What should you know about plantar fissures?

Dryness removes flexibility from the outer skin layer. Repeated pressure, long periods standing, open-backed footwear, hot water, and hard thickened skin can then pull the surface apart. A fissure may sting when walking and can catch on fabric. Deeper cracks may bleed or create an opening for infection.

Persistent or widespread cracking can occur with Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis, especially when there is itch, scaling, inflammation, or cracking elsewhere. The appearance and location help a clinician decide whether another skin condition is involved.

Wash gently with lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply a thick moisturising ointment while the skin is still slightly damp. Repeated Emollient Therapy helps restore flexibility. Cover an open fissure with a clean dressing, wear supportive closed footwear, and avoid cutting thick skin with blades.

A clinician or pharmacist can recommend a suitable keratolytic or dressing when hard skin is prominent. Stop any product that burns persistently, and do not put strong acids on bleeding or infected cracks.

Get medical advice if a crack is deep, repeatedly bleeding, increasingly painful, draining, surrounded by redness, or not improving with consistent moisturising. Seek earlier help if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced foot sensation, or a weakened immune system.

Is this simple dry cracking or a condition such as eczema or psoriasis? Which emollient and dressing suit the depth of the fissure? Should thick skin be treated professionally, and how can I reduce pressure on the area?