This article was medically reviewed by Caroline Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, on May 4, 2019.
- Sometimes the sole of your foot may get very dehydrated leaving the skin dry, rough or even cracked. This can be caused by things like warmer weather in the summer months, if you have sensitive skin or if your shoes rub against your skin. Cracked skin should be treated quickly, or the fissures can split.
- While dry skin can seem rather innocuous, cracked soles of the feet can often itch, burn and even bleed, making you vulnerable to infection. Fortunately, medical experts have several recommendations for treating dry and cracked soles of the feet, particularly the areas most prone to cracking, the heels and the areas between the toes.
- Dermatologist recommended foot cream for your dry and cracked feet. It is specially formulated for the dry cracked feet to provide intense moisture. It makes your feet soft and smooth to protect from the further crack. Its non-greasy nature gives you a better feeling while application. It also repairs dry skin of your feet.
- If you would rather try other ways to manage the symptoms of your cracked heels and dry feet, you can simply visit the skin care aisle and grab a hydrating cream or lotion with shea butter or aloe.
One of the most satisfying parts about the transition from winter to spring is swapping your chunky boots for cute, breathable sandals.
But the truth is, wearing open, unsupportive shoes can do a number on your feet. Having dry skin is bad enough, but when cracked heels come into the picture? Let’s just say walking around all day with painful fissures isn’t fun.
Dry feet are caused by a lack of moisture in the skin. There are several common factors that can lead to dry feet, including: Excessively hot showers or baths A skin condition that dries the skin (eczema, psoriasis, etc.). Olive, coconut, and almond oils are great moisturizers for dry skin and to treat cracked feet. After soaking feet in warm water, massage the oil on the cracked skin and put on clean socks for overnight. Rinse off the oil in the morning and repeat daily until skin improves. Remove dead skin cells easier with the acetic acid in vinegar.
The good news is, treating your cracked heels doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, doctors encourage affordable home remedies to keep your feet in tip-top shape. Here, experts explain what causes cracked heels—and how to heal them safely.
Back up: What causes cracked heels?
While dry skin is the primary cause of cracked heels, it’s not the only culprit, according to the Institute for Preventive Foot Health:
- Prolonged standing, especially on hard floors
- Wearing shoes or sandals with open backs
- Having calluses
- Obesity, which increases pressure on the heels
- Skin conditions, such as athlete’s foot, psoriasis, or eczema
Some cracks are minor, but more severe cases can lead to bleeding, discomfort, and pain—especially if bacteria seeps into the fissures. That’s why it’s important to take care of the problem ASAP before things get worse.
How to heal dry, cracked heels
Here are some simple ways to soothe your cracked heels and give them some much-needed relief. You’ll be back on your feet and feeling good in no time.
First, up your water intake
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When you’re experiencing cracked heels, don’t just immediately tend to your feet—grab a water bottle, fill it up, and start guzzling. “Make sure you’re drinking enough water,” says Garrett Moore, DPM, DABPM, a podiatrist at UCHealth Stapleton Foot and Ankle Center. “Your skin can lose around a liter of water throughout the day—more in dry climates—so keeping yourself hydrated goes a long way toward preventing or soothing dry, cracked skin,” he says.
If you’re having problems getting your fix throughout the day, grab a good water bottle like this one from Hidrate Spark, which tracks your intake and glows as a reminder to keep drinking. Prefer to keep your drinks ice cold? These insulated water bottles won’t let you down.
Apply moisturizer consistently
Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion for Sensitive Skin
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Whether you’re trying to prevent cracked heels or heal them, the solution is the same: stay moisturized. “Use a good moisturizer at least once a day, possibly more. While there are various moisturizers and barrier creams out there—and many reasons to use certain types—one of the biggest problems I run into with patients is lack of consistency,” Dr. Moore says. “Moisturizer needs to be applied to the feet daily—once in the morning and once at night before bed. This will help you keep fluids in your skin, minimize loss, and even attract more from the underlying tissues (or even the surrounding environment!). I’m partial to Aveeno for an over-the-counter product, and CeraVe and Lubriderm also get high marks.”
Consistency in the products you use is also important. According to Dr. Moore, choosing either lotions or creams—and sticking with that choice—will help prevent cracked heels.
Try petroleum jelly
CeraVeamazon.com $21.99
If you’re in need of heavy-duty hydration, occlusive products like petroleum jelly (often listed as petrolatum on the ingredients label) stay on the skin and form a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss, says Caroling Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Rhode Island Hospital and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board.
After applying your lotion or cream, add a thin layer of a petroleum jelly-based product, like Vaseline, to seal moisture into your cracked feet. Or, opt for a cream that already contains the ingredient, like CeraVe Healing Ointment.
Get intensive healing cream, if you need it
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Sometimes when your cracked heels are severe, normal lotions won’t do the trick—and that’s when you have to bring in the big guns. “If proper, frequent application of high-quality over-the-counter products isn’t preventing fissures, check with your doctor. Sometimes there can be a fungus exacerbating the problem,” Dr. Moore says. “If it’s truly just dry skin, we can prescribe emollients—such as ammonium lactate or urea cream—to get your skin healthy, then switch you to a lotion for maintaining that health.”
