Do cracked heel sticks work?

What makes a heel treatment useful?

Dry, thickened skin around the heel forms a callus. Pressure makes the fat pad beneath the heel spread sideways, which can split that hard skin. Standing for long periods and wearing sandals without heel support can contribute. Moisturizing helps keep heel skin supple and hydrated, a job that remains fairly unglamorous regardless of the packaging.1

For dry, cracked heels, look for a moisturizing treatment containing 10% to 25% urea, or a cream containing alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid. Heel balms use ingredients that retain water or help remove thick skin. Ceramides help trap water in the skin and restore its protective barrier. Plain petroleum jelly is another useful option for sealing in moisture.134

How should you care for cracked heels?

1. 1Wash gently with warm water and a fragrance free cleanser. Keep baths and showers to five to ten minutes, and blot dry rather than scrubbing.
2. 2Apply moisturizer to your heels within five minutes of bathing, while the heel skin is still damp. Moisturize daily and whenever your heels feel dry; early cracking can respond to moisturizing two to three times a day.
3. 3Before bed, apply plain petroleum jelly to help hold moisture in. Cotton socks help retain moisture and keep the ointment off your bedding.
4. 4For ordinary hard skin, gently use a foot file once or twice weekly on dry skin. Do not file inflamed, itchy or sensitive areas, and never cut away hard skin with scissors or a razor.
5. 5Wear shoes that fit properly and support the heel. Avoid open backed, worn down or poorly fitting shoes while your heels are cracked.

How long does improvement take?

Regular use of exfoliating moisturizers can take about two weeks to show a response. That is a general expectation for those treatments, not a fixed healing time for every heel stick. If cracks are severe or show no improvement after a week of home care, see a podiatrist rather than simply continuing the same treatment.14

Keep moisturizing daily after your heels improve to help prevent cracking again, because the maintenance phase does not get its own glamorous product launch. If open backed shoes make the dryness worse, switch to closed shoes and socks.2

When is a stick not enough?

Deep cracks can hurt when you stand or walk, bleed and become infected. A liquid bandage can protect cracks and reduce pain while they heal. Severe or stubborn cracking needs assessment; a podiatrist can remove thick skin safely, provide dressings or recommend heel support and stronger treatments.13

Do not substitute an acid foot peel for care of broken heel skin. Avoid peels if you have sores, wounds, redness, itching or a rash, or a history of eczema, psoriasis or contact dermatitis. Those problems need medical guidance rather than extra exfoliation.5

What if you have diabetes?

Diabetes makes heel cracks more concerning because wounds can heal slowly and become infected. Check your feet daily and get professional care for calluses instead of filing them yourself. For dry heels, bedtime care can include 10% to 25% urea cream, petroleum jelly on top and white cotton socks. Seek immediate medical care for swelling, discoloration, tenderness, leaking fluid, or a wound that worsens or fails to heal.67