What should you know about heel fissure pain?

A fissure is a crack in the outer skin, often along the back or underside of the heel. Walking stretches the split and can expose tender tissue, so the area may sting, bleed slightly, or hurt when weight is placed on it. Thick callused edges can keep pulling apart. Heel pain can also arise from deeper structures rather than the skin; plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, stress fracture, or tarsal tunnel syndrome are examples of other causes that a clinician may consider when the skin does not explain the discomfort.

Wash gently, pat dry, and apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturiser to the heel, avoiding an open wound. A protective heel dressing can reduce rubbing, while cushioned, closed-back footwear limits direct pressure. Do not cut the crack, shave the callus deeply, or walk barefoot on hard surfaces. If the split keeps reopening, a clinician or podiatry professional can check footwear, skin health, and load through the foot. Custom orthotics may help selected pressure patterns, but they do not replace care for broken or infected skin.

Arrange prompt medical review if redness spreads, warmth and swelling increase, pus appears, pain escalates, or you develop fever. Seek assessment sooner for a deep, persistently bleeding, or very painful crack, especially if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation, or a condition that affects healing. Urgent care is appropriate when you cannot bear weight, the heel is markedly swollen after an injury, or the pain feels deep rather than skin-level.

Could the pain be coming from the fissure, or is a deeper heel problem also present? What dressing and moisturiser are suitable for my skin? Should I be checked for infection, altered sensation, or pressure from my footwear?