How to Cope With Dry Skin and Cracks on Your Feet

Dry, cracked skin on your feet is a common problem that typically develops over time. It occurs in stages, starting with a lack of moisture in the skin.

Then the skin on the soles of your feet develops calluses—dry, thickened areas of dead skin caused by repeated friction and/or pressure. If left untreated, the skin continues to dry out, leading to cracks or fissures on the heels, soles, or sides of your feet.

Fortunately, dry feet and cracked heels can often be prevented with regular pedicures. You can treat calluses at home with foot soaks, a pumice stone, and moisturizer. If self-care strategies aren't enough, see a podiatrist for more advanced treatments.

What Causes Dry, Cracked Feet?

Dry feet occur when there is a lack of moisture in the skin.

Dry skin, also known as xerosis, can be due to environmental factors or an underlying health condition. Dry skin can also cause other symptoms such as itchiness, rash, and pain.

Dry skin can also set the stage for fissures (cracks in the skin), particularly on the heel. This happens when repeated friction or pressure causes the skin on the bottoms of your feet to thicken into calluses. 

In addition, the protective fat pads in the soles of your feet become thinner as you age. As you lose this cushioning, the skin on the already dry and hardened callouses becomes stressed.

As you walk and put more pressure on the area, the fat pads in the heel and ball expand, causing the skin to split. Over time, these small cracks become deeper, more painful, and may begin to bleed.

Risk Factors for Dry, Cracked Feet

While anyone can develop dry feet and cracked heels, common risk factors include:

• Aging
• Being on your feet for long periods of time 
• Going barefoot
• Obesity
• Smoking cigarettes
• Taking long, hot showers 
• Wearing ill-fitting shoes, hard or unsupportive footwear, or shoes without socks

Structural abnormalities of the foot can contribute to the development of calluses. These include: 

• Bone spurs: Bony projections along the edges of bones
• Bunions: Bony bumps at the base of the big toe
• Hammertoes: An abnormal bend or buckling at the middle joint of a toe

Environmental Factors

Things your body comes into contact with may sap the moisture from your skin and contribute to your feet's dryness. Environmental factors may include:

• Heat and humidity: The inside of your shoe can get very hot—sometimes well over 120 F. This heat and humidity can cause your skin to lose moisture and thicken.
• Skin cleansers: Certain soaps can strip protective oils from the skin. They can also leave irritating residues that contribute to dry skin.
• Cold weather: Dry skin often worsens in the winter months. That's because cooler outdoor air is less humid. In addition, indoor heating further dries out the indoor air.

How to Prevent Dry, Cracked Feet

Caring for your feet properly can help prevent dry, cracked skin on your feet. Wear supportive, properly fitting shoes with socks and avoid going barefoot.

You also can prevent dry feet by avoiding hot baths or showers and only using gentle soap on your feet. Moisturizing your feet daily, getting pedicures, or using a pumice stone to gently remove calluses at home can help.

If you are overweight, losing weight can relieve pressure on your heels to prevent or reduce cracking.

Moisturize Your Feet

Apply foot cream to your feet twice a day, including after bathing and before bed. Moisturizers provide a seal over your skin to keep water from escaping and drying out your skin.

While any lotion will do, some ingredients work better for tackling callused feet. Look for products that contain the following:

• Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA): AHAs like glycolic acid and lactic acid helps slough off dead skin cells and help the epidermis (the skin's outermost layer) retain moisture. 5
• Lanolin: Lanolin acts as an effective moisture barrier. You can buy lanolin over the counter (OTC) at any pharmacy. It is usually labeled as a product for breastfeeding parents, although you can use it for any form of dry, chapped skin.
• Urea cream: Urea is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient and is very hydrating.

If you are prone to allergies or skin sensitivities, make sure to use hypoallergenic products formulated for sensitive skin.

Get a Pedicure

Getting regular professional or at-home pedicures can help you stay on top of calluses before they become problematic.

Pedicures are very effective at keeping calluses from building up. It’s safe to remove some of the dead, callused skin—as long as you do so gently. 

Here are some tips on how to give yourself an at-home pedicure:

• Soak your feet in warm water for about 20 minutes. 
• For dry skin on the tops of the feet, ankles, and legs, use a loofah sponge or exfoliating foot scrub to remove dead skin cells.
• Next, use a foot file or pumice stone to slough off dead skin on rough areas on the soles of your feet.
• Callused skin is tougher and less sensitive than other skin. To prevent overdoing it, stop when you start to feel it.
• Finish off by applying moisturizer to your feet.

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