What should you know about cracks on foot heel?

The heel is exposed to pressure every time you stand, and its skin can become rough and rigid when moisture is lost. Open-backed shoes, long periods on your feet, dry indoor air, and repeated friction may worsen the split. Dry Skin can make the surface tight, while peeling or itch may suggest Athlete's Foot. A clinician may also consider inflammation or another cause when the surrounding skin is red, thick, or scaly. The crack's depth and the condition of nearby skin are more useful than appearance alone.

After a brief lukewarm wash, pat dry and apply a thick moisturiser to the heel. Keep doing this consistently, including after the crack starts to close; Emollient Therapy may be recommended for persistent dryness. Wear cushioned shoes with a stable heel and avoid walking barefoot on hard, rough ground. Do not use a blade, sharp file, or strong peeling product on an open split. A clean dressing can shield a painful crack from rubbing, but replace it when damp or soiled.

Contact a clinician if the crack is deep, bleeding, recurrent, or painful enough to alter your walking. Prompt assessment is needed for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, or rapidly worsening pain. If diabetes, numbness, circulation problems, or immune suppression apply to you, obtain advice early for an open heel wound. A professional can check for infection and identify whether a skin condition or pressure pattern is maintaining the problem.

Could Athlete's Foot or another condition be contributing? Which moisturiser is appropriate for this heel? Should I cover it during the day or while walking? How will I know that it is healing normally?