Author: Foot Doc
Date: 7/18/2007 5:46 pm PDT
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DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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First thing is to determine why the heels are so dry. Most often, it is from excessive sweating and can be compounded by being over-weight and wearing shoes without firm counters. But it may be one of many dermatologic problem, one of which might be psoriasis. Cracks or fissures, as they are medically termed, are potentially dangerous, as if they are deep enough, they can allow pathogenic bacteria in and cause sometimes serious infections.
It would not be appropriate to give you specific treatment advice on a problem which can be of more than one etiology, each of which might require differing treatments. I would assume that you have already tried emollients and topical ointments in an attempt to make the area less dry, but I would firmly suggest that you get a hands-on diagnosis before attempting random treatments as you need to know what the cause of the problem is before it can be effectively treated. Other than for treatment of a possible infection, soaking the feet will generally cause more dryness and fissuring.
I offer my advice here seriously, and assume that what I suggest will be at least tried. Therefore I am no more willing to give definitive recommendations or make diagnoses without an examination to specific individual's problems here than I would be in the office. See either a podiatrist or a dermatologist. |
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