What should you know about foot treatment for cracked heels?

Heel skin thickens under repeated load, then splits when it is dry or stretched by standing and walking. Dry skin may be the main issue, but itching, scaling, or peeling around the heel and sole can suggest athlete's foot. Inflammation can also weaken the skin barrier and make fissures recur. The depth of a crack, bleeding, tenderness, and signs around the toes help determine whether home care is enough.

Wash gently, pat dry, and apply an emollient to the heels while the skin is still slightly damp. At night, a thick moisturizer with clean socks can reduce water loss and protect the surface. Wear supportive, closed-back footwear that limits heel expansion and avoid rough floors while fissures are open. Do not cut the edges with blades. If scaling or itch suggests athlete's foot, a clinician or pharmacist can advise on an appropriate antifungal treatment rather than using a moisturizer alone.

Seek medical advice when cracks are deep, painful, repeatedly bleeding, or not improving with regular emollient care. Prompt assessment is needed for pus, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, fever, or difficulty walking. Diabetes, reduced sensation, poor circulation, or immune problems are reasons to have a heel fissure assessed early, even if it looks small.

Is dryness the main cause, or could athlete's foot or eczema be contributing? Which emollient and dressing should I use? How can I protect the heel from pressure while it heals?