Heel Fissures and Calluses

Heel Fissures and Heel Calluses are two common heel issues that start as cosmetic problems, but can lead to serious medical problems. Let’s learn about these two conditions.

Heel Fissures

Heel Fissures are cracked heels. They occur when the skin on heel becomes hard, dry and flaky. Heel Fissures can become painful and the cracks can be severe enough to bleed. They can develop from wearing open-backed shoes or from skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Wearing proper shoes and routinely moisturizing feet can reduce the dryness of this condition.

Heel Calluses

Heel calluses develop when one metatarsal bone is longer/lower than the others, causing it to hit to ground with more force than it should. As a result, the skin thickens, resulting in a callus that can be both irritating and painful. Most of the time a physician can treat your callus without surgery. Wearing shoes with proper padding in the heel region will help to reduce the added pressure, which will reduce the severity of the callus.  

If you notice any cracking or thickening of the skin on your heel, see a physician before the problem starts to progress into a more serious issue. 

Image by Quinn Dombrowski. Foot Callus. (2008). Flickr.