Why Do Women's Feet Get Dry and Cracked?

• Causes
  • 9 reasons women get dry, cracked feet
• Home Remedies
  • What home remedies can help treat dry, cracked heels?

While dry, cracked feet can affect anyone, women are more prone to developing the problem. Learn about causes and home remedies

When the skin on the bottom of your feet and heels gets dry, it can leave painful cracks. While this is a common problem that can affect anyone, women are more prone to developing dry, cracked feet due to certain factors.

1. Wearing open footwear: Women who frequently wear open-heeled footwear such as sandals are more prone to having their skin dry out.
2. Dry skin: Not moisturizing your feet can lead to dry skin, especially during colder winter months.
3. Harsh soaps: Women who use harsh soaps are more likely to develop cracked heels. Harsh soaps damage the natural skin barrier and cause water loss.
4. Hot baths or showers: Using very hot water while bathing can dry out the skin. It is important to moisturize the skin within 10 minutes after getting out of the bath or shower.
5. Prolonged standing: Standing for prolonged periods on hard floors, especially with shoes that cause friction on the heels, can cause cracked heels.
6. Obesity: Excess weight can increase the pressure on the fat pad under the heel, causing the skin to split.
7. Menopause: After menopause, some women are more prone to a condition called acquired keratoderma, which can lead to cracked skin on the heels and other body parts.
8. Sjogren’s syndrome: Women are more prone to this condition, in which the skin dries up in response to the body’s immune system, attacking the sweat glands.
9. Vitamin deficiency: Women who are deficient in vitamins C, B3, and E are prone to developing dry, cracked heels.

• Heel balms: Use a heel balm or thick moisturizer twice daily to soften the skin and increase elasticity. Ingredients that help retain moisture in the skin include urea, alpha hydroxy acids, and humectants.
• Soaks and exfoliation: Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for about 20 minutes. Next, gently exfoliate with a pumice stone or loofah, pat dry, and apply a moisturizer such as Vaseline or even olive oil. Slipping on a pair of socks over your moisturized feet can lock in the moisture.
• Warm baths: Instead of taking hot baths or showers, try bathing in lukewarm water to prevent moisture loss.
• Cleaning: Always keep cracks clean to prevent the risk of infection.
• Bandages: Wearing bandages or special tissue glue can protect and hold the edges of the cracks in your skin. 
• Supportive shoes: Wear proper fitting closed shoes to relieve pressure on the feet. Wear a silicone heel cup inside your shoes for extra protection
• Weight loss: Losing weight can help relieve pressure on the feet.
• Diet: Includingn essential fatty acids in your diet may help add moisture to your skin.
• Hydration: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

If your feet are severely dry and don’t respond to home remedies, talk to a doctor to rule out underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.