Cracking is caused by the skin on your feet becoming dry and thickened. This is not just a cosmetic problem, it can sometimes lead to deep wounds and infections. The main causes are:
Dry Skin: There are fewer glands in your feet to produce oil. Therefore, the skin on your feet is prone to drying out quickly. Not using moisturizer properly and not drinking enough water reduces the elasticity of your skin and causes cracking.
Standing for long periods of time: People who work standing for long hours have their entire body weight concentrated on their feet. Due to this pressure, the skin on your feet expands to the sides and cracks over time. Walking barefoot on hard surfaces can aggravate this problem.
Unhealthy footwear: Regular use of open-back sandals can push the fat on your feet to the sides. This is a major cause of cracking. In addition, wearing ill-fitting and tight shoes also affects the feet.
Some health problems: People with diabetes and thyroid problems are prone to dry skin. In diabetics, reduced blood flow to the feet and damage to the nerves cause cracks and slow healing of wounds.
Nutritional deficiencies: Deficiencies in vitamins C, E, B3 (Niacin), iron, and zinc can affect the health of the skin. This causes the skin on the feet to thicken and crack more quickly.