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Cracked heel skin
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Cracked heels are a modern problem that worries more and more people. It is better to fight this problem with therapeutic methods, since cosmetic methods do not allow to solve the problem completely, they only mask it, suppressing the symptoms. The problem equally often worries both women and men. It can occur at any age, and even in children.
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Epidemiology
According to statistics, cracks are most often observed in women, since they often wear tight shoes and heels. Also, the features of the anatomical structure of the skin, the features of the physiology of women, contribute to the fact that their skin is more quickly subject to various damages, including cracks, violation of integrity. Cracks are observed in women 2-3 times more often than in men.
Cracks are most often observed in people aged 35 to 45 years (approximately 61% of cases). Least often - in people under 18 years of age (5.6% of cases). Most often, cracks are observed in the summer (55% of cases), in 40% of cases - in the autumn-spring period, when the body lacks vitamins. In winter, cracks are observed in 5% of cases. The main reason for the appearance of cracks is a lack of vitamin E (33% of cases).
Risk factors
The risk group includes people suffering from various foot diseases, including varicocele, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. The risk group includes people prone to constant corns, calluses, cracks on the feet, with various skin diseases. Risk factors include fungal, bacterial, viral infections, especially if they affect the skin of the feet.
A special risk group is people with immune system diseases, endocrine disorders, decreased blood flow and impaired lymph circulation. Vitamin deficiency, especially vitamins A and E, is the cause of cracks, damage to the integrity of mucous membranes and skin.
Read about other reasons for the development of cracked skin on the heels in this article.
Pathogenesis
The pathogenesis is based on a violation of vitamin metabolism, as well as a violation of the general metabolism in the body. Often the trigger is a lack of vitamin E in the body, as a result of which the integrity of cell membranes is disrupted, the metabolism is disrupted both inside the cell and in the intercellular space. This leads to further disruption of tissue metabolism. As a result, tissues lose their elasticity and flexibility and become fragile and brittle. Quite quickly, integrity is disrupted, and cracks appear.
Also, the appearance of cracks on the feet can be caused by rough bone tissue, the appearance of bone deposits, the presence of heel spurs and other pathologies.
Symptoms heel cracks
The main symptoms of cracked heels are pain and burning in the heel area, especially when walking. A visible crack also appears, which can be recognized by the presence of a violation of the skin integrity. The crack can be either dry or wet. In some cases, blood may appear. In some cases, there is no blood or discharge. In many cases, cracks are accompanied by itching.
The first signs that may serve as harbingers of cracks are burning, itching, and sometimes pain in the heel area. The pain often intensifies at night, as well as after a long walk. Dry skin, roughness, and peeling are also often observed.
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Complications and consequences
The consequences can be quite unfavorable: from simple discomfort to serious illnesses and complications. At first, it is simply painful to step on the foot, the cracks can get wet and spread. Sometimes they can bleed or fester. Penetration of an infection into the crack is considered especially dangerous, as it can spread and cause inflammatory and infectious processes.
The infection can cover not only the crack, but the entire heel, then it can spread to the entire leg, causing gangrene, sepsis. Contact with open soil is especially dangerous, since the soil may contain fungus or tetanus pathogens. When the fungus penetrates, a fungal infection develops, which is quite difficult to get rid of, it tends to progress. Tetanus is a rather dangerous fatal disease, which is accompanied by damage to the brain and musculoskeletal system, paralysis of the motor and respiratory muscles.
The most dangerous complication is the spread of infection throughout the body, especially blood poisoning (sepsis).
Read also: Why do cracked heels not heal, hurt and what to do?
Diagnostics heel cracks
In order to make a diagnosis, you must first undergo diagnostics. To do this, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. An examination will be required, on the basis of which the doctor will make a diagnosis. Usually, the doctor first interviews the patient, collects general information about him, anamnesis of life. This helps to determine the cause of the pathology, identify the main links of the pathological process.
Pathology can be eliminated only by reducing the impact of negative factors. Therefore, etiological therapy aimed at eliminating this cause is often used. So, if the cause is an allergy, antiallergic drugs and antihistamines are used. Also, in the case of a fungal infection, antifungal therapy is used, and probiotics may be indicated for dysbacteriosis. Antibacterial therapy is also often used if the cause is a bacterial infection.
Then the doctor examines the patient. Usually, such classical methods of examination as palpation, percussion, auscultation are quite sufficient. During palpation, the doctor feels the leg, foot, heel. By palpation, it is possible to identify a number of pathologies, for example, compactions, hematomas, neoplasms. It is also possible to assess the degree of hyperemia, tissue swelling, local temperature, which can be very informative, carry significant information for diagnosis and subsequent determination of treatment.
During auscultation, the doctor listens to breathing and heartbeat, which may also indirectly indicate the cause of the pathology. For example, with a bacterial infection, the heart rate may increase significantly, with a viral infection, arrhythmia may appear, some autoimmune processes may be accompanied by murmurs in the heart and lungs. Percussion can also reveal multiple lesions, such as foci of inflammation, swelling, and compaction. Percussion also determines the area of pain and the degree of its severity.
If necessary, laboratory and instrumental research methods may be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and expand information about the disease. The choice of research methods depends on the organ in which the possible pathology is located.
