Cracked Dry Heels

Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin and made worse if the skin around the edge of the heel is thick. The skin may crack causing the heel to be painful to stand on and the skin can bleed - in severe cases this can become infected. Some people tend to have a naturally dry skin that predisposes them to cracking. The callus (thickened skin) around the heel is more likely to crack and is often due to mechanical factors (the way you walk) placing more pressure on this area. Other causes of dry, cracked heels are prolonged standing, being overweight which increases pressure under the heel causing it to expand sideways and possibly crack as well as some medical and skin conditions can predispose the skin to drying. Treatment consists of applying a moisturizing cream twice per day, a foot file or pumice stone, gel sleeves worn at bedtime, heel cups to keep the heel from expanding sideways when standing and insoles.