How to Prevent Cracked Heels? Simple Foot Care Tips
If the skin around your heels feels thick, dry, or tight, cracks may not be far behind. Cracked heels usually develop gradually as dry skin becomes less flexible and starts to split under the pressure of standing and walking.
The good news is that prevention is much easier than dealing with deeper cracks later. Learning how to prevent cracked heels comes down to a few simple habits: regular moisturizing, gentle care, supportive footwear, and paying attention to dryness before it gets worse. In this guide, we’ll explain what causes cracked heels and how to keep them from forming with a simple foot care routine.
Why Do Heels Become Dry and Cracked?
Cracked heels, also called heel fissures, usually develop when the skin around the heel becomes dry, thick, and less flexible. As you stand and walk, pressure on the heel can cause this stiffened skin to stretch and eventually split.
Several everyday factors can make this more likely:
- Dry skin. When the skin loses moisture, it becomes less flexible and more likely to crack.
- Long periods of standing. Spending hours on your feet, especially on hard surfaces, puts more pressure on the heels.
- Dry weather. Cold or low-humidity conditions can make already-dry skin worse.
- Long, hot showers. Hot water can remove some of the skin’s natural oils and increase dryness.
- Walking barefoot. Regularly going barefoot can add more pressure and friction to the heels.
- Open-back shoes. Sandals and similar styles provide less support around the heel, allowing the heel pad to spread more under pressure.
- Thick or callused skin. Hard, built-up skin is less flexible and may split more easily.
- Not moisturizing regularly. Without enough moisture, dry heel skin can become rougher and more prone to cracking.
Cracked heels are not always caused by everyday dryness. As explained in Harvard Health’s overview of cracked heels, they can sometimes be linked to athlete’s foot or health conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. If the cracks are severe, keep returning, or come with other symptoms, it is worth getting professional advice.
How to Prevent Cracked Heels?
If you’re wondering how to prevent cracked heels, the basics are simple: keep the skin moisturized, avoid habits that make dryness worse, remove thick skin gently, and wear shoes that give your heels enough support.
Moisturize Your Feet Regularly
Regular moisturizing is one of the most important steps for preventing dry, cracked heels. The American Academy of Dermatology’s advice for dry, cracked heels recommends applying moisturizer within about five minutes of bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp, and using it again whenever your heels feel dry.
If your heels are very dry, a rich foot cream, balm, or ointment may work better than a light body lotion. Thicker formulas help soften rough skin and reduce water loss, which is especially useful on the naturally thicker skin of the heels.
Nighttime is also a good opportunity for extra moisture. Mayo Clinic’s cracked-heel care guidance recommends applying a heavy cream or petroleum jelly to damp heels before bed, followed by cotton socks.
Avoid Long, Hot Showers
Very hot water and long showers can make dry skin worse. The AAD recommends keeping baths and showers to about 5–10 minutes and using warm rather than hot water.
After washing, gently pat your feet dry instead of rubbing them. Apply moisturizer soon afterward while the skin is still slightly damp. Keeping your foot cream near the shower can make this habit easier to remember.
Remove Thick Skin Gently
Thick, callused skin around the heel can become stiff and more likely to crack, so gentle exfoliation can help keep it smoother. After a short warm soak or shower, you can carefully use a pumice stone, loofah, or foot file on rough areas.
Avoid aggressive filing or cutting calloused skin with blades. If the skin becomes sore, irritated, or already has deep cracks, stop exfoliating and focus on protecting and moisturizing the area instead.
Chemical exfoliating products are another option for rough, callused feet. If you’re curious about this approach, our guide explains how exfoliating foot masks work and when they may be useful.
What Ingredients Are Good for Dry, Cracked Heels?
The best foot cream for cracked heels depends on what your skin needs most. Some ingredients add water, some help reduce moisture loss, and others soften thick, rough skin.
| Function | What It Does | Example Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Hydration | Helps the outer layer of skin hold more water | Glycerin, hyaluronic acid |
| Moisture Retention | Helps reduce water loss and support the skin barrier | Petrolatum, shea butter, ceramides |
| Softening Thick Skin | Hydrates and helps soften hardened, callused skin | Urea |
| Gentle Exfoliation | Helps loosen and smooth thick, rough skin | Lactic acid (AHA), salicylic acid |
A few ingredients are especially useful for dry, cracked heels:
- Urea is both a moisturizer and a skin-softening ingredient. Its effect depends on the concentration: lower levels mainly improve hydration, while higher levels can also help soften thick, callused skin. Cleveland Clinic’s guide to cracked heels notes that urea-based creams are commonly used for rough, dry heels.
- Glycerin is a humectant, which means it helps attract and hold water in the outer layer of the skin. It works well in everyday moisturizing formulas for dry feet.
- Petrolatum forms a protective layer over the skin that helps slow water loss. This makes it especially useful in richer nighttime foot care.
- Lactic acid is an AHA that can both support hydration and gently loosen rough surface skin, making it useful when heels feel dry and uneven.
