Treating Cracked Heels

If the skin on your heels is cracked, it’s important to treat them as soon as possible. Severe cases can lead to bleeding and infection.

Moisturizing can help prevent cracking. Excessive pressure or friction can also cause cracked heels. Wearing proper shoes and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce this problem.

Soak Your Feet in Vinegar

A vinegar soak may soften dry skin on your feet, which can help remove cracked or dead skin cells. Vinegar is also thought to kill off bacteria and fungi, which may improve the condition of your heels.

You can make a simple vinegar foot soak using any type of vinegar you have in your kitchen, including white, apple cider, or red wine vinegar. To use, mix the vinegar with water in a basin or tub, then submerge your feet for 10-15 minutes.

If your skin gets irritated by the vinegar, reduce the duration of the soak or dilute the mixture with more water. You can also add other ingredients to the foot soak to create a more soothing experience. For example, a mixture of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice may be more gentle than straight vinegar.

Shea butter is another natural ingredient that can soothe your heels and moisturize them. It is derived from the nuts of the shea tree, which grow in West Africa. Shea butter contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that nourish the skin. It has been used for centuries to heal dry and damaged skin, so it’s a great option for treating cracked heels.

Another great way to moisturize your heels is to use olive oil. Olive oil contains fatty acids and special properties that can fix dry, cracked skin. Massage a generous amount of olive oil onto your clean, dry feet, concentrating on the cracked areas. Then, cover them with socks and leave it on all night to let the oil work its magic. You can also combine olive oil with other ingredients to make a soothing treatment, like mixing it with honey and sesame oil to create a foot cream that can be used daily to treat your cracked heels.

Exfoliate

Most cases of cracked heels can be treated at home using proper foot care and over-the-counter products. If your cracks are severe, painful, or bleeding, however, you should see a medical professional for further treatment recommendations and prescription-strength creams and ointments.

Most people develop cracked heels because of dry skin on the feet. This condition can cause pain and discomfort, especially when walking or standing for long periods of time. If left untreated, this problem can become worse and eventually lead to a split in the skin on the heel that is known as a fissure. This can be very painful and itchy and may also introduce health risks such as infection.

If you have cracked heels, the first step to treating them is to soak your feet in a mixture of water and vinegar for 20 minutes once or twice a day. This helps soften the dry and dead skin. After soaking, gently exfoliate the feet with a pumice stone, loofah, or foot scrubber. This helps to reduce the build-up of thick callused skin and makes it easier for your moisturizer to penetrate the cracks in the skin.

Moisturize your feet several times a day using a heavy, oil-based moisturizing cream such as Eucerin or CeraVe. Some products contain skin-softening ingredients such as urea, alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid which help remove dry, dead skin cells and encourage skin to repair itself. If you are prone to cracked heels, try to avoid showering in hot water and instead opt for lukewarm or cool water.

Applying a liquid bandage to the cracks in your heels can create a seal that will protect the skin from further cracking, slow the rate of infection, and stop germs from entering the wounds. This product can be purchased without a prescription at most drug stores.

Moisturize

The best way to keep your heels healthy is to moisturize them. This is particularly important in winter when colder temperatures, lower humidity levels, and drier air can contribute to dry skin on your feet. It is also important to use a moisturizer that is safe for your skin type and can provide a lot of hydration.

Cracked heels, or heel fissures, are a very common foot problem that most people experience at some point in their lives. They are typically caused by the buildup of thick, hardened areas of skin at the bottom of the heel which puts pressure on the area and eventually leads to small cracks that can develop into deep ones. Usually, the cracks will be on the outside of the heel and may become painful as you walk or stand. In some cases, the cracks will become infected and require the attention of a physician to treat.

Luckily, cracked heels are not always a serious issue and can be treated with home remedies such as using a pumice stone to remove the calluses, washing your feet frequently in warm water (with soap if necessary), avoiding footwear that generates friction or adds extra pressure on the heel (like flip-flops or backless shoes), moisturizing daily, and wearing cotton socks to bed. However, you should talk to your doctor if you have chronic dry skin on your feet that doesn’t improve with self-care or is a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes or hypothyroidism.

A good moisturizer will help lock in hydration, provide a lot of emollients, and be free from perfumes and dyes. There are a variety of moisturizers that are suitable for dry skin, so you can find the one that is right for your skin type and needs.

Wear Cotton Socks to Bed

If left untreated, cracks in the heels can progress into more serious issues like cellulitis or even open wounds that need professional care. But prevention is relatively simple when incorporated into your daily routine. Soak your feet, exfoliate them with a scrub or foot file and moisturize regularly. You can also use a liquid bandage to prevent dirt and debris from entering the cracks and worsening your condition.

The most common sign of cracked heels is the appearance of dry and hardened skin in the heel area, often a yellow or dark brown color. This thickened skin is called a callus and it forms when pressure is applied to the area over long periods of time. If the pressure is increased and the moisture is not replaced, the callus will crack and bleed.

When you notice the first signs of cracked heels, soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes to soften the skin. Then use a pumice stone or foot file to remove any dead skin that has built up. Once you’ve exfoliated, gently massage your feet with a lotion or foot cream with ingredients like shea butter, glycerin and urea that help retain moisture. Then slip on a pair of cotton socks and apply an oil-based occlusive moisturizer, like Vaseline or Aquaphor healing ointment to your feet before going to bed.

Repeat this treatment every night until your heels improve and then continue on a regular basis to maintain healthy, hydrated skin in the heel area. Wearing shoes that provide adequate support, moisturizing your feet regularly and choosing weather appropriate footwear can help protect your heels all year round from getting cracked.

Apply Liquid Bandage

A liquid bandage helps seal cracks, prevents infection and promotes healing. It comes as a spray and can be purchased without prescription at most drug stores. Putting on a thin coat of the product daily after washing and exfoliating your feet may help with cracked heels.

Heel fissures can be caused by many factors, including long hot showers and baths, using harsh soaps or body washes on your feet, standing or walking around barefoot in wet places, wearing shoes with inadequate support, a lack of exercise and certain skin conditions like athlete’s foot, psoriasis or eczema. People with a condition called hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) are also more prone to dry skin and cracked heels.

Gently rubbing your calluses and rough heels with a pumice stone after moisturizing twice a day may reduce the appearance of cracked heels. However, you should not use razors or other types of scrapers as they can injure your skin. Using the pumice stone after applying a thick moisturizer containing both keratolytics and humectants (such as ManukaRx Skin Rescue Ointment) may enhance results.

If you continue to follow the home treatment regimen above for a week and your cracked heels improve, then you probably don’t need to see a podiatrist. In rare cases, severe cracked heels may be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires attention from a physician. If your cracked heels don’t improve or get worse with bleeding, pain or open wounds on the heel, you should make an appointment to see a dermatologist or podiatrist for further evaluation and treatment. This may include a prescription for an antifungal or oral medication. If you have diabetes, you should be evaluated by a doctor to determine if you need diabetic foot care to prevent or treat complications from poor circulation.