Dry, cracked skin on the heels

Dry Cracked Heels: Why They Split and What Really Helps

Heels crack when thick, dry skin splits under your body weight. Cold air, hot showers and open-back shoes make it worse. Within 5 minutes of your shower, press a thick, water-free balm into damp heels. Then pull on cotton socks. If a crack bleeds or looks infected, have a doctor see it first.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated October 8, 2026

Lanolin from sheep's wool, one of the ingredients in Hand Repair balm

Why heels split

Your heels take your full weight and a lot of friction. Thick, dry skin there can't stretch, so it splits along the edge.

  • Dry climates and winter air pull water out of heel skin.
  • Long, hot showers wash away the oils that hold water in.
  • Open-back shoes, flip-flops and worn-out shoes let the heel spread and rub.
  • More pressure on the heel, from standing all day or extra weight, adds to the splitting.
  • Eczema, athlete's foot and sometimes diabetes can be behind it.
  • Heels often get skipped when you moisturize.

The overnight sock routine

A simple routine does most of the work. Do it every night for two weeks and see how your heels feel.

  • Wash your feet in lukewarm water with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. Keep the soak short.
  • Pat dry. If the skin is thick, smooth it gently with a pumice stone or foot file, using light pressure.
  • Within 5 minutes of washing, press a pea of balm into each heel while the skin is damp.
  • Rub it in until it stops feeling waxy. Skip the space between your toes.
  • Pull on clean, thin cotton socks. They hold the balm in and keep it off your sheets.
  • Put the socks on before you stand up. Balm on bare feet is slippery.
  • Repeat every night for two weeks, then whenever your heels feel tight.

Your heel check: what to do tonight and when to call a doctor

Most dry heels respond to the routine above. Match what you see to a next step.

What you seeWhat to do tonightSee the doctor?
Rough, tight or flaky skinThe sock routine, a pea of balm per heelNot needed
A thick, hard edge with shallow cracksThe sock routine, plus a gentle file after washingIf it's no better after about two weeks
A deep crack that bleeds or hurts to walk onKeep it clean and covered, and skip rubbing itYes, soon
Redness, warmth, swelling or drainage around a crackDon't wait for it to settleYes, call the same day
Any crack, with diabetes or numb feetCheck both feet every day and follow your doctor's planYes, early

With diabetes, the CDC says to check your feet daily, dry them completely and skip lotion between the toes.

The timeline

What to expect

  1. Tonight
    Press a pea of balm into each damp heel and pull on cotton socks. It feels waxy for a minute, then settles. Heels often feel softer by morning.
  2. Week 1
    Rough edges feel smoother and heels stop catching on your socks. Keep going every night, even on the days they feel fine.
  3. Week 4
    Thick, dry skin has softened and heels feel supple through the day. Use the balm a few nights a week to keep them there. If a crack still isn't better, have a doctor look.
What people ask

Why are my feet so dry even when I moisturize?

Fair question. Heel skin is thick, takes a lot of friction, and often gets skipped, says Cleveland Clinic. Timing matters too. The AAD says to moisturize within 5 minutes of bathing, while skin is still damp. Press a thick, water-free balm in then. Cotton socks over it give the moisture something to stay under.

What causes cracked heels to hurt?

Heels hurt when thick skin splits, because every step pulls the crack wider. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons says thick calluses and pressure create these fissures. Closed shoes with a cushioned heel ease the strain. A thick balm each night keeps skin flexible. If a crack bleeds or hurts to walk on, see a doctor.

Which vitamin deficiency causes cracked heels?

Low vitamin E, B-3 (niacin) or C may play a part. Healthline says these deficiencies are rare in developed countries. Eczema, athlete's foot, walking barefoot and aging are more common causes. So start with the heel routine, not a supplement. If your heels don't improve, ask your doctor to look deeper.

How to get rid of hard skin on feet permanently?

