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Suggest Treatment For Cracked Heels
Question: Hello Dr. Kanodia,
Hope you are doing well. I usually write in to you without even looking at other doctors present in the forum, due to your detailed and very helpful responses.
My mother has been suffering from severe cracked heels. She has tried most of over the counter creams available in the market which did not help her.
As such she is taking medications for stomach ulcers and thyroid.
Attached is an image of her feet.
Request you to please advise.
Hope you are doing well. I usually write in to you without even looking at other doctors present in the forum, due to your detailed and very helpful responses.
My mother has been suffering from severe cracked heels. She has tried most of over the counter creams available in the market which did not help her.
As such she is taking medications for stomach ulcers and thyroid.
Attached is an image of her feet.
Request you to please advise.
Brief Answer:
"Planter Keratoderma". Kindly give details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can very well understand your concern for the problem of your mother. It is really very distressing sometimes to find anything which hampers our day to day life.
After analyzing the picture and correlating with the information provided by you I can make out that presently your mother has the condition of "planter Keratoderma".
To explain you simply- Our skin is multilayered structure and at palmar and planter aspect it 20 times more thicker than the skin at other body areas. Whenever any offending factor causes abnormality in the proper functioning then there are formation of small fissures which if not treated in time causes larger cuts and fissure. It may continue for longer time if that factor is not resolved.
There can be multiple causes of this condition including internal tendency to form the cuts or might because of fungal infections or contact to allergic material of shoes and slippers or due to certain other skin conditions too.
In view to help you better I request you to kindly tell me certain important points:
- Are there similar kind of lesions present over palms also.
- Any other site if you can see similar or any other type of skin condition in your mother.
- Had she experienced any boils type of eruptions in the affected area.
- Is there any change in the nails also, if yes then can send the pictures of nails too.
- What is the grade of itching- mild /moderate/ severe.
- Does it gets better by itself or if you see any seasonal variation.
- Have you gone for any tests or skin examination or biopsy of skin tissues.
- Any other systemic complaints or medications.
- Your mother's occupations and what kind shoes and slippers she is wearing daily.
Hope to hear soon form your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases
"Planter Keratoderma". Kindly give details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can very well understand your concern for the problem of your mother. It is really very distressing sometimes to find anything which hampers our day to day life.
After analyzing the picture and correlating with the information provided by you I can make out that presently your mother has the condition of "planter Keratoderma".
To explain you simply- Our skin is multilayered structure and at palmar and planter aspect it 20 times more thicker than the skin at other body areas. Whenever any offending factor causes abnormality in the proper functioning then there are formation of small fissures which if not treated in time causes larger cuts and fissure. It may continue for longer time if that factor is not resolved.
There can be multiple causes of this condition including internal tendency to form the cuts or might because of fungal infections or contact to allergic material of shoes and slippers or due to certain other skin conditions too.
In view to help you better I request you to kindly tell me certain important points:
- Are there similar kind of lesions present over palms also.
- Any other site if you can see similar or any other type of skin condition in your mother.
- Had she experienced any boils type of eruptions in the affected area.
- Is there any change in the nails also, if yes then can send the pictures of nails too.
- What is the grade of itching- mild /moderate/ severe.
- Does it gets better by itself or if you see any seasonal variation.
- Have you gone for any tests or skin examination or biopsy of skin tissues.
- Any other systemic complaints or medications.
- Your mother's occupations and what kind shoes and slippers she is wearing daily.
Hope to hear soon form your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your response.
This is not present in any other area except the feet, and there is no boil or itching sensation. I do not see any change in the nails.
These cracks just become worse in summers. We have not done any tests for this so far.
My mother is a homemaker and wears special footwear, like the below one present on this website
http://m.snapdeal.com/product/healthplus-diabetic-and-orthopedic-footwear/0000
Please let me know incase you need more information.
Thanks !!
This is not present in any other area except the feet, and there is no boil or itching sensation. I do not see any change in the nails.
These cracks just become worse in summers. We have not done any tests for this so far.
