Cracked Heels

Skin and Nail Conditions· Also known as: heel fissures, fissured heels, dry cracked heelsUpdated Oct 2026

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, October 2026

At a Glance

Cracked heels (heel fissures) are splits in dry, thickened skin on the heels. They are a common skin problem, though no one figure says how many people have them. You may notice dry, hard or rough heel skin that then splits. Daily moisturising, gentle filing of hard skin and well-fitting shoes are the main treatments, and your podiatrist can help if these aren't enough. Cracks can become infected, and this matters most for people with diabetes or poor circulation, so check your heels regularly.

What is it?

Cracked heels are splits in the skin of the heel. They usually form where the skin has become dry and thick.

Thick, hard skin is called callus. It forms when skin is rubbed or pressed again and again, and it is the skin's way of protecting itself. If callus dries out, it can crack or split. A split can then let germs in, and the skin may become infected.

Cracked heels are a common skin problem. People with diabetes or poor circulation are more likely to have trouble with infection from cracks.

Who does it affect?

Some people are more likely to have problems with cracked heels:

people with very dry skin
people who often wear backless shoes
people with a health condition that dries the skin, or who take medicines that do
people with diabetes

People with diabetes are the group with the most to watch for. Dry skin is common in diabetes, and it can be an early sign of trouble for the feet. Reduced feeling in the feet can also mean a crack goes unnoticed until the skin opens into a sore (an ulcer). About 1 in 10 people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer, which is why daily foot checks are advised.

Signs and symptoms

You may see dry, rough or thick skin on the heel, and then splits or cracks in it. In people with diabetes, doctors and nurses describe severe dry foot skin as dry skin with callus, cracks and splits.

Look at your heels regularly. Note where the cracks are, how deep they seem, and whether they bleed or hurt. Also notice any scaling or itching elsewhere on your foot, as this can point to a different skin problem.

What causes it?

The main things linked to cracked heels are dry skin, pressure and friction, and poor footwear. Backless shoes are one common link. Shoes that rub, or that let your heel slip, can add to the problem. Poor footwear is described as the most common cause of corns and calluses in general, and correctly fitting shoes may improve or even cure them.

Other things linked to hard skin in general include foot shape, health conditions and medicines that dry the skin, genetics, smoking and carrying extra weight.

Sometimes a skin condition is behind thick, cracked heel skin. Eczema, psoriasis and tinea (a fungal skin infection, often called athlete's foot) can all cause thickened skin on the soles.

How is it diagnosed?

Dry skin is usually recognised from how it looks and feels. Your podiatrist will look at your heels and ask about your shoes, your skin and your general health. They will also work out whether the thick skin is simple callus or is linked to eczema, psoriasis or tinea.

Some clues help. Scaly patches in other places, such as the scalp, or pitted nails can point to psoriasis. If tinea is suspected, a skin scraping can confirm it. The scraping is tested in a lab, which can also grow a sample to check for the fungus.

If you have diabetes, you should have a diabetic foot check every 12 to 24 months. Any suitably trained health practitioner can do it.

Treatment

Most people start with simple care at home. If that isn't enough, your podiatrist or GP can help.

Looking after it at home

Moisturise your feet at least once a day, ideally morning and night. A simple moisturiser such as aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment is often enough, and you don't need a special foot cream. Another option is a urea-based cream or heel balm: one patient leaflet suggests a 25 per cent urea product. Urea softens thick skin and helps with dryness. Don't put moisturiser between your toes.

Urea can cause mild, short-lived irritation. If your skin becomes sore or inflamed, stop using it and ask for advice.

File dry hard skin gently with a pumice stone or foot file, once or twice a week. Doing it before a bath or shower works well. Don't cut hard skin or heel callus at home.

Wear well-fitting shoes with a wide toe box and Velcro or tie laces, and wear socks with them.

If you have diabetes, poor circulation, a weakened immune system or are older, don't treat hard skin yourself. See your GP or podiatrist instead.

