Dealing with cracked heels: what helps

Heel skin can become dry and thick, then split when pressure and movement pull it apart. Open shoes, prolonged standing, hot baths, harsh cleansers, and low humidity may worsen the problem. Itching or scaling between the toes, along with heel cracking, can occur with athlete's foot. Deep fissures can hurt when walking and may bleed or allow germs into the skin.

Check both feet for redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, blisters, or scaling. People with diabetes, reduced sensation, poor circulation, or immune problems should seek tailored advice before treating deep cracks themselves.

After a short warm wash, pat the feet dry and apply a thick moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp. Cover painful fissures with a clean dressing and wear supportive, closed footwear. Do not cut callused skin with blades. Gentle filing may be appropriate only when the skin is intact and not inflamed. Emollient therapy can be recommended when ordinary moisturising is not enough; use any prescribed product as directed.

Seek medical advice for deep, bleeding, or recurrent cracks, or if home care does not improve them. Prompt review is needed for increasing pain, redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever, or difficulty walking. A clinician can check for athlete's foot, eczema, psoriasis, pressure problems, or other contributors and choose treatment safely.

Is dryness the only cause, or could athlete's foot or another condition be involved? Which moisturiser or emollient should I use? How should I protect a deep fissure? Are there foot-care precautions for my circulation, sensation, or medical conditions?