There are also options with urea you can get from the pharmacy without a prescription, but maybe not quite as strong. Gta 5 real game free. Roberta Del Campo, MD, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist, recommends Excipial 20% Urea Intensive Healing Cream, which works great, but might be more pricey than what you could get from your doc. “Urea is a keratolytic agent, meaning it helps to chemically exfoliate dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth. It’s not only great for callused feet, but it can also be used to smooth out rough elbows and knees,” she says.
Buy moisturizing socks
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If you want to go beyond just wearing your normal everyday socks to protect your heels, get some extra moisturizing benefits by grabbing a pair made especially for dry, cracked heels.
This option from NatraCure has a liner that uses aloe vera, vitamin E, and shea butter to intensely hydrate your skin. Just note that these aren’t your everyday socks, so they won’t feel soft and cozy. Instead, they’ll feel a bit rubbery at first, but the heat from your skin will activate the release of healing ingredients. The bonus? Your entire foot will reap the softening benefits—not just your heels.
Use a foot soak
Purely Northwest Tea Tree Oil Therapeutic Foot Soak
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Dr. Engelman recommends soaking your feet before exfoliating calluses—but only after the cracks have healed. There are plenty of store-bought options—like this from Purely Northwest, which incorporates antibacterial tea tree oil—but you can also use items you already have right at home, such as milk and honey.
“This helps soften the skin so you’re not vigorously scrubbing. When it starts feeling sensitive, slow down as you don’t want to over-exfoliate,” she says.
Exfoliate with a pumice stone
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When you’re exfoliating after your foot soak, the best thing you can use is a pumice stone. “It helps keep any dry areas or calluses down. While calluses can be protective, when they get too thick, they can lose all flexibility and crack when you move,” Dr. Engelman says.
Just make sure you keep things clean. “If you use a pumice stone periodically—once every couple of weeks—soak the stone in some cleanser or bleach, then rinse it well. Those crevices that make it such a natural skin file can fill up with dead skin and provide a home for bacteria,” says Dr. Engelman.
Don’t peel or shave your calluses
When you notice your cracked heels peeling, it’s really hard not to pick at it—but it’s the worst thing you can do for the health of your feet. “Never try to peel off dead skin by hand, or attempt to shave a callus yourself. I call this ‘performing bathroom surgery,’ and it’s a great way to get a very bad infection,” Dr. Moore says.
In reality, your doctor should be the only one messing with your foot issues because they know exactly what they’re doing and won’t make the problem worse. “I’m using sterile instruments in a clean environment. I’m also able to see your feet at a much clearer angle to only remove what’s necessary without unwanted complications,” he explains.
Wear closed-back shoes
How To Remove Dead Skin From Feet
Since shoes and sandals with open backs can cause cracked heels—and make them worse!—make sure you have a trusty pair of closed options to wear when you’re having issues, even if that’s just some sneakers. “Protect the area by wearing closed-back shoes and socks,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. Check out our favorite walking shoes here.
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Dry, cracked feet are not only unsightly, but they can be painful. The causes of cracked feet can range from dehydration to obesity, which puts excess pressure on the heels. According to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, even wearing open-backed shoes can lead to dry, cracked feet, as there is no support for the fat pad at the bottom of the foot. Whether the cause is from one or a combination of these factors, you can treat dry, cracked feet by giving them a foot soak, which helps promote circulation, adds moisture and cleanses bacteria off the skin, preventing further problems.
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Use a pumice stone on your cracked heels while they are still dry. This will remove any excess dead skin so that the water and salt can be more readily absorbed.
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Fill the foot basin with warm water. Put in enough to just cover your feet, and add 1/2 cup of Dead Sea or Epsom salt. Both types of salt help promote circulation to the feet, which, according to Awakening Skin Care in Canyon, California, will aid in healing.
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Soak your feet for 10 minutes, then remove them one at a time and rub the cracked areas with the pumice stone for three minutes.
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Put your feet back in the basin to soak for another 10 minutes. Ethics lecture notes pdf. Upon removal, rub with the pumice stone once again.
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Dry your feet thoroughly with a towel. Apply a moisturizer such as petroleum jelly, vegetable oil or olive oil to your feet. Massage the moisturizer into the cracked areas.
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Put on a pair of thick cotton socks and leave on for at least an hour or overnight if possible.
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Repeat the foot soak once a day until you see results. If you do not see any results after one week, see your physician.
Tip
Use moisturizer on your feet even after your cracked skin has healed. This will help prevent future problems.
Dry Flaky Cracked Skin On Feet
Warning
Treating Dry Cracked Skin On Feet
If you have any circulatory problems or diabetes, speak to your physician before soaking your feet, as some medical conditions can cause a loss of sensation in the feet.