MamasHealth.com Home Foot and Leg Conditions Achilles Tendonitis Achilles Tendon Rupture Aching Feet Ankle Sprain Arch Pain Athlete's Foot Blisters Bunion Burning Feet Calluses Charcot Foot Clubfoot Corn Cracked Heels Diabetes Feet Flat Feet Foot Care Tips Foot Warts Fungus Nail Hagland's Deformity Hallus Rigidus Hammer Toe Heel Pain Heel Spurs Ingrown Toenail Mallet Toe Metatarsalgia Morton's Neuroma Morton's Toe Orthotics Pedicure Infections Plantar Fasciitis Sesamoiditis Sever's Disease Shin Splints Swollen Feet Tarsal Tunnel Varicose Veins Links Email Mama Sex with your ex Shoes: Buy 1 Give 1 Free Foot Massager Getting along with inlaws	What are Cracked Heels? Cracked heels is a condition of thickening and fissuring of the skin on the heel of the foot. They are a common foot problem. Cracked heels are often referred to as fissures. When the fissures are deep, the skin bleeds easily and causes a lot of pain. Cracked heels are often called fissures. Symptoms of cracked heels The most common symptom of cracked heels are: Hard growth of skin on the outer edge of the heel. Yellow or dark skin on the heel. Pain while walking. Increased pain in thin soles or open back shoes. Red or flaky patches on the heel of the foot Peeling and cracked skin Itchy skin What Causes Cracked Heels? There are many causes of cracked heels. Some of the most common causes are: Inactive sweat glands Dry skin Prolonged standing Obesity Wearing shoes with an open back Surgery to the lower extremities Heel Spurs Mal-aligment of the metatarsal bones Flat feet High arched feet Improperly fitting shoes Athlete’s foot Psoriasis Thyroid disease Diabetes Can Cracked Heels be Treated? Yes. However, cracked heels are more difficult to treat when the skin around the rim of the heel is thick. Some of the common treatments for cracked heels are: Application of a moisturizing cream. Use a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the hard skin. Avoid wearing open backed shoes or thin soled shoes. Wear shoes with a good shock absorbing sole.	Sign up for our Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust
	Hot Topics: Domestic Violence: A pre-existing condition? Serena: The wanna be vegetarian Personal Story: How I recovered from my Eating Disorder Mama wants to help: Food Bank programs and shelter assistance Lucy Goes Green: Talk dirty to me How to avoid Swine Flu What no one will tell you about tummy tuck surgery Mama's favorite item of the week: Trees for the Future Foods for weight loss Win a Gift Bag filled with Goodies from Stonyfield
	Information obtained from MamasHealth.com™ should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should it be inferred as such. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a specific condition. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. Contact us: PO Box 2170, Pasadena, CA 91102-2170 ©2000 - 2009 MamasHealth, Inc.™. All rights reserved