What should you know about pain from cracked heels?

The heel carries body weight and is exposed to friction from walking and footwear. When its outer skin becomes very dry or thick, it may split into fissures. A shallow crack can sting; a deeper one may bleed or hurt whenever the heel bends. Dry skin and repeated pressure are common contributors. Scaling between the toes or along the sole can also occur with athlete's foot, which needs a different treatment approach.

Pain does not show how deep a crack is, so inspect the heel in good light. Swelling, warmth, spreading redness, pus, or increasing tenderness suggests irritation or infection rather than simple dryness.

Wash gently with lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp. Cover a painful fissure with a clean dressing to reduce friction, and choose supportive shoes with a closed heel. Avoid cutting the hard skin with blades or aggressively filing it, since this can create a larger wound. Emollient therapy may be recommended when routine moisturising is not enough. Do not share towels if scaling suggests a fungal infection.

Arrange a clinical review if a crack is deep, repeatedly bleeding, not improving with gentle care, or making normal walking difficult. Seek prompt care for warmth, swelling, pus, fever, or redness spreading away from the heel. People with diabetes, reduced foot sensation, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system should have an open heel fissure assessed early because a small wound may worsen without much warning.

Ask whether the fissures are caused by dry skin, pressure, eczema, or athlete's foot, and whether any treatment should be applied between the toes. Ask which moisturiser is suitable, whether the wound needs a dressing, and how to adapt footwear while it heals. If cracks keep returning, ask whether another skin condition or a foot-care problem needs attention.