Dry skin on heels: causes and care

Heel skin bears repeated pressure and may thicken as protection. Open-backed shoes, prolonged standing, dry weather, hot bathing, and harsh soaps can remove moisture and leave a hard rim around the heel. Itch, redness, or similar patches elsewhere may point toward Atopic Dermatitis, Asteatotic Eczema, or Psoriasis rather than simple dryness. A crack is an opening in the skin barrier and can hurt when walking.

After washing, pat the feet dry and apply a rich, fragrance-free moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp. Covering the heels with clean socks can reduce friction and help retain moisture. Choose supportive, closed footwear that does not rub the heel. Do not cut thick skin with blades or aggressively file painful cracks. Emollient Therapy may be appropriate when ordinary moisturising is not enough; a clinician can guide product choice.

See a clinician if cracks are deep, bleed, recur, or do not improve with consistent gentle care. Seek prompt help for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, increasing pain, or fever. People with diabetes, reduced sensation, or circulation problems should have foot cracks assessed early because a small opening may be harder to notice or heal.

Is the cracking caused by dryness alone or by eczema, psoriasis, or friction? Which moisturiser is suitable for my feet? How should I protect an open crack, and do my shoes or daily activities contribute to it?