Tests
As with any pathology, clinical tests are prescribed first: blood, urine, feces. It is with the help of these tests that the general direction of the processes occurring in the body can be assessed. Thus, tests can indicate an inflammatory, infectious, or allergic process. Then, with the help of other, clarifying tests, a final, differential diagnosis is made.
Clinical tests make it possible to choose from a wide variety of diagnostic methods those that will be the most rational and will help to advance in making a diagnosis. For example, if a large amount of protein is detected in the urine, one can talk about the development of an inflammatory process in the kidneys. The appearance of blood or mucus in the stool may indicate the development of inflammatory processes in the stomach or intestines.
Then, after we have received preliminary data, we can determine the course of further diagnostics. For example, with a high content of eosinophils and an increased level of histamine in the blood, an allergic process can be assumed.
In order to move forward in diagnostics, to establish or refute a diagnosis, allergy tests are prescribed. In more severe cases, an analysis of the content of total and specific immunoglobulin E, and the level of histamine may be required. A detailed immunogram may be required, which will display the current state of the immune system and help select the optimal treatment to normalize all the main processes in the body.
If there is a suspicion of an infectious disease, a virological or bacteriological study is carried out. Bacteriological screening and dysbacteriosis analysis may be required. This will allow us to accurately determine what caused the pathology, isolate the pathogen, and select the optimal therapy for it, which will be as effective and safe for the body as possible.
In some cases, a scraping of the skin of the affected area may be required. For this, a microscopic examination of the obtained sample is carried out. With the help of such an analysis, it is possible to identify microorganisms that develop on the skin and cause inflammation. Also, with the help of this method, it is possible to identify demodex - a mite that develops in human skin and leads to the development of itching, burning, rashes and cracks.
Instrumental diagnostics
Targeted diagnostics aimed at identifying pathologies in the heel area, diagnostics of cracks, are practically not used. However, general diagnostics, for example, the study of the main 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 assumes what can cause the pathology, and what diseases the person is susceptible to.
For example, if a doctor suspects a gastrointestinal disease, a gastroscopy, X-ray, ultrasound, and colonoscopy may be required. If a heart and circulatory system disease is suspected, an electrocardiogram, heart ultrasound, and other tests may be required.
In case of kidney and liver diseases, ultrasound, X-ray, functional tests, special laboratory tests, and other methods may be required. If there is a suspicion of the development of any pathologies of the respiratory system, a study is prescribed using a spirogram, X-ray, and functional tests are used.
The method of choice is magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to assess the condition of the skeletal system and soft tissues, identify possible pathologies at the earliest stages of their formation. Allows you to quickly determine the main pathologies of the body, since the condition of all organs and systems as a whole is determined.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnostics is based on the need to determine whether cracks are an independent disease or act as one of the symptoms indicating the development of a 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 defense mechanisms, and the degree of resistance of the body. 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 advisable to conduct instrumental studies. In some cases, consultations with other specialists may be required. In order to choose the right treatment, it is necessary to differentiate the spots by origin, determine the exact cause of their occurrence. For this, the patient is usually questioned and observed dynamically.
Treatment heel cracks
Read more about methods of treating cracked heels in this article.
Prevention
Prevention allows you to prevent 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 the consequences and complications. Prevention is based primarily on timely diagnostics. Therefore, it is necessary to visit doctors, undergo routine medical examinations, and medical check-ups. It is important to identify pathology at an early stage of its formation, then it makes sense, since you can take the necessary measures in a timely manner, which will prevent the development of the disease. Prevention will also prevent the progression of the disease, prevent its transition to a chronic form.
For preventive purposes, it is necessary to ensure that the diet is always complete, containing all the necessary vitamins and microelements. It is important to maintain a complete drinking regimen, eat fresh, healthy foods.
It is important to follow sanitary and hygienic requirements, not to wear tight and hot shoes. It is important to ensure that your feet do not sweat. If your feet sweat excessively, you should use special cosmetics that reduce sweating. These can be special powders, deodorants, antiperspirants.
Regular foot baths and timely cosmetic procedures have a preventive effect. For example, it is necessary to use special oils, infusions and balms for foot baths, oils, creams, scrubs that provide the necessary skin condition. After the bath, you need to apply a special cream, depending on the problem. For dry skin, apply moisturizing creams, for excessive sweating, use antiperspirants, for oily skin, use drying, antiseptic agents. Folk and homeopathic remedies have also proven themselves well. In case of increased fatigue, heavy load on the legs, use cooling agents.
Massage, cryotherapy, various masks and cosmetic procedures are good preventive measures. Frequent epilation and depilation should be avoided. A sauna has a good effect on the heels. Fish therapy has become a popular procedure today, during which the feet are lowered into a container with small fish that eat away dead skin particles from the feet and soften rough areas of the skin. Hirudotherapy is also used - treatment with leeches.
As a preventive measure, it is absolutely necessary to do physical exercises, correctly distribute the load on the entire foot, and not just on the heel. Cracked heels are also prevented by special cosmetics and medicines. Clothes and shoes should be natural, should not irritate the skin and cause excessive compression and squeezing. It is necessary to use means that prevent sweating.
Forecast
If the cause is identified in time and the necessary treatment is carried out, the prognosis will be favorable. Cracked heels can be eliminated completely and without a trace. An unfavorable prognosis develops in the absence of treatment and late diagnosis. Sometimes self-medication is also fraught with serious complications and an unfavorable prognosis.
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