Quick answer
Cracked heels happen when the thickened, dry skin around your heel loses elasticity and splits under pressure. They’re rarely serious, but deeper cracks can hurt, bleed, and let bacteria in. People with diabetes need to take them seriously because of infection risk.
Important — get evaluated first if any of these apply. A deep heel crack can develop into — or be hiding — an underlying ulcer or wound that’s already breached the deeper skin layers. In people with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or poor circulation, this is especially dangerous because reduced sensation may mean the deeper damage isn’t painful, and impaired healing means a small crack can become a serious infection. Any deep, painful, bleeding, draining, or non-healing crack — and any cracked heel at all in someone with diabetes, neuropathy, or peripheral arterial disease — should be evaluated by a podiatrist or other clinician before any home treatment.
How to recognize them
- Visibly cracked or split skin around the heel rim
- Dry, flaky, hard skin at the heel
- Yellowish or brown thickened areas
- Pain when standing in deeper cracks
- Bleeding in severe cases
- Sometimes warmth or redness if infected
Why they happen
Cracks form when thick dry skin meets mechanical stress. The drivers:
- Open-back shoes — sandals, flip-flops let the heel pad spread under load
- Prolonged standing — particularly on hard surfaces
- Dry skin from low humidity, hot showers, harsh soaps
- Aging — skin naturally thins and loses moisture
- Going barefoot at home
- Underlying conditions — eczema, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, hypothyroidism, diabetes
- Vitamin deficiencies — B vitamins, omega-3s contribute to skin health
What to do about them
A simple, consistent routine resolves most cases in 2–4 weeks.
Daily routine
- Soak feet in warm (not hot) water for 10–15 minutes
- Gently exfoliate with a pumice stone or foot file (only on healthy thick skin, not over a crack). Skip this step if you have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or any condition that reduces sensation in your feet — you can’t reliably tell healthy callus from injured skin by feel, and over-filing can cause wounds. See a podiatrist for safe debridement instead.
- Apply a thick moisturizer with one of these active ingredients:
- Urea (10–25%) — best for thick, scaly skin
- Salicylic acid (low concentration) — exfoliates and softens
- Lactic acid / alpha hydroxy acids — moisturizes and exfoliates
- Petroleum jelly — basic but effective for sealing in moisture
- Cover with cotton socks overnight to lock in moisture
What helps long-term
- Change footwear — closed-back shoes reduce heel spread
- Inserts/cushions — gel heel cups distribute pressure
- Limit barefoot time at home
- Shorter, cooler showers — hot water strips skin oils
- Humidifier in dry climates
- Adequate hydration
What NOT to do
- Don’t cut into cracks with scissors or razors
- Don’t use over-the-counter corn removers in cracks (acid in an open wound)
- Don’t ignore infection signs — redness spreading, warmth, drainage, fever
- Don’t try to remove all callus at once — gradual is better
When to see a clinician
- Pain that limits walking
- Cracks that bleed or won’t heal
- Signs of infection (spreading redness, warmth, drainage, fever)
- You have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or any condition affecting circulation or sensation
- Recurring cracks despite consistent care
- Suspected underlying skin condition (eczema, psoriasis, fungal infection)
A podiatrist can:
- Debride thick callus safely
- Treat infections
- Identify and address underlying causes
- Recommend prescription-strength moisturizers if over-the-counter options aren’t enough
Prevention
- Daily moisturizer with urea or alpha hydroxy acids
- Closed-back shoes for long days on your feet
- Limit standing on hard floors when possible
- Treat underlying conditions — eczema, athlete’s foot, dry skin elsewhere
- Inspect feet weekly — catch dryness before it cracks
- Stay hydrated
- Cushioned heel inserts if you stand all day
Special note for people with diabetes
Cracked heels are a higher-stakes problem with diabetes:
- Reduced circulation slows healing
- Reduced sensation may mean you don’t feel a deepening crack
- Bacteria can enter through the crack and cause cellulitis or worse
If you have diabetes:
- Inspect heels daily
- Don’t try aggressive home treatment — see a podiatrist for any significant cracks
- Don’t go barefoot even at home
- Treat dryness preventively with daily moisturizer
Last updated: April 25, 2026
About the author
Written and reviewed by a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) practicing in Arizona for 6+ years. Board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM); graduate of Midwestern University Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine.
Last clinically reviewed: April 25, 2026