Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are a common foot problem. This can occur in both adults and children, and seems to affect women more often than men.

Cracked heels usually aren’t a serious condition. For many people, the cracks only affect the top layer of skin and don’t cause pain. However, when the cracks reach the deeper layers of your skin, it can become painful. In some cases, your heels may even start to bleed.

There are many reasons why you might have dry, cracked heels. In some cases, it may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency.

Your skin is a reflection of your inner health. If you aren’t getting enough of the essential vitamins you need, it may cause your skin to become dull, dry, and prematurely aged. In some cases, it may even cause your skin to flake or crack.

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant to protect your cells and help them live longer. It also helps you maintain healthy skin and a robust immune system.

Dietary vitamin E helps protect the collagen in your skin from biological processes linked to the aging of your skin, as well as the drying effect that aging has on skin. Drier skin could increase your risk of developing cracked heels.

Vitamin B-3 (also called niacin) plays a critical role in energy metabolism. It is also an antioxidant which fights free radicals in your body.

When you don’t get enough vitamin B-3, you may be at a higher risk of developing a condition called pellagra. One of the symptoms of pellagra is dry and scaly skin that can develop on parts of your body, including your heels.

Reference:

Pasmans, S. G., Preesman, A. H., & Van Vloten, W. A. (1998). Pellagra (deficiency of vitamin B3 or of the amino acid tryptophan): a disease still extant in the Netherlands. Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde, 142(33), 1880-1882.