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Foot Ankle Lower Limb — foot and ankle surgery and podiatry, Perth

Skin and nailsGuide

Cracked heels

Cracked heels (heel fissures) are splits in dry, thickened skin on the heel. The usual first step is a daily moisturiser, such as a urea cream, heel balm or simple emollient, with gentle filing of hard skin and well-fitting shoes. See a podiatrist if they don't improve.

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPodLast reviewed 27 October 2026 6 min read

Jump to a section
  1. 1. What are cracked heels, and how common are they?
  2. 2. What causes cracked heels, and who gets them?
  3. 3. How are cracked heels diagnosed?
  4. 4. What helps first?
  5. 5. What helps if that isn't enough?
  6. 6. How long does it take, and how do I stop it coming back?
  7. 7. When to see a podiatrist

At a glance

  • Cracked heels are splits in dry, thick skin. They're common, and often start as simple dryness.
  • A daily moisturiser is the first step. A urea cream, heel balm or simple emollient works alongside gentle filing of hard skin.
  • Shoes matter. Well-fitting shoes worn with socks can help, and backless shoes can make heels worse.
  • Diabetes raises the stakes. Splits can go unnoticed and turn into ulcers, so daily foot checks and podiatrist care matter.

What are cracked heels, and how common are they?

Cracked heels (heel fissures) are splits in dry, thickened skin on the heel. They're described as a common skin problem.

Hard skin (callus) forms as the skin's way of protecting itself, often on the heels. If it dries out, it can crack or split, and may become infected. Splits can let infection in, particularly for people with diabetes or poor blood flow to the legs.

What causes cracked heels, and who gets them?

Heel splits are linked with very dry skin, some health conditions and backless shoes. Repeated pressure and friction thicken the skin into callus, a normal protective response. When that callus dries, it can crack. Poor footwear is described as the most common cause of corns and calluses.

People with diabetes are the best-documented group at risk. Dry skin is common in diabetes and is an early point of vulnerability for foot problems. Reduced feeling can mean a split goes unnoticed until the skin opens into an ulcer.

Sometimes thick, cracked heel skin is linked to eczema, psoriasis or tinea (a fungal infection) rather than simple dryness.

How are cracked heels diagnosed?

Dry skin is generally diagnosed by a clinician examining you. They'll consider whether the thick skin is simple callus or linked to eczema, psoriasis or tinea. A skin scraping can confirm tinea.

It helps to note where the cracks are, how deep they are, whether they bleed or hurt, and whether there's scaling or itching elsewhere on your foot. If scaling is itchy, spreads or involves your nails, ask a podiatrist or your GP about tinea or psoriasis before treating it as dryness.

If you have diabetes, a foot check every 12–24 months can be done by any suitably trained health practitioner.

What helps first?

Most people can start at home. Use a simple moisturiser at least once a day, ideally morning and night, and keep it out of the spaces between your toes. A urea-based cream or heel balm is a reasonable choice, and one leaflet suggests a 25% urea cream. A plain emollient (a basic moisturiser) is often enough, and you don't need a special foot cream.

Of the moisturising ingredients, urea has the best evidence for dry skin, though this comes from dry skin in general rather than cracked heels. In adults with diabetes, creams with added ingredients eased dryness more than plain creams in the short term, but it isn't clear that urea beats similar creams. Urea can cause mild, temporary irritation. If your skin becomes sore or inflamed, stop using it and ask a pharmacist or your GP.

Once or twice a week, gently file dry hard skin with a pumice stone or foot file. Don't cut hard skin or heel callus at home. A podiatrist can cut it away and may use patches or creams to soften it.

Wear well-fitting shoes with socks.

What helps if that isn't enough?

If your heels haven't improved after steady moisturising, or the cause is unclear, see a podiatrist or GP. They can confirm what's going on, check for an underlying skin condition and remove hard skin.

Mention itchy, scaly or red skin, or affected nails, because tinea, psoriasis or contact dermatitis (a skin reaction) could be involved. Have the cause confirmed by a podiatrist or your GP before using a steroid or other anti-inflammatory cream on scaly feet. Psoriasis on the soles that doesn't respond to creams can lead to a referral to a dermatologist (a doctor who treats skin conditions), and long-lasting contact dermatitis may need patch testing.

How long does it take, and how do I stop it coming back?

How long cracked heels take to heal isn't clear yet, so keep going steadily and see a podiatrist or your GP if they don't improve.

To help keep them from coming back, keep moisturising daily even after the cracks close, and keep filing hard skin gently once or twice a week. Choose well-fitting shoes, wear socks with them, and avoid backless shoes if your heels crack easily. Correctly fitting shoes may improve callus caused by poor footwear.

If you have diabetes, check your feet every day for breaks in the skin, blisters, colour change (especially under hard skin), and signs of infection such as swelling, heat or pain. Keep regular podiatry appointments.

When to see a podiatrist

See your GP or a podiatrist the same day if:

  • you have diabetes and notice a new wound, sore, blister, swelling or colour change on your foot;
  • you notice spreading redness, heat, swelling or pus in your foot, including a red streak running from a wound towards your heart.

For urgent advice when it isn't an emergency, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours a day), or go to a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

Call 000 and ask for an ambulance if a foot wound or infection comes with confusion or slurred speech, severe shivering or extreme muscle pain, passing little or no urine, or severe breathlessness.

See a podiatrist or your GP if:

  • a crack bleeds or weeps, or a callus has dried blood in it;
  • a cut or blister hasn't started to heal after a few days;
  • your heels haven't improved with steady moisturising, or the skin stays thick, scaly or itchy.

People with poor circulation, a weakened immune system or older age shouldn't treat hard skin themselves, and should see a GP or podiatrist.

Common questions

Why do my heels crack in summer or when I wear sandals?

Very dry skin, pressure and friction, and backless shoes are all linked with heel splits, so open-backed sandals may play a part. Moisturise your feet daily, choose shoes that fit well, and wear socks with closed shoes. If your heels keep cracking despite this, a podiatrist can check them.

Is a urea cream better than an ordinary moisturiser?

Urea has the most research behind it among moisturising ingredients, but it hasn't been shown to beat other creams that draw water into the skin. A simple moisturiser is often enough. Urea can cause mild, temporary irritation, so if your skin becomes sore, stop using it and ask a pharmacist or your GP.

Is it safe to file or cut hard skin on my heels at home?

Gentle filing of dry hard skin once or twice a week with a pumice stone or foot file is reasonable. Don't cut hard skin at home. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, ask a podiatrist to remove it rather than doing it yourself.

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

Often they're simply dry, thickened skin. Sometimes eczema, psoriasis or a fungal infection (tinea) sits behind them. If the skin stays thick, scaly or itchy despite moisturising, ask a podiatrist or GP to check. If you have diabetes, dry skin matters more, so check your feet daily.

Further reading

Want to know more? Cracked heels on Clindice

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod

Podiatrist

Reviewed 27 October 2026. Next review by 27 October 2027.

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This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. For advice about your own feet or legs, see a podiatrist or your doctor. In an emergency, call 000.

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