Very Dry Skin on Feet: What to Know

Pressure, friction, open footwear, hot water, and harsh cleansers can thicken and dry the skin on heels and soles. Painful heel fissures form when stiff skin cannot flex easily. Itch or redness may accompany atopic dermatitis or asteatotic eczema; thick, sharply bordered scale may occur with psoriasis. Scaling between toes can have a different cause and should be examined if it persists.

Wash gently, dry carefully between the toes, and apply a thick emollient therapy product to the heels and soles after bathing. Wear breathable socks and well-fitting shoes that reduce rubbing. Do not cut fissures with blades or aggressively scrape thick skin. Keep moisturiser between the toes only if advised, because excess moisture there can worsen some problems. Cover a painful crack with a clean dressing and arrange review if it does not settle.

Get medical advice for bleeding fissures, persistent itch, scaling between toes, recurrent cracking, or dryness that does not respond to regular care. Seek prompt help for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, severe pain, or fever. People with diabetes, reduced sensation, or poor circulation should have foot cracks assessed early.

Are the cracks caused by dryness, eczema, psoriasis, or another foot condition? Which moisturiser is suitable for the soles? Should the skin between my toes be treated differently?