Dry skin on feet and ankles: care and warning signs

Feet face repeated pressure, friction and exposure to sweat, water and footwear. The ankle area may also become dry from weather, low humidity or irritating products. Roughness, scaling and tightness are common. Itching, redness, deep fissures or a sharply defined scaly patch can occur with asteatotic eczema, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. Dry skin itself is a symptom, so its appearance and distribution help a clinician decide whether another condition is contributing.

Use warm rather than very hot water and a gentle, fragrance-free wash. Pat dry carefully, especially between the toes, and apply a thick moisturiser to the tops, soles and ankles while skin remains damp. Reapply after washing and before bed. Soft socks can reduce friction. Do not cut, peel or aggressively file cracked skin. Keep footwear comfortable and breathable, and avoid applying heavy ointment between toes if the area stays moist.

Book an appointment when dryness does not settle, spreads, repeatedly splits, or makes walking uncomfortable. Seek prompt care for warmth, increasing pain, swelling, pus, rapidly spreading redness, fever, or a wound that is slow to heal. People with diabetes, reduced sensation or poor circulation should have foot cracks assessed early rather than treating them aggressively at home.

Ask whether the scaling is eczema, psoriasis, irritation or another cause; which emollient is suitable; and how to protect fissures while they heal.