My Heels are Dry…Help! - Advice for dry and cracked heels

One of the most common reasons people come to see me in the clinic is dry heels. Sometimes, it's just a bit of dry skin around the heel area, but other times, it's chronically dry skin that starts to crack, leading to heel fissures. Heel fissures can be very painful, so it's imperative that we keep on top of dry skin to try and avoid this from happening.

How to Deal with Dry Heels

The single best way to deal with dry skin is by using foot cream. (Check out our blog post Which Foot Cream Should I Use? for recommendations!) Try to avoid tools like foot scrapers and grater-like gadgets. If you wish to file your hard skin yourself, a plain emery board is the best option. However, a visit to your podiatrist will allow you to get better and more specific advice tailored to your needs. If you do choose to use an emery board, be very careful not to file too far! You don’t want to remove too much skin and cause soreness.

I recommend using a good foot cream daily for 2-3 weeks to notice an improvement.

Tips for Using Foot Cream

• Apply Cream After Showering/Bathing/Soaking Feet: The damp skin will help to lock in the hydration and better absorb the moisturiser.

• Cover Cream with a Sock: If you have particularly dry or cracked heels, you can cover the cream with a sock or similar to make sure it stays in place and fully absorbs into the skin.

When to See a Podiatrist

If you are suffering from heel fissures, it is highly recommended that you pay a visit to your podiatrist. They will be able to assess the fissures and help them heal. Sometimes fissures can get so deep that they bleed and open up. Not only is this painful, but it also leaves you susceptible to infection. Your podiatrist will be able to help with this.

Even if you’re not suffering from fissures yet, but are struggling with hard skin or dry skin, your podiatrist will be able to help you with this and give tailored advice.

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