Is dry skin more prone to cracking? Dry skin is less strong than healthy skin and so is more prone to cracking.
Why are the heels prone to developing cracks? When you stand the skin around the heels is under tension and pressure from the weight of our body. Skin which is dry and or thickened with callus is less able to cope with these stresses. Small tears can develop in the upper layers of the skin. Left untreated they become deeper, eventually breaking through the skin altogether.
Should I cut away any hard skin myself? Trying to cut away callus and hard skin yourself is not advisable because there is a real danger of cutting yourself and introducing infection into the foot. The best advice is to seek help from a trained professional. In addition to having your feet assessed and any callus removed you will also receive advice on how to prevent future foot problems.