Dry Skin

Dry skin, usually the culprit behind cracked heels, commonly appears on such areas of the feet as the soles and heels.

Dry skin can result from a variety of reasons:

• Age
• Improperly fitting shoes
• Athlete's foot
• Psoriasis
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Certain skin conditions
• Household heat that reduces humidity and dries out the skin

You most likely have dry skin if your feet display the following symptoms:

• Red or flaky patches
• Peeling and cracked skin
• Itchy skin

Since sufferers of athlete's foot display similar symptoms, check for blistering around your toes. If you see any blistering, you most likely have the fungal infection commonly referred to as athlete's foot, and need to use an anti-bacterial ointment to treat its symptoms. (See the Athlete's Foot or Itchy Feet pages for more information.)

Additional therapies include the following:

• Use a pumice stone or sand stone to file the hard dry skin, allowing the moisturizers to better penetrate the skin.
• Use creams especially designed for nighttime use, and wear socks to help the cream better absorb into your skin while
  you sleep.
• Check your shoes for tight spots and areas that rub. Use insoles and other corrective devices to eliminate points of friction.
• Wear comfortable shoes.

Make sure you avoid getting cream and ointment between your toes, as the additional moisture can lead to bacterial infections such as athlete's foot. If the dry skin and cracking worsen, or bleeding occurs, consult a physician.

Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.