Warm Summer weather inspires many of us to wear flip-flops and walk barefoot. When your feet are exposed to air, it can cause dry skin on your feet, which will create calluses. The pressure of pounding your feet on the ground when you run can then lead to heel fissures , or cracks in the skin. They most often occur on your heels, but you can get them anywhere you have extremely dry skin. If you continue to run, the fissures can split open further and become deeper. When that happens, the fissures can bleed and expose the underlying tissue to infection. Plus they’re really painful, which makes running downright impossible. Want to know how you can prevent fissures? Then read more. Before you go to sleep, soak your feet in water or take a bath or shower. Then lather your feet up with intense moisturizing lotion, salve, or body butter, and wear socks over them . Wear socks and shoes that cover your feet to help keep the skin moist. I know this can

be a pain during the Summer, but it will really help heal your cracked heels. Drink lots of water throughout your day to help moisturize your body from the inside out. To get rid of dry skin on your heels, try using a pumice stone in the shower. It gently sloughs off dead skin cells, eventually revealing softer, smoother skin. If you already have small cracks, just be careful not to irritate those areas. If you live in a dry area, try using a humidifier in your home to help keep moisture in the air. I know it’s tempting to continue running, but if you have a deep fissure, pounding your feet will only make it worse. Switch to walking until your cracked heel is under control. If you already have a big crack, make an appointment with a podiatrist. They can help get rid of the hard, dry skin on your feet, so that your fissure can heal. Getty

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How-To: Heal Cracked Heels