1. Dry Cracked Skin On Child's Feet
2. Dry Cracked Skin On Feet Treatment
3. Dry Cracked Skin On Feet And Hands
4. Dry Broken Skin On Feet
5. Dry Cracked Skin On Feet Icd 10

• Peeling skin on feet and toes can make your legs look unsightly. Feet can peel with no itching or at times, you may experience itchiness. The most common part that peels off is the bottom of feet, which may also feel dry. Here are the causes, treatments and remedies for peeling skin on feet.
• To apply this cream, first, wash your feet with warm water and using a pumice stone or a foot file, slough off the dry dead skin from your cracked heels. Now apply the homemade honey foot cream to your feet and leave for at least 40-45 minutes. If required wrap it up with a clean cloth, bandage or gauze. Wash off with warm water.
• When the skin on your feet dries out, it can lead to painful cracking and peeling, commonly referred to as heel fissures. The openings in the skin allow easy access for bacteria that can cause infections, making the discomfort worse.
• How to Remove Dry Skin from Your Feet Using Epsom Salt. If you are plagued by dry, flaky, rough, and/or callused feet, an Epsom salt foot bath is a natural way to make your feet soft and smooth. Warm foot baths are also wonderful for.
• Dry Feet Meaning. Dry skin on feet simply means that the skin cells in the epidermis layer – according to the medicinenet.com – are not getting enough moisture to remain supple, soft and healthy as they naturally do. Because the skin on the feet has no oil glands, the vitally important moisturizing action is left entirely to the sweat glands.

This article was medically reviewed by Caroline Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, on May 4, 2019.

One of the most satisfying parts about the transition from winter to spring is swapping your chunky boots for cute, breathable sandals.

But the truth is, wearing open, unsupportive shoes can do a number on your feet. Having dry skin is bad enough, but when cracked heels come into the picture? Let’s just say walking around all day with painful fissures isn’t fun.

The good news is, treating your cracked heels doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, doctors encourage affordable home remedies to keep your feet in tip-top shape. Here, experts explain what causes cracked heels—and how to heal them safely.

Back up: What causes cracked heels?

Hard, dry and not-so-pretty feet are an issue for a lot of us. According to a recent survey by the College of Podiatry, 45% of women suffer from painful cracked heels, with 10% saying 'no thanks.

While dry skin is the primary cause of cracked heels, it’s not the only culprit, according to the Institute for Preventive Foot Health:

• Prolonged standing, especially on hard floors
• Wearing shoes or sandals with open backs
• Having calluses
• Obesity, which increases pressure on the heels
• Skin conditions, such as athlete’s foot, psoriasis, or eczema

Some cracks are minor, but more severe cases can lead to bleeding, discomfort, and pain—especially if bacteria seeps into the fissures. That’s why it’s important to take care of the problem ASAP before things get worse.

How to heal dry, cracked heels

Here are some simple ways to soothe your cracked heels and give them some much-needed relief. You’ll be back on your feet and feeling good in no time.

First, up your water intake

When you’re experiencing cracked heels, don’t just immediately tend to your feet—grab a water bottle, fill it up, and start guzzling. “Make sure you’re drinking enough water,” says Garrett Moore, DPM, DABPM, a podiatrist at UCHealth Stapleton Foot and Ankle Center. “Your skin can lose around a liter of water throughout the day—more in dry climates—so keeping yourself hydrated goes a long way toward preventing or soothing dry, cracked skin,” he says.

If you’re having problems getting your fix throughout the day, grab a good water bottle like this one from Hidrate Spark, which tracks your intake and glows as a reminder to keep drinking. Prefer to keep your drinks ice cold? These insulated water bottles won’t let you down.

Apply moisturizer consistently

Whether you’re trying to prevent cracked heels or heal them, the solution is the same: stay moisturized. “Use a good moisturizer at least once a day, possibly more. While there are various moisturizers and barrier creams out there—and many reasons to use certain types—one of the biggest problems I run into with patients is lack of consistency,” Dr. Moore says. “Moisturizer needs to be applied to the feet daily—once in the morning and once at night before bed. This will help you keep fluids in your skin, minimize loss, and even attract more from the underlying tissues (or even the surrounding environment!). I’m partial to Aveeno for an over-the-counter product, and CeraVe and Lubriderm also get high marks.”

Consistency in the products you use is also important. According to Dr. Moore, choosing either lotions or creams—and sticking with that choice—will help prevent cracked heels.

Try petroleum jelly

Dry Cracked Skin On Child's Feet

If you’re in need of heavy-duty hydration, occlusive products like petroleum jelly (often listed as petrolatum on the ingredients label) stay on the skin and form a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss, says Caroling Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Rhode Island Hospital and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board.

After applying your lotion or cream, add a thin layer of a petroleum jelly-based product, like Vaseline, to seal moisture into your cracked feet. Or, opt for a cream that already contains the ingredient, like CeraVe Healing Ointment.

Get intensive healing cream, if you need it

Sometimes when your cracked heels are severe, normal lotions won’t do the trick—and that’s when you have to bring in the big guns. “If proper, frequent application of high-quality over-the-counter products isn’t preventing fissures, check with your doctor. Sometimes there can be a fungus exacerbating the problem,” Dr. Moore says. “If it’s truly just dry skin, we can prescribe emollients—such as ammonium lactate or urea cream—to get your skin healthy, then switch you to a lotion for maintaining that health.”

There are also options with urea you can get from the pharmacy without a prescription, but maybe not quite as strong. Roberta Del Campo, MD, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist, recommends Excipial 20% Urea Intensive Healing Cream, which works great, but might be more pricey than what you could get from your doc. “Urea is a keratolytic agent, meaning it helps to chemically exfoliate dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth. It’s not only great for callused feet, but it can also be used to smooth out rough elbows and knees,” she says.

