Painful cracked heels treatment: what helps?

Heel fissures form when dry, thickened skin loses flexibility and splits under pressure from standing or walking. The split may sting, bleed or catch on fabric. Repeated friction, open-backed shoes and a dry environment can worsen the problem. Scaling or peeling between the toes can point to Athlete's Foot, while widespread flaking may fit Dry Skin or another skin condition.

Wash gently with lukewarm water, pat dry and apply a thick emollient soon afterwards, concentrating on the heel edges. At night, cover moisturised feet with cotton socks. Avoid cutting the hard skin with blades or picking at the fissure. Choose closed, well-fitting footwear that limits heel movement, and pause activities that repeatedly split the area. A clinician or pharmacist can advise whether an emollient plan or treatment for fungal scaling is appropriate.

Arrange medical advice if a crack is deep, keeps bleeding, becomes increasingly painful, or does not begin to settle with careful moisturising. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever or red streaking. People with diabetes, reduced sensation, poor circulation or immune problems should have an open heel fissure assessed early.

Could this be fungal infection, eczema or another cause of thick heel skin? Which moisturiser and dressing suit the depth of the crack? What footwear or foot-care changes would reduce repeated splitting?