- Salicylic acid helps soften thick, callused skin, but it may sting on deeply cracked or irritated areas. It is better suited to rough, intact skin than open fissures.
You do not need all of these ingredients in one formula. For most people, the right choice depends on whether the main problem is dryness, thick callused skin, or both.
Urea
Glycerin
Petrolatum
Lactic Acid
Salicylic Acid
How to Choose a Foot Cream for Cracked Heels
The best foot cream for cracked heels depends on how dry or rough your heels are and when you plan to use it. Since the previous section covered the main ingredients, here it helps to focus on texture and how the product fits into your routine.
- Choose the texture for the time of day. A cream that absorbs comfortably works well during the day, especially under socks and shoes. At night, you may prefer a richer balm or ointment-style formula that stays on the skin longer.
- Match the formula to your main concern. If dryness is the main problem, look for a moisturizing formula with humectants and barrier-supporting ingredients. If your heels are also thick or callused, a product with skin-softening ingredients such as urea or gentle exfoliating acids may be more useful.
- Consider fragrance-free formulas for sensitive skin. Fragrance is not automatically a problem, but it can irritate sensitive or already-cracked skin. A fragrance-free option is often the simpler choice if your heels sting easily.
- Use a dedicated foot product when needed. A regular body lotion may work well for mild dryness, but if your heels stay rough or keep cracking, switching to a richer cream, balm, or heel-care product may provide more lasting moisture.
What If Your Heels Are Already Cracked?
If the skin has already split, shift the focus from exfoliation to moisturizing and protecting the crack. Apply a rich moisturizer or petroleum jelly regularly, avoid filing or using strong exfoliating products directly on open fissures, and choose footwear that reduces pressure on the heel.
For deeper cracks, a liquid bandage can sometimes be used to create a protective barrier while the skin heals. Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Dermatology both include liquid bandage as an option for protecting cracked heels.
If you’re searching for how to fix cracked heels, remember that mild surface cracks and deep fissures are not the same. The deeper or more painful the crack becomes, the more cautious you should be with home exfoliation.
Pro Tip — When Should You See a Doctor?
Get professional advice if cracks are deep, painful, bleeding, show signs of infection, or do not improve with regular care. People with diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced feeling in the feet should be especially cautious with heel cracks.
Foot Care Product Development for Beauty Brands
For beauty brands, cracked-heel care can be developed across several product formats, depending on the target consumer and how the product is meant to be used. Common options include daily foot creams, targeted heel balms or sticks, hydrating foot masks, exfoliating foot care, and multi-use hand and foot creams.
CALLA supports brands developing a private label hand and foot care line with options for:
- Custom formulation for moisturizing, softening, or exfoliating foot care concepts
- Ingredient and texture customization, from lightweight creams to richer balms
- Fragrance or fragrance-free options
- Packaging customization for tubes, jars, sticks, sachets, and foot mask formats
- Sample development before bulk production
- Private label, OEM, and ODM manufacturing support
Formula and packaging choices can be adjusted around the product concept, target market, and desired user experience, helping brands create foot care products that fit naturally within a wider body-care range.
Conclusion
Preventing cracked heels usually comes down to a few simple habits: keep the skin moisturized, remove thick skin gently, avoid habits that increase dryness, and choose supportive footwear.
For beauty brands developing foot creams, heel balms, masks, or other foot care products, contact CALLA to discuss custom formulation, packaging, samples, and private label or OEM/ODM options.
FAQs
How Do You Fix Cracked Heels Permanently?
There is no one-time treatment that guarantees cracked heels will never return. The best long-term approach is regular moisturizing, gentle removal of thick skin, and footwear that reduces pressure on the heel. If cracking keeps coming back, it may be worth checking for an underlying skin or health condition.
Can Cracked Heels Heal Overnight?
Deep cracked heels usually do not heal overnight, but you can improve dryness by applying a rich foot cream or petroleum jelly before bed and wearing cotton socks. Consistent care over time is more important than trying to get a one-night result.
Can You Use Liquid Bandage on Cracked Heels?
A liquid bandage may help protect some heel fissures and keep the edges of a crack together while the skin heals. It should not replace medical care for deep, bleeding, infected, or very painful cracks.
Can CALLA Develop a Foot Cream for Dry, Cracked Heels?
Yes. CALLA supports private label and OEM/ODM foot care development, with options for moisturizing and skin-softening formulas, texture customization, fragrance or fragrance-free concepts, packaging, and sample development.
What Foot Care Products Can CALLA Customize for Private Label Brands?
CALLA can develop different foot care formats, including foot creams, heel balms or sticks, hydrating foot masks, exfoliating foot care, and hand and foot creams. Formulas and packaging can be adjusted to fit different brand concepts and target markets.
References
- Golen, T. Why Are My Heels Cracked? Harvard Health Publishing. December 1, 2023.
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to Care for Dry, Cracked Heels. American Academy of Dermatology. Last updated January 31, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. How to Heal Cracked Heels. Mayo Clinic. February 21, 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic. Cracked Heels? Here’s How To Heal Your Feet. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. September 2, 2025.
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