Taking care of dry, cracked heels may not be the first thing on everyone’s skin care to-do list. Sure, they’re a little unsightly, but who would really notice besides your pedicurist? Even if the look and feel don’t bother you, though, there are actually a few reasons this common foot problem is worth the extra attention, according to Ray Kleinfelder, DO, Los Angeles–based dermatologist at Lux Dermatology.
For the most part, a little dehydration on your soles isn’t unusual. “The skin here is naturally thicker, as it withstands the most wear and tear from being on your feet all day,” Dr. Kleinfelder tells SELF. To get more technical, your body overproduces keratin (the protein that forms the hard, outer layer of skin) in response to stressors like frequent walking, standing, and certain medical issues (more on that later). While this thickened buildup is meant to be protective, it’s also more prone to drying out and cracking over time, he explains, since there also aren’t many oil glands here to retain moisture.
In some severe cases, those cracks (called heel fissures) can get deeper when left untreated, eventually making it painful to stand or walk and increasing your risk for infection. That’s why it’s so important to tackle the issue early on—and the good news? There are plenty of simple over-the-counter remedies you can try to get your feet feeling extra smooth and soft.
But first, what causes dry, cracked heels?
A lot of it comes down to environmental factors and lifestyle habits, Supriya Rastogi, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, tells SELF. For example, if you’re standing or walking for long periods of time (as a nurse, say, construction worker, or runner), the skin here can thicken into calluses, Dr. Rastogi explains, and therefore have a harder time holding onto moisture. Living in a cold or dry climate can also leave your body—feet included—extra parched and crumbly.
In these types of scenarios, dry skin can typically be relieved with simple home remedies (which we’ll get into). But sometimes, heel cracks or peeling layers can be symptoms of an underlying condition that would require a professional’s help. For instance, metabolic disorders like diabetes can mess with your body’s ability to regulate sweat and therefore moisture, Dr. Kleinfelder says. Extra flaky, tough skin might also signal psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder that triggers keratin overproduction (resulting in scaly and more inflamed lesions) or eczema (especially if your symptoms are paired with relentless itchiness). With both of these skin diagnoses, though, Dr. Rastogi says you’d likely notice flare-ups in other spots too, like the palms of your hand and between your fingers.
Other lesser-known but possible culprits include fungal infections like athlete’s foot, which Dr. Kleinfelder says involve dryness (often between toes) along with a hard-to-miss, unpleasant odor. (For this, a podiatrist would be your best bet for offering more specialized treatments.) Another medical condition to be aware of is Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can cause dryness and flaking. However, Dr. Kleinfelder points out that it “tends to manifest as dry mouth and eyes”—rather than being a primary cause of dry feet.
What home remedies can help with cracked heels?
Assuming you’re not dealing with any of the above diagnoses (if you’re unsure, a dermatologist, podiatrist, pedicurist, or primary care provider can weigh in), here are some expert-approved remedies and tweaks that should relieve run-of-the-mill foot dryness.
1. Scrub away rough, flaky edges with a pumice stone.
Whatever you do, don’t forcibly rip the peeling chunks yourself. Doing so, Dr. Rastogi says, could risk injuring the healthy, sensitive skin underneath, leading to more pain, bleeding, or even infection. Instead, it’s safer to use treatments that will soften and exfoliate the hard skin—this is where pumice stones come into play. Basically it’s a light yet abrasive stone that’s commonly used to remove dead skin without damaging it.