Heels get hard primarily due to the formation of calluses and the pressure exerted on the fat pads beneath the heel.
As you walk and stand, your heels bear a significant amount of pressure. This pressure leads to the following process:
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Callus Formation: The initial response to this pressure is the development of dry, hard skin around the heel, known as a callus. This is the body's way of protecting the underlying tissue.
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Fat Pad Expansion and Cracking: With continued pressure, the fat pads located beneath your heels expand. This expansion, combined with the inflexibility of the callus, often causes the callus to crack. These cracks can deepen and become painful, especially if the skin is very dry.
Therefore, the combination of pressure, callus formation, and fat pad expansion leads to the hard and sometimes cracked condition of heels.