnosis aimed at determining pathologies in the heel area, diagnosis of cracks, is practically not applied. Nevertheless, general diagnosis, for example, the study of the basic functional systems of the body, can be very informative. Such diagnostics are prescribed mainly after a preliminary examination and questioning of the patient, since in this case the doctor already roughly suggests what can cause a pathology and what diseases a person is exposed to.
For example, if a doctor suspects GI disease, you may need a gastroscopy, a radiography, an ultrasound, a colonoscopy. If heart disease and circulatory system are suspected, an electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart and other examinations may be required.
With kidney and liver diseases, ultrasound, x-rays, functional tests, special laboratory tests, and other methods may be required. If there is a suspicion of the development of any pathology of the respiratory system, a study using spirograms, X-rays, functional tests is used.
The method of choice is magnetic resonance imaging, which allows to assess the condition of the bone system and soft tissues, to identify possible pathologies at the earliest stages of their formation. It allows you to quickly determine the main pathologies of the body, since the state of all organs and systems as a whole is determined.
Differential diagnosis
The basis of differential diagnosis is the need to determine whether the cracks are an independent disease, or act as one of the symptoms that indicate the development of any skin disease, allergic or other reaction. Sometimes cracks can act as a symptom of another, more serious disease, which is accompanied by a violation of metabolic processes in the body, a decrease in protective mechanisms, the degree of resistance of the organism. For this, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are carried out.
Then a more in-depth diagnosis is carried out, during which it is necessary to differentiate between diseases that cause similar changes. In this case it is expedient to carry out instrumental research. In some cases, other specialists may be required to consult. In order to choose the right treatment, it is necessary to differentiate the spots by origin, to determine the exact cause of their occurrence. To do this, they usually interview the patient, monitor the dynamics.
Treatment of the cracks in the heels
Details about the methods of treating cracks on the heels of this article.
Prevention
Prophylaxis prevents the development of the disease. It is important to remember that it is always much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it, and even more so to eliminate consequences and complications. At the heart of prevention lies in the first place, timely diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to visit doctors, undergo scheduled medical examinations, and provide medical examinations. It is important to identify the pathology at an early stage of its formation, then it makes sense, because it is possible to take the necessary measures in time, which will prevent the development of the disease. Also, prevention will prevent the progression of the disease, prevent its transition to a chronic form.
With the preventive purpose, it is necessary to ensure that the food is always full, contains all the necessary vitamins, trace elements. It is important to observe a full-fledged drinking regime, to eat fresh, healthy foods.
It is important to comply with sanitary and hygienic requirements, not to wear tight and hot shoes. It is important to ensure that your feet do not sweat. With excessive sweating of the feet, you need to use special cosmetic products that reduce sweating. It can be special powders, deodorants, antiperspirants.
Preventive action has regular foot baths, timely cosmetic procedures. For example, you need to use special oils, infusions and balms for foot baths, oils, creams, scrubs, which provide the necessary skin condition. After the bath you need to apply a special cream, depending on the problem. With dry skin, apply moisturizing cream, with excessive sweating apply anti-perspiration, with oily skin use drying, antiseptic. Well-established folk, homeopathic remedies have also proven themselves. With increased fatigue, a large load on the feet apply cooling agents.
A good prevention is massage, cryotherapy, various masks and cosmetic procedures. It is necessary to avoid frequent epilation and depilation. Good effect on the heels of the bath. Today, the popular procedure is the fish therapy, during which the legs are lowered into a container with small fish that eat off dead skin particles from the feet, soften the coarsened skin areas. Also apply hirudotherapy - treatment with leeches.
As prevention it is necessary to perform physical exercises, correctly distribute the load on the entire leg, and not just on the heel. Cracks in the heels also prevent special cosmetic and medicinal products. Clothing and footwear should be natural, should not irritate the skin and cause excessive compression and squeezing. You need to use means to prevent sweating.
Forecast
If the cause is determined in time and the necessary treatment is carried out, the prognosis will be favorable. Cracks in the heels can be completely and completely eliminated. An unfavorable prognosis develops in the absence of treatment and belated diagnosis. Sometimes self-medication is also fraught with serious complications and unfavorable prognosis.
[13]