
- Wash feet at least once a day with soap and warm water. Make sure that you dry your feet thoroughly after.
- Make sure to dry feet as soon as possible after dealing with sweaty or perspiring feet.
- Choose socks made from materials that wick away sweat and improve ventilation.
- Apply deodorizing sprays or powders in shoes every day after wear, and make sure to wait 24 hours before wearing the same shoes again.

Certain shoes can leave you prone to cracked heels and dry skin due to friction from wearing loose-fitted shoes. People who wear sandals and other open-heeled shoes are more at risk for developing cracked heels. Instead, opt for closed-heeled shoes that fit properly and provide support.
If you are overweight, you may be surprised to discover that this could be contributing to your dry, cracked heels. This is because your feet take on all of your weight while standing, walking, and running. By safely dropping that excess weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise you can alleviate some of the pressure placed on your heels to reduce the risk of cracking.
While we know just how luxurious it feels to stand in a steaming hot shower, especially during the winter months, this could be contributing to dry skin on your feet and cracked heels. If this is something you deal with regularly you may look at your current bathing or showering ritual to see if that could be the culprit. Simply use warm and not hot water, which can strip the skin of the oils it needs to stay moist.
You should moisturize your feet every day to prevent dry skin from happening in the first place. Moisturizers that contain lactic acid, glycerin, or petroleum jelly can help to lock in moisture in your feet. Moisturize every time you get out of the shower and throughout the day, especially before going to bed. If you are prone to very dry, cracked feet, you may wish to moisturize and then wear socks to bed.
Thinking you have a bunion? It could be. These foot deformities start small but often expand into larger problems that impact gait, comfort, and appearance. At Oakton Foot and Ankle Center in Fairfax, VA, our podiatrists successfully treat bunions. Dr. Steven Vetter or Dr. Jugal Dharia can help your feet, too.
A progressive problem
A bunion is a prominent, bony bump on the side of your foot. It forms at the base of the big toe, and over time, angles that toe toward or even over additional toes. Pain, friction, corns, calluses, and impaired walking result. Some people even get ingrown toenails, reports Harvard Health.
How do bunions form?
Foot structure has something to do with this common podiatric problem. In other words, if your mom has bunions, you may develop them, too.
However, other issues contribute to bunion formation:
- Narrow, high-heeled shoes with poor arch support
- Age (middle years and up)
- Obesity
- Gait issues, such as overpronation
- Arthritis or other degenerative diseases, such a polio
Getting treatment
The first step is an examination at Oakton Foot and Ankle Center in Fairfax, VA. Your podiatrist will look at your feet and at how you walk. He may take X-rays, too.
Your treatment plan may include several simple interventions. Bunionectomy, or removal of the bump and re-alignment of the big toe, happens only if conservative measures fail to improve comfort and ability to walk properly.
Your care plan may involve:
- Shoe padding to reduce friction and irritation
- Corn and callus removal by your podiatrist
- Strapping to align the toe at night
- Custom-crafted shoe orthotics to cushion and accommodate the bump
- Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation and pain
- Non-prescription analgesics, such as ibuprofen
- Massage with a moisturizing oil or lotion
- Heat or ice packs (don't put them directly on your skin, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Stretching exercises
- Keeping a proper body weight
- Wearing shoes with low heels, adequate arch and heel support, and adequate room in the toe boxes
Come see us
At Oakton Foot and Ankle Center in Fairfax, VA, your podiatrists, Dr. Steven Vetter and Dr. Jugal Dharia, would like to help your feet look and feel their best. After all, they are indispensable!. Call for bunion treatment at (703) 352-8888.

- Pain that occurs immediately after an injury or accident
- Pain that is directly above a bone
- Pain that is worse with movement
- Bruising and severe swelling
- A cracking sound at the moment of injury
- A visible deformity or bump
- Can’t put weight on the injured foot
The symptoms of a sprain are far less severe. You can often put weight on the injured foot with a sprain; however, you may notice some slight pain and stiffness. You may also have heard a popping sound at the moment of the injury with a sprain, while a broken bone often produces a cracking sound. The pain associated with a sprain will also be above soft tissue rather than bone. A podiatrist will perform an X-ray to be able to determine if you are dealing with a break or a sprain.
Rest is key to allowing an injury, particularly a fracture, to heal properly. Along with rest, your doctor may also recommend either an over-the-counter or prescription-strength pain reliever, depending on the severity of your fracture. Those with more moderate to severe fractures may require a special boot, brace, or splint. Those with more severe fractures may need to wear a cast and use crutches, so they can avoid putting any weight on the foot.

If possible, try to keep the blister intact. Do not try to pop or drain a blister that hasn’t popped on its own. It’s important not to put pressure on the blister, so avoid any shoes that may be too tight. If you’re going to put on shoes, make sure to apply a bandage (some band-aids are designed specifically for covering blisters) to the area first.
If the blister popped on its own, clean it with warm water soap (do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the blister). Once the area is clean, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to the area and apply a bandage over the blister. These simple steps can prevent an infection from occurring.
You should only drain a blister if it’s very large, painful, or affects your ability to move. In this case, you should sterilize a needle with alcohol and then make a small hole in the blister to let it drain. You may need to carefully squeeze the blister to help it drain fully. Once the blister has drained, rinse out the area with soap and warm water before applying antibiotic cream to the area and placing a bandage over it.
You mustn’t keep the same bandage on your blister day in and day out. You should check the blister every day to make sure it isn’t infected. You should clean the area daily with soap and water and then reapply another bandage.
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