The best treatments for dry, cracked heels, according to dermatologists
Dry, cracked heels can happen year round. Doctors explain what you can do to restore and protect them.
O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet Foot Cream
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Experts say the key to treating fissures is to exfoliate, moisturize and avoid long, hot showers and harsh fragrances. Here is their guidance about what to consider when shopping for topical treatments:
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This gentle, skin-repairing ointment is a favorite among the dermatologists I spoke to because it creates a barrier on your heels to seal in moisture and prevent infection. The formula has ceramides to restore your skin’s barrier and hydrating hyaluronic acid, according to the brand. The ointment has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, which means it’s suitable for sensitive skin.
If ointments feel too thick on your skin, this thick foot cream is a favorite of Dr. Samer Jaber, a board-certified dermatologist at Washington Square Dermatology in New York City. It has allantoin, a hydrating ingredient that penetrates thick, rough skin and creates a protective layer of moisture, according to the brand.
Olive & June is a favorite brand among NBC Select editors, and this overnight treatment is a quick and convenient way to get relief. The balm comes in a stick form that you rub on your heels directly, so you don’t have to apply your foot cream with your hands or squeeze it out of a tube. Roll on the balm once a week as a nighttime foot treatment and wear socks afterward to lock in moisture, according to the brand.
This Aveeno foot mask comes recommended by Dr. Nkem Ugonabo, a board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm in New York City. It’s shaped like a slipper, so you can easily slip it on and off, plus, it includes a fastening strap to keep it in place. The fragrance-free formula has shea butter and prebiotic oat, both expert-recommended ingredients that help moisturize the skin. The brand recommends leaving the foot mask on for 10 minutes, and you don’t have to rinse off your feet afterward, according to Aveeno.
“This ointment contains petrolatum and glycerin, which work together to hydrate and protect dry, cracked skin,” says Dr. Annie Chiu, a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist and founder of The Derm Institute in California. Formulated for sensitive skin, you can use this preservative- and fragrance-free ointment as a foot cream, lip moisturizer, hand cream, minor wound treatment and more.
Huang recommends this Amlactin cream, formulated with 15% lactic acid that gently exfoliates and removes dead skin cells. In addition to smoothing out dry, flaky skin, this fragrance-free cream softens calluses and improves splitting and cracking heels, according to the brand. You can apply this cream twice a day — remember that it has exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), like lactic acid, which means it can increase sun sensitivity, experts say.
This Gold Bond cream has a blend of moisturizing vitamins, including vitamins C and E, plus aloe vera to soothe irritated, cracked skin, says Chiu. The foot cream locks in up to 24 hours of moisture and is fragrance-free and non-greasy, according to the brand.
Goldman recommends this cream to his clients because it has salicylic acid to loosen dead skin, hyaluronic acid to retain moisture and niacinamide to soothe skin. The cream absorbs quickly, doesn’t leave a greasy residue and helps reduce roughness on your feet, says Goldman. You can use this cream daily, but be sure to wear an SPF on top of it since the AHAs in the formula can make your skin sensitive to the sun, according to the brand.
This Kerasal ointment is a favorite of both Chiu and Jaber. It has salicylic acid and urea, which work together to exfoliate and soften rough, dry skin on the heels, says Chiu. By loosening dead cells, moisturizing ingredients like petrolatum can better penetrate the skin, according to the brand. The foot cream is also approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association, which means it was reviewed by a group of podiatrists to make sure it’s effective for dry, cracked heels.
“If you have painful cracks in your feet, a liquid bandaid can be very helpful to reduce the pain and allow the area to heal,” says Jaber. He recommends these liquid bandages from New-Skin, which create a tough barrier on cracks and cuts to prevent infection and speed up healing. The bandages are water-resistant and flexible; they also dry clear so they can match your skin tone, according to the brand.
Dry, cracked heels are very common and can occur at any time of the year. Below, my experts highlight a few main causes of dry, cracked heels:
When it comes to dry heels, prevention is key. When the weather gets colder, a humidifier in your room may help, says Huang. Instead of long, hot showers, which can dry out your skin more, opt for short, warm showers or baths. Plus, use fragrance-free moisturizing products that can help repair your skin’s moisture barrier. My experts note a few tips below to keep in mind.
To help treat dry, cracked heels, wash your feet with non-foaming hydrating cleansers (preferably with a cream or milk consistency) to prevent skin drying. After your bath or shower, you should apply a moisturizer immediately to help retain some of the water on your skin; you should moisturize your heels at least twice a day, says Goldman.
Huang recommends using products with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and colloidal oatmeal to help lock in moisture. For relieving pain and inflammation, Chiu recommends aloe vera — a natural anti-inflammatory that soothes dry, cracked skin — and vitamin E, an antioxidant that promotes healthy cell growth and protects the skin from damage.
After moisturizing and exfoliating (more on that below), apply a thick, occlusive emollient like petroleum jelly to lock in moisture. “I recommend applying right before bed and under cotton socks,” says Ugonabo. You can lock in moisture with breathable socks made from either natural cotton or wool, which are usually less irritating than synthetic materials, says Jaber.
Get rid of dead skin by soaking your feet in warm water for 15 minutes and gently scrubbing with a loofah, pumice stone or foot file, experts say. “This will help remove dead skin cells and make it easier for moisturizers to penetrate the skin,” says Chiu. Follow that with moisturizers that have exfoliating ingredients like ammonium lactate, salicylic acid and urea, says Huang.
“Liquid bandages can be very helpful to seal up cracks,” says Ugonabo. They can also ease the pain of walking on torn skin while keeping the wounds clean.
Foot peels have a blend of exfoliants to soften and remove dead skin that sits on the thick surface of your feet. They’re usually good for those who want smoother skin on their feet and people with calluses due to running or standing for long hours, according to experts in our guide to foot peels. However, if you have any open wounds or cracks, you should avoid foot peels because exfoliating acids can irritate and slow down the wound healing process, experts say. That’s the same for bacterial, viral and fungal infections like athlete’s foot.
Cracks in your heels typically result in wounds that can get infected if not treated. If you have a compromised immune system or diabetes, an infection can become a serious health risk, says Jaber.
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am an updates editor at NBC Select who has covered various skin care topics, including products for rosacea, keratosis pilaris and cystic acne. For this article, I spoke to five dermatologists to narrow down the best treatments for dry, cracked heels, and highlighted their recommendations for the best products to consider.
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