What should you know about home remedy for dry cracked heels?

Heel fissures form when thick, dry skin loses flexibility and splits under pressure. Open cracks can sting when walking and provide an entry point for bacteria. Peeling or itching between the toes may suggest athlete's foot, while persistent dryness can also reflect eczema, psoriasis, or another skin problem.

Soak the feet briefly in lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply a rich emollient while the skin is still slightly damp. Cover the heels with clean cotton socks to reduce friction and help retain moisture. Use a pumice stone gently on softened thick skin, never on an open or bleeding crack, and do not cut the skin with a blade. Choose well-fitting shoes and avoid walking barefoot on rough surfaces.

See a clinician if a crack is deep, bleeding, increasingly painful, warm, swollen, or draining. Prompt assessment is especially important with fever, spreading redness, reduced sensation, diabetes, or poor circulation. Persistent peeling, itch, or recurrent fissures may need treatment for a specific cause rather than moisturiser alone.

Could athlete's foot or another skin condition be contributing? Which emollient and dressing are suitable for my cracks? Is filing safe for my skin and circulation?