How to Treat Cracked Heels at Home: Podiatrist Advice for Dry, Cracked Heels

Dry heels are one of the most common reasons people come to see me in clinic.

Sometimes it’s just a bit of rough or flaky skin around the heel area. But in other cases, the skin becomes chronically dry, starts to split, and forms painful cracks known as heel fissures.

Heel fissures can be extremely sore and, if left untreated, can deepen and even bleed. That’s why it’s so important to treat dry heels early and keep on top of regular foot care.

What Are Cracked Heels?

Cracked heels, sometimes called heel fissures, occur when the skin around the heel becomes dry, thickened and less flexible. As pressure is applied during standing and walking, the skin can split, causing cracks that range from mild cosmetic concerns to painful fissures.

Most people will experience dry or cracked heels at some point in their lives, particularly during colder weather or if they spend long periods on their feet.

Why Do Heels Become Dry and Cracked?

Common causes of dry or cracked heels include:

• Walking barefoot or in open-back shoes

• Standing for long periods

• Hot showers or baths

• Cold or dry weather

• Being overweight (increased pressure on heels)

• Certain medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, eczema)

• Poorly fitting footwear

• Prone to dry skin

  
  

As the skin dries out, it loses elasticity. When pressure is applied during walking or standing, the skin can split, forming painful heel fissures.

How to Treat Cracked Heels at Home

1. Use a Proper Foot Cream Daily

The single most important thing you can do for dry heels is use a good foot cream every day.

Foot creams are specially formulated for the thicker skin on your feet and work far better than standard body moisturisers.

For advice on which foot cream is right for you, check out our blog post “Best Foot Creams UK – Podiatrist Recommended”

We recommend applying foot cream daily for 2–3 weeks to start noticing a real improvement.

2. Avoid Foot Scrapers and Grater-Style Tools

Try to avoid harsh tools such as:

• Metal foot scrapers

• “Cheese grater” style hard skin removers

• Razor blades

  
  

These often remove too much skin, which can make the heels sore and cause lesions.

3. If You File at Home, Use an Emery Board Carefully

If you want to gently file hard skin yourself, a plain emery board or foot file is the safest option.

Important tips:

• Only file lightly

• Never file to the point of soreness

• Do not remove too much skin

• Stop if the skin becomes pink or tender

Should You Soak Cracked Heels?

Many people assume soaking their feet will help cracked heels. However, prolonged soaking can sometimes make dry skin worse by disrupting the skin barrier.

Instead:

• Wash feet in warm water.

• Dry thoroughly.

• Apply foot cream immediately afterwards.

• Avoid soaking for prolonged periods.

Tips for Using Foot Cream Effectively

These small changes make a big difference:

Apply Cream After Showering or Bathing

Apply foot cream when your skin is slightly damp.This helps lock in moisture and improves absorption.

Cover Cream With Socks Overnight

If your heels are very dry or cracked:

• Apply a generous layer of cream

• Put on cotton socks

• Leave on overnight

This creates a mini “occlusive treatment” and speeds up healing.

Why Are My Heels Cracking? Causes, Treatment and Prevention

How Can You Prevent Cracked Heels?

Once your heels improve, prevention is key.

Simple steps include:

• Moisturising daily

• Wearing supportive footwear

• Avoiding prolonged barefoot walking

• Managing hard skin regularly

• Wearing socks with closed shoes

• Addressing underlying skin conditions

Consistency is often more important than the specific product you use.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

You should book an appointment with a podiatrist if:

• You have painful heel fissures

• Your heels are bleeding

• Cracks are deep or not healing

• Your skin isn’t improving after 2–3 weeks of daily cream use

• You have diabetes or poor circulation

• You’re unsure how to manage your hard skin safely

  
  

Heel fissures can become deep enough to bleed and can leave you vulnerable to infection. A podiatrist can safely remove hard skin, treat fissures properly, and give you personalised advice.

Final Thoughts

Dry and cracked heels are extremely common - but they’re also very treatable.

With:

• The right foot cream

• Gentle skin care

• Consistent daily treatment

…most people see a big improvement within a few weeks.

If your heels remain painful, cracked, or don’t improve, it’s always best to seek professional advice.

If you want more advice on how to look after your feet from home, take a look at our full guide!