Here's the best way to heal your dry, cracked heels, according to a dermatologist
If your summer hooves took a beating, here’s how to keep them soft, smooth and pain-free well into fall.
Let's just say this upfront: There's nothing sexy, cool or in any way pleasant about a dry, cracked heel. The condition is not only unsightly (and even a little gross), but it can be extremely irritating and painful. Suppose you haven't dealt with a set of rough, flaking heels yet. In that case, you might soon — the problem actually gets worse as we age due to factors like thinning fat pads, drier skin and reduced oil production, all of which make the area more prone to not only dehydration, but actual cracking. However, if you're currently wrestling with uncomfortably reptilian paws, don't fret: I reached out to Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist in dermatology and dermatopathology, to sort out what exacerbates the condition, how to treat it in the short term and the best strategies to avoid developing cracked heels for good.
First, what causes dry, cracked feet?
Camp says there are loads of factors that can contribute to your chances of developing rough, scaly skin on your heels and feet, including: "Friction from walking and running, open-backed footwear, walking barefoot, long, hot showers, hormonal changes and certain skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis — all can cause dry, cracked feet," he says.
More serious underlying conditions like diabetes, kidney disease and vitamin and mineral deficiencies can also make the skin in this area more likely to dry out and crack.
What can I do to treat my cracked heels?
Camp suggests the following three-part regimen to provide quick relief for cracked heels.
Use a foot rasp in the shower when skin is softer to exfoliate dead skin.
Use a moisturizer that contains keratolytic ingredients (like lactic acid or urea) to gently exfoliate the skin.
Consider thicker, ointment-based moisturizers for painful cracks or fissures in the skin.
Last, he says, "Consult with a board-certified dermatologist if at-home treatments are not effective, as this may be indicative of a case of more than just dry skin."
Here are the products he recommends.
"Made with a complex of Epsom salt and essential oils to soothe skin, this balm is also infused with 25% urea plus cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin E, which means it can really soften and moisturize the skin of extremely dry, cracked heels and thick, tough skin on the feet," Camp says.
Camp's specific recommendation is to gently employ this kind of foot rasp after soaking your feet in warm water, when the skin is softer and easier to file.
"I like this balm because, in addition to repairing cracked skin on feet and heels, it contains bee propolis, and sage and basil essential oils, to eliminate bacteria, fight off foot odors and soothe achy, itchy, tired feet," Camp says.
"Shea butter, arnica flower extract and lavender essential oil are included in this fast-absorbing, non-greasy foot cream to soothe and nourish dry skin," says Camp of this highly-rated lotion.
"This cream is formulated with a signature blend of Dead Sea minerals, such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium and also contains sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, sunflower seed and aloe vera," says Camp, "all of which are good for hydrating and softening rough, dry feet."
Are there any tricks for keeping heels from getting dry and cracked in the first place?
Last, Camp says to avoid cracked heels in the future, you'll want to "improve skin hydration by soaking your feet in lukewarm water for 2-3 minutes a night, then patting them dry and applying a thick moisturizer," he says. After this, for best results, "Apply white cotton socks and wear them for a few hours or — even better — overnight while you sleep."
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