{"id":14833,"date":"2026-08-26T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T08:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/?post_type=reason&#038;p=14833"},"modified":"2026-08-17T19:02:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:02:47","slug":"podology-reasons","status":"publish","type":"reason","link":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/blog\/podology-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Cracked Heels in Summer: Why They Develop and When to See a Podologist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In summer, the skin of the feet is exposed to two opposite sets of conditions. In open shoes, the heel loses moisture faster and repeatedly strikes the sole, while closed trainers increase sweating and friction. If the stratum corneum becomes thick and less elastic, it splits under pressure, forming painful fissures. This is not only a cosmetic problem: a deep crack may bleed and become an entry point for infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main rule: a deep or bleeding fissure should not be aggressively filed at home. The more the edges are traumatized, the greater the pain and the risk of complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Do Heels Crack Particularly in Summer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The heel bears a significant load during walking. The stratum corneum protects the foot, but with hyperkeratosis it becomes dense and does not stretch well. Footwear without a fixed heel counter allows the heel fat pad to spread farther to the sides, while dry skin cannot withstand the tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Summer-related factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>flip-flops and sandals with an open heel;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>long walks and increased load on the feet;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>hot, dry air, dust, and frequent contact with water;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tight closed footwear, sweat, and friction;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>walking barefoot on rough surfaces;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>irregular professional treatment of pronounced hyperkeratosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Fissures may also be associated with fungal infection, eczema, psoriasis, foot deformities, diabetes mellitus, and certain endocrine conditions. A recurring problem should therefore not be attributed to &#8216;dryness&#8217; alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open footwear more often increases drying and mechanical spreading of the heel, while closed footwear increases sweating and skin maceration. The podologist considers both scenarios: there is no single type of summer footwear suitable for every foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Distinguish a Superficial Crack from a Dangerous Fissure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Superficial lines affect the stratum corneum and may be almost painless. A deep fissure extends into living tissue, causes pain with every step, and may bleed or weep. Surrounding redness, local warmth, swelling, purulent discharge, and increasing pain may indicate inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Show Your Foot to a Specialist Promptly If<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The fissure is bleeding or does not close.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Redness, swelling, pus, or an unpleasant odor has appeared.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pain makes it difficult to put weight on the foot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have diabetes, impaired sensation, or poor circulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The skin itches and peels over the entire sole or between the toes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The problem returns quickly after self-treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With diabetes, even minor skin damage requires special caution because reduced sensation may conceal the depth of the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Does a Podologist Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The podologist examines the skin, assesses the depth of the fissures, the distribution of hyperkeratosis, the condition of the nails, and the footwear. Additional diagnostic testing and a medical consultation may be required if a fungal infection or dermatological condition is suspected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a medical pedicure, the specialist cleans the foot and uses a device to reduce excess stratum corneum without aggressively cutting living tissue. The edges of the fissure are treated to reduce tension. Professional products, protective dressings, or off-loading of the area may be used when needed. Medical pedicure and treatment of heel and foot fissures are listed as separate podology services on the Medest website.\u043a\u044e\u0440 \u0438 \u043b\u0435\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0449\u0438\u043d \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u044f\u0442\u043a\u0430\u0445 \u0438 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043f\u0430\u0445 \u0443\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043d\u044b \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043e\u0442\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0433\u0438\u0438.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Cracked Heels in Summer: Treatment by a Foot-Care Specialist\" class=\"wp-image-14820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.medest.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC05010-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Should All Rough Skin Not Simply Be Removed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Filing too deeply is perceived by the skin as trauma. It causes pain and may stimulate repeated thickening of the stratum corneum. Blades, scissors, and metal files increase the risk of cuts and infection. If the fissure is already open, self-treatment with acids or occlusive peeling socks may cause irritation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The purpose of professional treatment is not to make the heel perfectly smooth in a single session, but to safely reduce hyperkeratosis, help the fissure edges come together, and address the cause of the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Reduce the Risk of Recurrent Cracks in Summer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Alternate open shoes with styles that secure the heel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose the correct size and a stable sole.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid prolonged barefoot walking on hot asphalt or rough surfaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After contact with water, pat the feet dry thoroughly, especially between the toes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use professionally selected foot-care products according to the podologist&#8217;s protocol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not apply rich moisturizing products between the toes unless recommended by a specialist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a foot deformity is present, discuss off-loading, insoles, or orthoses with the appropriate specialist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If the heel repeatedly cracks in the same place, the mechanics of loading must be assessed. A cream can soften the skin, but it cannot change pressure on the problem area. Professional debridement alone is also insufficient for a fungal infection; the diagnosis must be confirmed and antifungal treatment prescribed by a physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can a Medical Pedicure Be Performed on a Bleeding Fissure?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not cancel the appointment automatically; first inform the clinic about the condition of the foot. The podologist will assess the wound and determine which treatment is appropriate. If there are signs of infection or deep tissue damage, referral to a physician and healing before a full device-based procedure may be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Medest Clinic in Yerevan, the podologist treats fissures, hyperkeratosis, corns, and other foot problems. Book a consultation and medical pedicure: the specialist will treat the skin safely, identify the possible cause, and prepare a prevention plan based on summer footwear and activity levels.<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":14822,"template":"","service_cat":[],"reason_cat":[],"class_list":["post-14833","reason","type-reason","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reason\/14833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reason"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/reason"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reason\/14833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14835,"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reason\/14833\/revisions\/14835"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_cat?post=14833"},{"taxonomy":"reason_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.medest.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reason_cat?post=14833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}