Dry feet (cracked heels)
Why do I have dry feet?
Our feet dry out and crack easily, especially the heels. Feet tend to dry out more in the winter, but also dry with sandals and flip-flops. Sometimes the heels get so dry that the skin cracks and splits (deep fissures). These fissures are very painful when lotions, soaps, dirt, or chemicals get into them.
How do I fix dry feet?
When you have dry or cracked heels, you need to frequently moisturize to get them better.
Use a moisturizing cream before you put on socks and leave for the day.
At bedtime, put 20% or 40% urea cream on your feet (urea is a mild acid to break up dead, flaky skin and help it peel off gently). NOTE: As an acid, urea can sting when the skin is broken. You can then apply either moisturizing cream or Vaseline to the dry feet; then wear cotton socks to sleep.
To speed the process, after applying the urea cream, you can wrap the feet in plastic wrap and then covering with cotton socks.
For deep cracks (fissures) on the feet, some people use super glue. After pushing the fissure closed (this often requires an extra pair of hands), put a strip of super glue along the length of the fissure - this helps the skin stay closed and prevents chemicals from getting in and hurting.
What is the difference between lotions, creams, and ointments?
The biggest difference between these moisturizers is the amount of alcohol in each one.
LOTIONS have the most alcohol, so they are thinner, less greasy, and go on easily. But lotions also very unlikely to fix dry, cracked feet.
CREAMS are a happy medium - not too thick and not too thin. Creams are the best for regular use to avoid or fix dry feet. Creams have some alcohol in them but less than lotions. My favorite creams are Vanicream Moisturizing Cream and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
OINTMENTS are the thickest. They are often just petrolatum (Vaseline) or a combination of petrolatum and mineral oil (Aquaphor). These have little to no alcohol in them and are the best moisturizers and the best for fixing dry feet. They are also the most greasy.
What if my dry feet aren’t getting better?
Usually, the steps above can help most people get their dry feet better. Sometimes dryness is caused by athlete’s foot (a fungus) that makes their feet dry and cracked - this gets better with an over-the-counter cream like clotrimazole twice a day and an antifungal powder during the day (see my page on Athlete’s Foot). Sometimes people have sensitive skin or are allergic to one or more chemicals in clothing or shoes that touch their feet. If over-the-counter options are not working, there are stronger prescription medications or patch testing that can be used to look for common skin allergies. Look for a board-certified dermatologist in your area. If you are in or near Utah, see one of my excellent colleagues at the University of Utah or me virtually with Honeydew.
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