If you have dry, cracked heels and feet, you have a common ailment known as dry skin.

While having dry, cracked heels is not dangerous, it can feel painful, and if the cracking starts to bleed, it can lead to infection – an especially serious problem for anyone with a chronic disease such as diabetes, or a lowered immune system due to age or illness.

Causes:

Dry, cracked heels and feet can result from a variety of reasons:

• Age
• Improperly fitting shoes
• Athlete’s foot
• Psoriasis
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Certain skin conditions
• Household heat that reduces humidity and dries out the skin

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of dry, cracked heels and feet include:

• Red or flaky patches
• Peeling and cracked skin
• Itchy skin

Relief and Prevention:

The best way to treat and also prevent dry, cracked heels and feet is to use good therapeutic ointments and creams. Avoid using lotions, as these often contain alcohol, which actually cause your dry skin to worsen.

Additional therapies for dry, cracked heels and feet include:

• Use a pumice stone or sand stone to file hard, dry skin, then a foot cream to penetrate and hydrate the area.
• Use footcare creams especially designed for nighttime use, and wear socks to help the cream better absorb into your dry, cracked heels during sleep.
• Check your shoes regularly for tight spots and areas that rub against your dry, cracked heels.
• Use insoles and other corrective devices to eliminate points of friction on your dry, cracked heels.
• Wear comfortable shoes with a wide toe box.

Make sure you avoid getting foot lotion, foot balm and foot cream between your toes, as the additional moisture can lead to bacterial infections such as athlete’s foot. If your dry, cracked heels get any worse, or bleeding occurs, consult a physician.

Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.