My mother is a homemaker and wears special footwear, like the below one present on this website
http://m.snapdeal.com/product/healthplus-diabetic-and-orthopedic-footwear/0000
Please let me know incase you need more information.
Thanks !!
Brief Answer:
Various measures to improve Planter keratoderma.
Detailed Answer:
Hello young Fellow,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks for your follow up with all the relevant details.
After analyzing the complete situation I can make out that your mother has “Planter keratoderma” as guided in previous mail.
As per the information provided let me first reassure you that this appears to be simple age related condition only and there appears to be no other specific cause for it.
It is quite common post menopause in females to have low water retentive capacity in their skin which leads to increased trans-epidermal water loss into the atmosphere and formation of cracks.
I can see that she is also hypothyroid which is also one of the contributory factor in the formation of planter keratoderma.
Repeated wetting for multiple times a day, walking bare foot and contact with dust and dirt along with soaps exacerbates the condition leading to painful cracks and fissures.
The most important part of treatment id proper hydration and moistruization of feet. For the same I suggest to do saline compression. For the same she can take half bucket of warm water, put a pinch of salt in it and dip her leg for 15 minutes two times in day. Ask her to gently wash her legs and rinse in warm water. This will improve the hydration, remove all the dirt in the cracks as well as helps in fast renewal of dead skin.
An important point is proper hydration- her kind of cases requires a regular moisturization by paraffin gelly for multiple times a day. Moisturizers should be applied as frequently as possible. This will help in reducing the cuts and give a natural feel to the skin. Extreme dryness can lead to chapping and cracking of the palms and feet. In my patients I suggest them to apply paraffin gelly for 8-10 times day which means moisturizing the skin every now and then.
Additionally wearing cotton socks and shoes also helps in earliest recovery.
In my patients if despite all these measures if the patient is not improving then I usually start high potency steroid cream such as halobetasol and then shift slowly to lower potency serially which actually requires dermatological supervision.
But over and above most of my patients responds well without any steroid creams. I am quite confident that your kind of caring son will take care of her problem with simple measures guided above. "May God bless you".
I hope this information will help you. I will be glad to guide you any further.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology & Sexually transmitted diseases
Various measures to improve Planter keratoderma.
Detailed Answer:
Hello young Fellow,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks for your follow up with all the relevant details.
After analyzing the complete situation I can make out that your mother has “Planter keratoderma” as guided in previous mail.
As per the information provided let me first reassure you that this appears to be simple age related condition only and there appears to be no other specific cause for it.
It is quite common post menopause in females to have low water retentive capacity in their skin which leads to increased trans-epidermal water loss into the atmosphere and formation of cracks.
I can see that she is also hypothyroid which is also one of the contributory factor in the formation of planter keratoderma.
Repeated wetting for multiple times a day, walking bare foot and contact with dust and dirt along with soaps exacerbates the condition leading to painful cracks and fissures.
The most important part of treatment id proper hydration and moistruization of feet. For the same I suggest to do saline compression. For the same she can take half bucket of warm water, put a pinch of salt in it and dip her leg for 15 minutes two times in day. Ask her to gently wash her legs and rinse in warm water. This will improve the hydration, remove all the dirt in the cracks as well as helps in fast renewal of dead skin.
An important point is proper hydration- her kind of cases requires a regular moisturization by paraffin gelly for multiple times a day. Moisturizers should be applied as frequently as possible. This will help in reducing the cuts and give a natural feel to the skin. Extreme dryness can lead to chapping and cracking of the palms and feet. In my patients I suggest them to apply paraffin gelly for 8-10 times day which means moisturizing the skin every now and then.
Additionally wearing cotton socks and shoes also helps in earliest recovery.
In my patients if despite all these measures if the patient is not improving then I usually start high potency steroid cream such as halobetasol and then shift slowly to lower potency serially which actually requires dermatological supervision.
But over and above most of my patients responds well without any steroid creams. I am quite confident that your kind of caring son will take care of her problem with simple measures guided above. "May God bless you".
I hope this information will help you. I will be glad to guide you any further.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology & Sexually transmitted diseases
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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