What should you know about deep cracked heels that hurt to walk?

Heel skin becomes thick and less flexible when it is very dry or exposed to repeated pressure. A fissure can extend through that thickened skin, so standing and walking pull the edges apart. Dry skin is a common contributor, but athlete's foot, eczema, psoriasis, footwear, prolonged standing, and some medical conditions can also play a role.

Pain, bleeding, warmth, spreading redness, or drainage suggests that the crack is more than a cosmetic nuisance. It can be useful to distinguish simple dryness from [Cracked Skin](/symptoms/skin-cracking/) or an infection such as [Athlete's Foot](/conditions/athletes-foot/), especially when itching or scaling is present between the toes.

Wash gently with warm water, pat dry, and apply a thick fragrance-free moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp. A clinician may recommend an emollient containing a keratolytic ingredient for thick skin; read about [Emollient Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/emollient-therapy/). Cover an open fissure with a suitable dressing to reduce friction and keep it clean.

Wear supportive, closed-back footwear that limits heel rubbing. Avoid cutting the crack with a blade, pulling loose skin, or using harsh acids on an open wound. A brief soak can soften scale, but prolonged soaking may worsen dryness. If diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation, or immune problems apply, ask a clinician before treating a deep or bleeding fissure yourself.

Arrange medical review if the fissure is deep, bleeding repeatedly, painful enough to alter walking, or not improving with gentle care. Seek prompt attention for spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, a red streak, or rapidly worsening pain. People with diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced foot sensation should seek advice early for any open heel crack.

Ask whether the crack is mainly dryness, pressure, dermatitis, or fungal infection; which emollient and dressing suit it; and how often to apply them. Ask whether thickened skin should be removed professionally and which changes mean you need same-day care.