Painful cracked feet: what to know

Heel skin becomes more likely to split when it is dry, thick, or exposed to pressure and open-backed footwear. Small fissures can sting during walking and may bleed when they deepen. [Dry Skin](/symptoms/dry-skin/) is a common contributor, while scaling, itching, or peeling between the toes can suggest [Athlete's Foot](/conditions/athletes-foot/). Cracks may also accompany eczema, psoriasis, or repeated friction, so appearance and location matter.

Wash gently, pat dry, and apply a rich moisturiser to intact surrounding skin soon afterward. Cover a painful fissure with a clean dressing to reduce rubbing, and choose supportive shoes with breathable socks. Do not cut away thick skin with a blade or apply irritating products to an open crack. A clinician can recommend [Emollient Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/emollient-therapy/) and check whether fungal treatment is needed. Keep feet dry between the toes.

Seek care promptly if a crack is deep, bleeding, draining, increasingly red, warm, or swollen, or if you develop fever. Arrange an assessment when home care does not improve the problem, when itching and scaling spread, or when you have diabetes, reduced sensation, or poor circulation. These factors can make a foot wound harder to notice and heal.

Is this simple dryness, fungal infection, or another skin condition? Which moisturiser and dressing suit the fissure? Should I use an antifungal product? How should footwear or foot care change while it heals?