How To (Quickly) Heal Dry, Cracked Heels
So, you’ve spent the summer in flip-flops, soaking up the sun, feeling the breeze on your toes—living your best life. But now? Your heels look and feel like they’ve been through a sandpaper factory. Dry, cracked heels are the not-so-fun souvenir of summer that no one asked for. Celebrity podiatrist Margaret Dabbs reveals how to get your heels back to tip-top condition, fast…
What causes cracked heels?
Before we dive into the fix, let’s talk about why this happens. Your heels bear the brunt of your body weight (no pressure, right?), and when you’re strutting around in sandals or flip-flops all summer, your skin gets exposed to the elements: sun, wind, dirt, and dryness. Plus, open shoes often lack support, which puts extra strain on your heels, leading to those dreaded cracks. The skin around the heel also tends to be thicker and drier than the rest of your foot, which makes it more prone to cracking when it’s not properly moisturised.
Don’t allow nail polish to grow out – remove it after 2 weeks, gently buff the nail and apply a nail & cuticle serum to rehydrate the nail and reduce discolouration.
Margaret Dabbs
Do cracked heels go away?
Short answer—yes! But like with most beauty dilemmas, it’ll take a bit of effort and consistency. Cracked heels don’t disappear overnight (sadly, there’s no magic wand for this one), but with the right care, you can heal them up in no time. The key is exfoliation, hydration, and a little bit of TLC.
How to treat cracked heels in 4 steps
1. Start with a soak. Give those tired feet a much-needed spa moment. Soaking your feet in warm water softens the skin, making it easier to exfoliate away those dry patches. You can go fancy with a foot soak that contains Epsom salts or even a couple of drops of tea tree oil (which is antibacterial), but even just plain water will work wonders. Soak for about 10-15 minutes and let that dead skin loosen up.
Top tools to buff away hard skin
2. Exfoliate like you mean it. Once your feet are soaked, it’s time to slough off that dead skin. Grab a pumice stone, foot file, or an exfoliating scrub designed for feet, and start buffing. Be gentle but firm—you want to remove the rough patches without irritating your skin.
Best foot scrubs for smooth, polished feet
Pro tip: Don’t go too hard on cracked areas as that can actually make things worse.
3. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise Now that your skin is ready to absorb moisture, hit it with a seriously hydrating foot cream. Look for creams with ingredients like urea, shea butter, glycerin, or even coconut oil—these will help to deeply moisturize and repair your skin. Apply generously all over your feet and especially around your heels. Bonus points if you do this before bed and sleep with socks on to lock in all that moisture!
Best foot creams for intense moisture
4. Seal the deal with a foot mask For an extra boost of hydration, try a foot mask. Think of it as a sheet mask for your feet—intense moisture locked in for 20-30 minutes. Some DIY options include slathering your feet in coconut oil or olive oil, then wrapping them in plastic wrap and socks for a mini at-home spa treatment.
How to prevent cracked heels
Now that you’ve put in all that hard work to repair your heels, let’s make sure they stay smooth and crack-free with these pro tips from Margaret Dabbs.
Moisturise daily. Keep up the habit of applying a rich foot cream every night before bed. It’s easier to maintain smooth heels than to repair cracked ones.
Wear supportive shoes. Open sandals may be tempting, but supportive shoes with a cushioned sole can help take the pressure off your heels and prevent cracking.
Don’t allow nail polish to grow out. Remove it after 2 weeks, gently buff the nail and apply a nail & cuticle serum to rehydrate the nail and reduce discolouration.
Keep feet covered. Whenever possible, wear socks or closed-toe shoes when you’re walking on rough surfaces to protect your heels from further drying out or cracking.
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