Treatment from your podiatrist

Your podiatrist can cut away hard skin safely. They may also offer patches or creams that soften the skin so it can be removed. Your podiatrist can also suggest which ingredients suit your skin. Urea is named for scaling skin and for cracks, and dexpanthenol is also named for cracks.

If you have diabetes and can't look after your own feet, have reduced circulation, or have a lot of hard skin, see your podiatrist for care.

Other options

If your heel skin stays scaly, itchy or red, a skin condition may be involved. Psoriasis on the soles that doesn't respond to creams can be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist). Treatments there include light treatment (phototherapy) and medicines taken by mouth. Contact dermatitis (a skin reaction to something touching the skin) that is long-lasting, keeps coming back or won't settle is also referred to a dermatologist for patch testing.

Recovery

With regular moisturising, gentle filing and better shoes, cracked heels can improve. How long they take to heal isn't clear yet. It will depend on how dry and thick your skin is and what is causing it.

In people with diabetes, creams with added moisturising ingredients (humectants, which draw water into the skin) ease dry foot skin more than plain creams. It isn't clear whether urea is better than other creams with these ingredients.

Keep an eye on the cracks as they heal. If they are not getting better with steady care, or they look infected, get them checked.

Preventing it

Keep moisturising daily, even after the cracks have healed. File hard skin gently once or twice a week, and choose well-fitting shoes with socks. If your heels crack easily, avoid backless shoes.

If you have diabetes, check your feet every day for breaks in the skin, blisters, colour changes (especially under hard skin), swelling, heat or pain. Keep your regular podiatry appointments too. People with diabetes at risk of foot problems should be seen regularly by a podiatrist.

When to see a podiatrist

Book an appointment if

Your heels haven't improved after steady moisturising, or you aren't sure what is causing the cracks. Also book if the skin stays thick, scaly, itchy or red, or if your nails are affected, so your podiatrist can check for tinea, psoriasis or contact dermatitis. If you have diabetes, reduced circulation or a lot of hard skin, or you can't look after your own feet, book in with your podiatrist rather than treating hard skin yourself.

Seek prompt assessment if

If you have a foot wound or infection and you also feel very unwell, with fever and chills, a fast heartbeat and fast breathing, confusion or slurred speech, severe shivering or muscle pain, severe breathlessness, mottled or discoloured skin, or little or no urine, this could be sepsis: call your local emergency number. See your GP or another doctor today if a red streak runs from a foot wound or crack towards your heart, since this can be a sign of spreading infection. See your GP or another doctor today too if you have diabetes and notice a new wound or open sore, new swelling, or new discolouration on your foot (redder, bluer, paler or blacker). If your GP can't see you today, go to an urgent care clinic or an after-hours GP. See your podiatrist or GP soon if a cut or blister on your foot hasn't started to heal after a few days, if the skin becomes red, warm or painful, if redness is spreading, or if your foot is hot, red, swollen or painful with blood, pus or discharge from an open wound. Also see them soon if your callus contains dried blood. See your GP soon if a corn or callus bleeds, has pus or discharge, or causes severe pain or pain that stops normal activities. If you have diabetes, see your podiatrist soon if you notice changes in your circulation, or a cut or scrape that is taking longer than normal to heal.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a steroid cream on scaly, cracked heels?

Check with a podiatrist or GP first. Scaly feet can have causes other than dryness, such as tinea, psoriasis or eczema. A steroid or other anti-inflammatory cream is best used once the cause has been confirmed, so you get the right treatment for the problem.

Are cracked heels a sign of diabetes or another health problem?

They can have several causes, including dry skin, pressure and friction, backless shoes and some health conditions. A crack alone can't tell you which. If you already have diabetes, dry heels and cracks need extra care, because reduced feeling can hide them and infection is more of a risk.

Where should I put moisturiser on my feet?

Apply it over your heels and the rest of your feet, at least once a day and ideally morning and night. Don't put it between your toes. Many people find it easiest to do after filing hard skin, which you can do before bathing.