Dry, cracked heels aren't only unsightly, but can also be be painful and uncomfortable. Feet take a lot of abuse, which results in the dry feet that you might see during the winter and summer months. In order to heal your heels, look for a thick moisturizing cream and make sure to file away dead skin cells. After a few days of giving extra care to your heels, you'll see a marked difference in their condition and smoothness.
Step 1
Soak your feet in a bath full of warm water and a few moisturizing bath beads. The hot water will help to soften the outer layer of dead skin cells that are causing your heels to look dry, chapped and cracked. Allow your feet to soak for at least five minutes, if possible.
Step 2
Pat your feet dry with a towel. While sitting on the edge of the bathtub, run a pumice stone back and forth over the cracked skin. A pumice stone is highly exfoliating, and can help remove the dead skin that can give your heels a whitish hue. Concentrate on the areas where thick, damaged skin is present, which is usually on the bottom and back of the heel.
Step 3
Rinse your feet with warm water once again, and pat dry. Smooth a thick moisturizing cream over your entire foot, suggests the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. This will help moisturize the new skin that you've revealed by using the pumice stone. Look for a moisturizer with emollient ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, lanolin and glycerin.
Step 4
Slide a pair of thick socks over your feet while the moisturizer is still moist. The socks will help seal in the moisture so it doesn't rub off. The heat created by your feet in the socks can also help the moisture to penetrate the skin more easily. Wear the socks all night, if possible.
Tips and Warnings
- Wear shoes that have a supportive covering over the heel, suggests ePodiatry.com. While flip flops, clogs and slingbacks may be fashionable, they leave your heel exposed to sun, dirt and injury. Look for shoes that have a full covering on the heel, or only wear your heel-exposing shoes for short periods of time in order to ward off cracked heels in the future.
- Never attempt to remove calluses with excess pressure or razor blades, as you could cause infection and further irritation.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Pumice stone
- Moisturizer
- Thick socks
- Supportive shoes
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