Buy moisturizing socks

If you want to go beyond just wearing your normal everyday socks to protect your heels, get some extra moisturizing benefits by grabbing a pair made especially for dry, cracked heels.

This option from NatraCure has a liner that uses aloe vera, vitamin E, and shea butter to intensely hydrate your skin. Just note that these aren’t your everyday socks, so they won’t feel soft and cozy. Instead, they’ll feel a bit rubbery at first, but the heat from your skin will activate the release of healing ingredients. The bonus? Your entire foot will reap the softening benefits—not just your heels.

Use a foot soak

Dr. Engelman recommends soaking your feet before exfoliating calluses—but only after the cracks have healed. There are plenty of store-bought options—like this from Purely Northwest, which incorporates antibacterial tea tree oil—but you can also use items you already have right at home, such as milk and honey.

“This helps soften the skin so you’re not vigorously scrubbing. When it starts feeling sensitive, slow down as you don’t want to over-exfoliate,” she says.

Exfoliate with a pumice stone

When you’re exfoliating after your foot soak, the best thing you can use is a pumice stone. “It helps keep any dry areas or calluses down. While calluses can be protective, when they get too thick, they can lose all flexibility and crack when you move,” Dr. Engelman says.

Just make sure you keep things clean. “If you use a pumice stone periodically—once every couple of weeks—soak the stone in some cleanser or bleach, then rinse it well. Those crevices that make it such a natural skin file can fill up with dead skin and provide a home for bacteria,” says Dr. Engelman.

Don’t peel or shave your calluses

When you notice your cracked heels peeling, it’s really hard not to pick at it—but it’s the worst thing you can do for the health of your feet. “Never try to peel off dead skin by hand, or attempt to shave a callus yourself. I call this ‘performing bathroom surgery,’ and it’s a great way to get a very bad infection,” Dr. Moore says.

In reality, your doctor should be the only one messing with your foot issues because they know exactly what they’re doing and won’t make the problem worse. “I’m using sterile instruments in a clean environment. I’m also able to see your feet at a much clearer angle to only remove what’s necessary without unwanted complications,” he explains.

Wear closed-back shoes

Since shoes and sandals with open backs can cause cracked heels—and make them worse!—make sure you have a trusty pair of closed options to wear when you’re having issues, even if that’s just some sneakers. “Protect the area by wearing closed-back shoes and socks,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. Check out our favorite walking shoes here.

Cracked heels are very common. They can be painful, unattractive and very embarrassing, especially for those of us who love rocking a pair of sandals.

Usually, cracked skin on the heels and feet is caused by excessively dry skin. Cracked heels can appear during any time of year. For many people it worsens in the winter months, or for those who live in dry climates, but going barefoot and wearing shoes with open backs in warmer months can exacerbate the problem, meaning that even in the summer, when it's time to show off our feet in sandals, our feet can be in pretty rough shape.

Unfortunately, as the condition worsens it becomes more difficult to treat, since regular lotions can't penetrate the thick, dry, dead skin on our heels.

How I Healed My Heels

Luckily, I found a simple, affordable, at-home treatment that successfully got rid of the cracked, dry skin on my feet.

Before trying out this DIY home remedy, it's important to note that skin problems on our feet can be a sign of health issues. People with diabetes or skin or circulation problems will want to discuss any foot care regimen with their doctor beforehand. If the cracks on your heels are very deep or bleeding, you'll also want to speak with your doctor.

If you don't have any health issues, your cracked heels are probably just a result of worn and weathered skin. You should be able to smooth the skin on your heels without resorting to drastic measures.

Here is the routine I recently used to combat a very bad case of dry, cracked skin on my heels:

Products

• Flexitol Heel Balm: This product is recommended for adults only, and according to the packaging, it's safe for diabetic feet. Flexitol Heel Balm is available at most drugstores. I purchased mine at Target.
• Dr. Scholl's Callus Reducer: Products like the Dr. Scholl's Callus Reducer are definitely not recommended for people with diabetes or circulation problems. Unfortunately, Dr. Scholl's doesn't make the Callus Reducer anymore, but the Sof'Feet Callus Reducer is an equally effective, comparable item. It's shaped like a nail file with a metal head that resembles a cheese grater. It's a strange comparison, but this little tool is pretty effective.
• If you don't like the idea of using a manual tool to buff away callused skin, there are plenty of fast and effective tools to smooth your feet. Try the Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk Express Pedi Foot Smoother. The battery powered foot smoother has a micro-grain roller surface that gently, yet effectively, removes tough, callused skin.

Dry Cracked Skin On Feet Treatment

How to Eliminate Cracked Heels

Dr. Scholl's recommends soaking your feet before using the Callus Reducer, though I must admit that I only sometimes soaked first. Other times I used it on dry skin or straight out of the shower.

Dry Cracked Skin On Feet And Hands

I filed the skin on my heels moving the file in one direction only, as instructed on the package. I filed for as long as I wanted to or until my heels felt smooth to the touch. The cracks were still visible, but I couldn't feel the rough skin just by touching my heels.

After filing I applied the Flexitol Heel Balm. This stuff doesn't smell great, but it isn't terribly offensive either. It is, however, very greasy. I quickly learned to put socks on immediately after applying it before I stood up to walk across the bathroom floor.

Dry Broken Skin On Feet

The Flexitol package recommends using the balm twice a day. I only applied it once a day after using the callus reducer first and I still got great results.

Final Thoughts

Dry Cracked Skin On Feet Icd 10

When I first began this foot care regimen my heels were in such bad shape that I thought I'd have to skip sandal season. I wrongfully assumed that getting rid of my thick, cracked skin would take a long time. I happily noticed results after the first 'treatment,' and within a few days my feet were nearly back to normal.