Dry skin is a continuum, with symptoms ranging from mild roughness and flaking, all the way up to severe dryness causing deep cracks or fissures in the skin1. While milder forms of dry skin are typically accompanied by itch, cracking associated with moderate or severely dry skin is often painful and can have a significant impact on quality of life. In this article, we’ll discuss how and why skin becomes cracked, and what to do about it.
Cracked skin occurs when the skin becomes dehydrated and brittle, resulting in the formation of fine lines that develop into cracks. This generally occurs because of a weakened skin barrier, leading to increased water loss through the skin2. Cracks are especially common on weight-bearing areas, like the heels3, or areas of skin that produce less sebum, like the hands, lips and lower legs2. Over time, if not properly managed, these cracks can deepen and become fissures, which are not only painful, but can sometimes bleed, and are an easy target for bacterial infection4. External factors like frequent hand washing or overexposure to harsh environmental conditions can also damage the skin barrier, leading to increased water loss, dryness, and cracking. In some cases, cracked skin can also be linked to underlying health issues like diabetes or nutritional deficiencies5.
