Cracked Heels and Flip Flops

Have you noticed cracking at the back of your heel or dry skin along the bottom of your heel? This dry skin could result in skin cracks that go so deep that can cause bleeding and a lot of pain. This can actually be as a result of wearing flip flops.

Flip flops are shoes that don’t provide you any support and also expose your entire foot to the environment. As a result, you are putting a lot of pressure on your heels without any support. This can cause them to break down. Also, since flip flops are not easy to keep on your feet, you can actually end up walking on your heels a lot, as a result of slipping out of them.

So, what can you do to avoid this problem? For one, you can wear shoes that provide you better support than flip flops. Yes, it is summer time and you get hot, but there are plenty of sneakers that are very breathable while at the same time providing you arch support and heel support. Another possibility for shoe wear, is finding sandals that have multiple straps to them as well as are closed in the back of the shoe. These shoes can protect your heel from your everyday life while at the same time providing you with a good amount of support.

What happens if you already have cracked, dry, bleeding heels though? Your podiatrist can take off all of the thick callused skin that is preventing your skin from healing and being healthy. Your podiatrist can also prescribe you a deep moisturizing ointment or lotion that will help to soften the skin and give it a lot of moisture. This will also help to slowly get rid of your pain, because it will close up your skin and prevent healing.

So, if you or someone you know has a dry, cracked, bleeding heel and it is causing them a great deal of pain, you should seek help from your podiatrist. We also offer a free book on our website that talks about the many different causes of heel pain and suggests ways that you can find relief. If you live in the Boston or Bradford, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your heel. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.