Hard skin builds back wherever pressure and friction continue, so think routine, not one-time fix. After washing, smooth it gently with a pumice stone or foot file. Foot surgeons advise light pressure. Then press a thick balm into damp heels each night. Keeping this up is what keeps heels softer. Never cut hard skin yourself.

How to get rid of hard, crusty heels?

Soften first, then smooth. Wash in lukewarm water, then lightly buff the hard edge with a pumice stone or foot file. Cleveland Clinic says these tools are fine in moderation. Skip razors and blades, because cutting calluses at home risks infection. Press a pea of balm into each damp heel and cover with cotton socks. Repeat nightly.

Does soaking your feet in vinegar remove dead skin?

Soaking softens dead skin because the water does the work. We didn't find a dermatology source showing vinegar does more than plain lukewarm water. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons suggests a warm, not hot, soak of about 10 minutes. Skip any soak additive on open cracks. Then smooth gently and seal with a balm.

What's the healthiest thing to soak your feet in?

Plain lukewarm water. Foot surgeons suggest warm, not hot, water for about 10 minutes. Cleveland Clinic says just a few minutes is enough, since long soaks can weaken the skin barrier. Add a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, as the AAD suggests. Then dry well and seal damp heels with balm. With diabetes, the CDC says don't soak your feet.

How long does it take to heal dry cracked heels?

There's no fixed number. Cleveland Clinic says an exfoliating cream shows results in about two weeks, so give any routine that long. Seal your heels every night with a thick balm and cotton socks. Skin often feels softer within a few nights. If a crack bleeds or you see no change by two weeks, see a doctor.

Their label vs. ours

Same job. Look at the ingredients.

Left is a best-seller from the store shelf. Right is ours.

Tap any ingredient to see what it is.

Hand Cream

Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer

25

ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid…

Also on our Never List

  • Dimethicone
  • Laureth-3
  • Ceteareth-20
  • Carbomer
  • Phenoxyethanol

plus 15 more

Label from the Jergens website, checked Nov 7, 2026. We are not affiliated with Jergens.

Moose’s Hand Repair Balm

12

ingredients

Arnica-Infused Beef Tallow, Shea Butter, Raw Beeswax, Lanolin, Calendula-Infused Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Arrowroot Powder, Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Virginia Cedarwood Essential Oil, Bisabolol, Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract.

That is the whole label.

In short: Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer lists 25 ingredients. 6 of them are on Moose’s Tallow’s Never List: Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Laureth-3, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol. Moose’s Hand Repair Balm lists 12 ingredients: Arnica-Infused Beef Tallow, Shea Butter, Raw Beeswax, Lanolin, Calendula-Infused Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Arrowroot Powder, Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Virginia Cedarwood Essential Oil, Bisabolol, Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract.

Full Jergens ingredient list

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Laureth-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ceteareth-20, Allantoin, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Panthenol, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol. Label from the Jergens website, checked Nov 7, 2026.

Red ingredients are on our Never List: 50 things we leave out of every tin.

Make the switchSee all 50 things we never use

Ingredient lists are copied from US retailer product pages, brand websites and EWG Skin Deep, and were accurate when checked on October 19 and November 7, 2026. Brands change formulas, so always read your own bottle. We are not affiliated with any brand named here.

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

We made Hand Repair for hands that work hard. Heels work hard too, and they need the same thing: a thick, water-free seal on damp skin. That's all this balm is. Press it in at night and let the socks do the rest. If it doesn't do the job on your heels, the 60-day guarantee covers it.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

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Related answers

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology: how to care for dry, cracked heels
  2. Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Lindsey Moore (September 2, 2025): cracked heels, how to heal your feet
  3. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, FootHealthFacts: cracked heels (fissures)
  4. CDC: your feet and diabetes
  5. MedlinePlus (NIH): diabetes and foot care
  6. Healthline (reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, October 6, 2023): cracked heels and vitamin deficiency