Cracked Heels
Causes of Cracked Heels
Beyond dry skin, other causes for cracked heels include:
- Biomechanical problems that increase pressures in the heel area.
- Prolonged standing, especially on hard floors.
- Obesity, which increases the pressure on the normal fat pad under the heel, causing it to expand sideways. If your skin is not supple and flexible, the pressure can cause cracking or fissures.
- Open backs on shoes or sandals, which allow the fat pads in the heel to expand sideways and increase pressure on the skin, causing it to crack.
Some medical conditions predispose people to dry skin. For example, neuropathy can cause people with diabetes to lose the ability to perspire, which leads to skin dryness. Sjogren’s Syndrome is a rare condition, seen mostly in women, that creates dry skin as the body’s autoimmune system attacks perspiration and moisture-producing glands. In addition, certain skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and fungal infections cause drying of the skin and increase the likelihood of cracking.