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They are accompanied by pain, heal poorly and, most unpleasantly, limit movement, making it impossible to perform even the simplest everyday tasks. This is especially true for older people, women who wear high heels and open shoes, and men who actively engage in sports using heavy equipment.
Let's consider the causes of these skin problems and how to deal with them.
What are skin cracks?
Essentially, this is a linear disruption of the integrity of the epidermis, which is perpendicular to the direction of skin stretching. Cracks can vary significantly in size and occur either spontaneously or under mechanical stress, to which healthy skin reacts elastically, that is, without damage. Perpendicular tears can occur on any area of the skin, but primarily affect areas that are subject to pressure (feet, fingertips) or that are in motion (corners of the lips, elbows, phalanges of the fingers).
Why does skin crack?
Skin cracks are not an independent disease, they are only the result of changes that have occurred in the skin. The immediate cause of their formation is the loss of normal biochemical and biomechanical characteristics of the skin, primarily elasticity, which can be impaired both by thickening of the epidermis and by its increased dryness.
Thickening of the epidermis (or hyperkeratosis) is a protective function of the skin, which, in response to constant mechanical damage: friction or pressure, increases the thickness of the superficial stratum corneum. The most common example of hyperkeratosis are the well-known corns and calluses, which with age occur in almost every person over 25 years of age. The causes of the formation of thickenings on the feet include: wearing uncomfortable shoes, flat feet, diabetes, obesity, poor circulation, aggressive pedicures, including the use of coarse files and pumice, chlorinated water, walking on hard surfaces, etc.
The second reason why skin cracks is dry skin. It can be caused by both external and internal factors. External factors that can affect anyone include low air humidity, chapping, exposure to water, exposure to harsh cleansers, or medications. Internal factors include genetically determined dry skin (the inability of the epidermis to retain moisture), skin and internal organ diseases (ichthyosis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, etc.), changes in hormonal levels, and the natural aging process.
How to prevent cracked skin?
Increased skin thickness or dryness leads to decreased elasticity, resulting in the formation of painful microcracks. Moreover, it is worth considering that rough and dehydrated skin loses its ability to regenerate, as a result of which cracks often take a long time to heal and are recurring.
Dermatologists recommend softening creams from pharmacy cosmetics for dry skin with cracks that contain urea, such as from the Uramax Librederm line. Uramax hand creams contain 10% of the active ingredient, while foot creams contain 25%.
About urea in cracked skin care products
According to research, urea is one of the key ingredients for the care of dry, flaky, and rough skin. Urea in the cream is a synthetic analogue of the component of the same name, naturally present in the skin and part of the natural moisturizing factor, which is responsible for retaining moisture in the epidermis.
An important feature of urea is that its functions change depending on the concentration: at a lower concentration - from 5 to 10%, urea has a softening effect, and at a higher concentration (from 20%) - an exfoliating effect, which makes it a universal component that can cover all the causes leading to the appearance of cracks in the heels and hands.
Hand care
Since the most common cause of cracks on the fingertips and elbows is dry skin, experts recommend daily use of Uramax Librederm softening hand cream with ceramides and urea 10%. It has a regenerating and softening effect, effectively nourishes the skin, normalizing the hydrolipid balance, strengthens the protective functions of the epidermis and restores its elasticity. The product does not contain fragrances or dyes, and urea itself does not cause allergic reactions, which is especially important when used on damaged skin.
Foot Care
Coping with cracked feet can be extremely difficult because, on the one hand, rough removal of calluses with pumice or other abrasives leads to further traumatization of the skin, and on the other hand, traditional moisturizers are unable to penetrate the hardened skin. Uramax Librederm Softening Foot Cream with 25% Ceramides and Urea gently softens and removes rough areas of the skin, provides a pronounced moisturizing effect and restores the structure of the epidermis. Ceramides, vitamin F, shea butter, and allantoin help replenish the skin's hydrolipidic barrier, instantly eliminating tightness and flaking. Regular use of this emollient cream prevents the formation of cracks, dry calluses, and corns.