You’re minding your business, living your life, and then one day, you look down and your heels have transformed into a desert. They’re dry, flaky, sometimes painful, and occasionally horrifying. You don’t realise when it got to this point.
While it’s completely normal to panic, there’s actually no reason to. Cracked heels may look unattractive, but they’re an easy fix.
Here’s how to deal with them.
Acknowledge the Problem
Cracked heels usually happen when your skin gets too dry, especially around the pressure-heavy areas like your heels. When you’re standing all day, walking barefoot, or even wearing open-back shoes, it can make things worse.
Add in dry weather, and you’ve got the worst form of cracked heels you might have ever seen – at least, on your own feet.
The first step is to stop pretending it will go away on its own. You need to actively fight against it.
Try Soaking First
Some warm water and a little bit of soap can help. Soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes every day to soften up the hard skin. You can even throw in a handful of Epsom salt if you’re feeling fancy.
Hydration can help with the later steps, making it easier to get rid of the hardness. Just make sure your soap doesn’t have too many harsh ingredients.
Scrub It Off
Once your feet are feeling soft and squishy, go in with a pumice stone or foot file. When your heels no longer feel hard, you can scrub away what shouldn’t be there gently.
Don’t be aggressive. It’s not a punishment. And you’re definitely not using a cheese grater foot tool. Just gently scrub away the dead skin. Also, avoid over-exfoliating so you don’t irritate the skin.
Moisturise Properly
This is the most important part. After drying your feet, slather on a thick cream for the feet that’s specifically made for cracked heels.
Look for ingredients like:
- Urea
- Shea butter
- Glycerin
- Lanolin
These ingredients work by helping lock in moisture and repairing the skin barrier.
Lock It In
Moisturising without sealing it in is like putting a water bottle in your bag without its cap. It won’t stay where it needs to.
So, after applying your foot cream, put on a pair of breathable cotton socks and let it absorb overnight. Wear closed-toe shoes to avoid further dryness or damage to your heels.
Again, you’re not punishing yourself. It’s just a way to protect your feet and let the treatment do its thing. Don’t wear tight shoes or socks.
Bonus Tips for Keeping the Cracks Away
If you feel like going the extra mile, that’s a pretty good decision. Sometimes, pairing one treatment with other remedies can speed up the healing process.
What you can do is:
- Hydrate, internally. Soaking your feet is one thing, and hydrating yourself is another. One that can keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. And water is a free skincare product.
- Avoid harsh soaps. These can dry out your skin and make it harder to treat the cracks.
- Choose better shoes. Stop sacrificing your heels for footwear you find cute but your feet don’t.