Dry, fissuring skin on your feet
is not a laughing matter. Not only can it be unsightly, it can also be painful and dangerous. Most people refer to dry, fissuring skin as dry and cracked feet.
Table of Contents
The Formation of Cracked, Sore Feet
The skin on our feet responds to many different types of stimuli in our environment, both internal and external. In response to the many different stimuli, the body may choose to thicken your skin, form a blister, or even break down to an ulcer. Your skin also responds to a variety of diseases such as diabetes, which can damage the nerves of the feet and cause a drying of the skin.
The skin on your foot forms a natural barrier between the outside world and you. When this skin becomes damaged or does not perform its normal duties your body may become more vulnerable to infection. As a result, the infections that occur inside the fissures of the skin of your feet are more difficult to treat and heal.
Caring for Your Dry, Cracked Feet
Thick skin on your feet should be debrided down. You can do this yourself at home using a pumas stone or file. The skin on your feet is best debrided after a warm bath when the water has softened it. Do not use a razor. Also, over-the-counter callous and corn removers are not recommended. They are dilute acids and may cause burns and more damage.
Lotions should also be used regularly to help soften and prevent cracking. If you are unable to do all of this yourself, your Podiatrist can help you and maybe even prescribe medications to help moisturize the skin or even help it to peel.
Seeking Treatment for Cracked Feet
If you develop cracking in the skin of your foot which leads to an infection, seek medical attention immediately. A small fissure which is covered by a large amount of thickened skin may actually be a much larger ulcer. Thickened skin, which has built up over time, may place undo pressure on the skin thus preventing it from receiving normal circulation and hindering any necessary healing.
About Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia and Dr. Naim Shaheed
Dr. Naim Shaheed is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at the Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia with offices in throughout metro Atlanta, including Lithonia, Georgia. The mission of Dr. Shaheed and the Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia is to provide the highest level of podiatric care to every patient who enters their practice.
For more information concerning dry and cracked feet, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shaheed for further evaluation, please call our Lithonia, GA office at 770-227-0202. Also, you can click HERE to make an appointment online now!
