Podiatrist’s advice on heel cracks

Athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and heel cracks. It might not sound like very serious issues, but for those affected, they are extremely painful and a constant reminder with every step. But it’s fairly easy to counteract them. Here you’ll find sound advice and tips from Carola Richardson, a medical foot care therapist who is passionate about good foot health.

"It’s so important to take care of your feet—they carry us through our entire lives, yet they’re easy to overlook. Once you develop problems, you need patience, the right solutions, and quality products to get rid of them. There’s a huge benefit to doing things correctly from the start, for example, to avoid strong medications," says Carola Richardson, who also leads courses for podiatrists on nail and skin fungus. In recent years, in her professional practice, she has seen a significant increase in foot and nail fungus. "I think this could be because we exercise more. It’s also twice as common in men. The single greatest risk of transmission is in public showers and locker rooms. It’s warm and humid there, fungal spores thrive in that environment, and infections spread easily."

How to Get Healthy, Beautiful Feet

- Regular foot bath, preferably using BIOpH+ Footcare, which treats and builds healthy feet.
- Moisturize with a foot salve containing high-quality ingredients.
- Don’t over-file or buff—this triggers the skin to form calluses.
- Get regular foot care from a medical foot care therapist. First Step to Healthy Feet

First Step to Healthy Feet

Taking care of your feet has never been easier. Regular foot bath foot baths with BIOpH+ lay the foundation for avoiding problems and deliver positive results for anyone dealing with issues like athlete’s foot, heel cracks, and calluses. 

It’s nearly impossible to tell with the naked eye that dry, flaky skin patches on feet are fungus—symptoms resemble both eczema and psoriasis. A first step is to use BIOpH+ Footcare. The foot bath relieves symptoms regardless of whether the person has a fungus infection or not. BIOpH+ is effective, biodegradable, and a safe product with no side effects, according to clinical studies. Many who notice symptoms they believe are fungus start self-treating with over-the-counter medications. But this will be ineffective if what you have isn’t actually fungus, and the result is that you’ve used strong products unnecessarily, with the risk of side effects that medications carry. 

"I’m truly passionate about this topic of fungal foot conditions," says Carola Richardson, who also trains aspiring foot care therapists on athlete’s foot.

"It’s so important to act quickly so that problems don’t develop into moccasin foot fungus, which covers the entire sole of the foot or spreads into the nails. 
She explains that fungus is a parasite that significantly worsens skin quality and can also lead to cracks. With BIOpH+ medical-grade foot care products, you can relieve symptoms regardless of whether you have athlete’s foot or not. If you don’t see desired results after regular use, it’s a good idea to get a professional diagnosis. This is relatively easy to do, either with a so-called DNA test at a medical foot care therapist or via a culture test at a primary care clinic.

"My most important piece of advice is to keep the skin on your feet healthy, as well as your nails. Start with a therapeutic foot bath, file moderately, and moisturize with a high-quality foot salve—that’s the foundation. If you still develop problems, seek help from a medical foot care therapist.

Combat Heel Cracks with Foot Baths and Cream

The foundation for avoiding skin problems on your feet is healthy skin and strong nails. Build a good habit of taking a relaxing foot bath on the couch or why not at your home office? File a little moderately, and moisturize with a good foot cream. Despite good habits, problems can still arise—for example, heel cracks, which can be extremely painful. 
In winter, you can get heel cracks due to dry air. In summer, they can occur because you wear shoes without heel support, which causes the heel to "slip out" and form cracks. 

"Cracks that don’t heal can also be caused by a fungal infection. A recommendation is therefore to use BIOpH+ foot bath which cleanses and exfoliates the skin. It softens the skin, effectively relieves calluses, kills microorganisms, and keeps feet healthy while preventing various foot problems, says Carola Richardson, medical foot care therapist. 
She also recommends wearing shoes with heel support, even indoor slippers, which keep the heel in place and reduce the risk of cracks forming.

"If you have a deep crack that won’t heal despite foot bath, regular moisturizing, and good foot hygiene, it’s time to seek help from a medical foot care therapist who can clean the area, remove hard edges, and tape the crack shut.
The entire skin on our bodies is also affected by what we eat and drink, so the skin on our feet is no exception.

"Skin thrives with vegetable oils like olive oil and plenty of water. Moisturizing from the inside is a great way to keep skin and feet in good condition," says Carola Richardson.

Best Ways to Prevent and Soothe Heel Cracks

• Make it a habit to take foot bath with BIOpH+ a few times a week—it dissolves calluses, kills microorganisms, and speeds up healing.
•  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize—use a high-quality foot cream.
• If you have a painful crack—soak foot bath , then gently remove hard edges and moisturize again.
• If the crack is deep, a foot care therapist may need to tape it shut.
• Wear both shoes and indoor slippers that have heel support to keep your heel in place.
• The skin on your feet is also affected by what you eat and by drinking enough water.