Cracked heels, or heel fissures, are a common problem that tends to occur more frequently during the dry, winter months and in those with calluses, diabetes or circulatory problems. While minor cracks are uncomfortable and unsightly, severe cracks can cause significant pain, limit mobility and lead to serious tissue infections. Home care and lifestyle changes are generally sufficient to treat superficial cracks. Deep cracks require medical attention to prevent complications.
Step 1
Lose weight to reduce pressure on the pad of your foot. Excessive weight can cause a sideways expansion of your heel and lead to cracked skin.
Step 2
Avoid prolonged standing, especially on concrete or other hard floors. The website ePodiatry cautions that spending too much time on your feet can contribute to cracked heels as well as make pain worse.
Step 3
Wear well-fitting shoes with closed backs. Shoes with open backs allow sideways expansion of your heels that can make cracking worse, according to ePodiatry.
Step 4
Apply an oil-based moisturizing ointment to your heels at least twice each day. Use moisturizers within three minutes of getting out of the shower, while your skin is still damp. This will help lock moisture into your skin and increase the effectiveness of the ointment. Cover your heels with petroleum jelly and socks before going to bed at night to treat severely dry skin.
Step 5
Remove calluses and hardened, dry skin with a pumice stone. After showering, wet the stone and use it to gently file away thick skin. Do this as often as needed to keep calluses under control.
Step 6
Close heel cracks with a gel or liquid bandage. These products are available over the counter or by prescription and will hold your skin together to encourage heeling and reduce pain, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society.
Step 7
Wear heel pads or special insoles to redistribute your weight, keep pressure off your heel and prevent your foot pad from expanding and cracking. Insoles and pads can also speed up recovery from existing cracks.
Step 8
Avoid soaking your feet for long periods in hot, soapy water. Hot water and soap increase skin dryness and can make cracking worse, according to the American Geriatrics Society.
Things You'll Need
- Oil-based moisturizing ointment
- Pumice stone
- Liquid or gel bandage
- Heel pads
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