Ultimately, the best way to avoid cracked heels is to prevent them, and that means weekly upkeep. "We have to tweeze our eyebrowsand shave our legs, so pumicing and moisturizing is just one more thing to add to the routine," Sutera says. (Read about how the latest beauty product on the market called baby foot is helping women smooth their heels.)
If your cracks are very deep, bleeding, or seem infected—you'll see redness and swelling, it might feel warm, and it will probably hurt—see your primary care doc or a podiatrist. If not, here's how to start treating painful cracks at home.
1. Soften callouses the right way.
It's true that buildup is bad, but so is exfoliating incorrectly. Scrubbing too aggressively can split the skin even further. "You may have temporary smoothing action from the foot filing, but you won't help the cracking underneath," Sutera says. Instead, after a shower or a soak, when skin is clean and softened, use your foot filer of choice—a pumice stone or an electric tool like Amopé Pedi Perfect Foot File—and file heels very gently, in only one direction. "Don't file back and forth and don't go too deep," Sutera says. The goal is to slough off the just the top layers of dead skin without pulling the skin apart at the micro cracks. Exfoliate at least once a week or up to once a day.
1. Soften callouses the right way.
It's true that buildup is bad, but so is exfoliating incorrectly. Scrubbing too aggressively can split the skin even further. "You may have temporary smoothing action from the foot filing, but you won't help the cracking underneath," Sutera says. Instead, after a shower or a soak, when skin is clean and softened, use your foot filer of choice—a pumice stone or an electric tool like Amopé Pedi Perfect Foot File—and file heels very gently, in only one direction. "Don't file back and forth and don't go too deep," Sutera says. The goal is to slough off the just the top layers of dead skin without pulling the skin apart at the micro cracks. Exfoliate at least once a week or up to once a day.
2. Slick up strategically.
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boyblackcat/shutterstock
Moisturize immediately with a foot cream—make sure it's a cream and not a lotion, which is too thin. Choose a formula with lactic acid, salicylic acid, or uric acid, which are exfoliating ingredients that will help gently eat away at thickened areas and prevent callouses from coming back too quickly, Sutera says. She recommends AmLactin Triple Action Alpha-Hydroxy Therapy Foot Cream and Kerasal One Step Exfoliating Moisturizer Foot Therapy, both of which are gentle and inexpensive. Massage the cream onto your feet twice a day, whether you've exfoliated or not.
3. Put a sock on it.
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saquizeta/shutterstock
Improve the healing power of your foot cream by locking it in for the night with a pair of socks lined with silicone, like Silipos Silicone Gel Therapy Socks, or Bliss Softening Socks. Or just wrap your heels in plastic wrap and don regular socks on top before hitting the sheets.
4. Choose the right shoes.
Wearing shoes with proper backs—not flip-flops or slides—can also help keep heels from cracking. If you must wear flip-flops, Sutera advises choosing a pair with a thicker sole, some shock absorption, and arch support, like the ones made by Vionic Innovation Lab. "Choose a shoe that keeps your foot a bit off the ground—so dirt doesn't get into any cracks, and that doesn't allow a lot of slipping around or friction," she adds.
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