Fissures of the heel and soles, commonly referred to as cracked heels or chapped soles are very common, especially during the winter season when the skin tends to become dry. Although any part of the soles of the feet may be affected and become chapped or crack, it is the heels that are more commonly affected. The condition is also more common in females than males mainly due to wearing shoes that unevenly distribute the body weight and shoes that are opened at the back. Hormonal factors may sometimes be involved.
Not only are cracked heels and soles unsightly to look at, they can cause pain or discomfort in the feet. Bleeding may occur in severe cases. Infection may also occur, particularly if the person is diabetic. Simple measures such as proper foot care, with particular emphasis on keeping the feet well-moisturized, may help to prevent cracked heels and soles of the feet. If not dealt with early, the skin around the heels may become thick and callused with deep fissures in it, which will make healing more difficult.
Jock itch is often mistakenly thought to be a skin infection that affects only males but it can also occur in females. It is a fungal infection of the skin of the groin – the area between the thighs and torso. These infections are common and can extend to the external genitalia or the upper part of the inner thigh. Jock itch is just another form of athlete’s foot – one arises on the groin area while the other is seen on the genitalia. The correct medical term for this type of fungal infection is tinea cruris but apart from jock itch, it is also known by many common names across the globe such crotch itch, gym itch, groin ringworm and dhobie itch.
There are many skin conditions that either start during pregnancy or is exacerbated in the pregnant state. The more common conditions include acne, hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) and eczema. Facial hyperpigmentation that is not associated with itching or other changes of the skin and arises more often with pregnancy is known as melasma (previously referred to as chloasma). This condition has afflicted women for ages and used to be known as the veil or mask of pregnancy. It is more likely to be prominent on the sun-exposed areas of the skin.
Acne is a common skin complaint during pregnancy and may persist even after child birth and during the course of breast feeding. The main contributing factor to any case of acne, whether during pregnancy or not, is a hormonal cause. The hormonal fluctuation and high levels of estrogen and progesterone, necessary during pregnancy, may contribute to the development of pimples during pregnancy.
A breast fungus, in the skin folds between the breast and chest, is a more common fungal infection than previously thought although many women suffer silently with this skin infection. A fungus under the breast is both uncomfortable and awkward as the intense itching has to often be ignored due to the sensitive nature of the affected area. Skin fungal infections can persist for years if untreated and often results in severe scarring of the area, usually noticed as a dark skin discoloration or thickening of the skin as a result of constant irritation.
