What health risks are caused by cracked heels and what is the best remedy?

Anyone can get cracked heels, but it is more common with conditions such as dry skin, dermatitis or psoriasis.

One concern is if someone with diabetes and has cracked heels, as they can have associated neuropathy meaning their nerves aren’t working so well and they can’t feel pain, which can lead to ulcers.

In extreme cases, infection can get into cracked heels, which is called cellulitis. Dry, thickened skin forms around the rim of the heel which is called callus, and when you put pressure on the heel, the callus cracks. Because of the pressure on the fat pad under the heel, it is more likely to occur in people who are overweight, on their feet a lot and in people who often wear open backed shoes, as they do not give the fat pads adequate support.

Use heel balms on cracked heels which tend to have descaling and water retaining properties. You should not try to cut away thick skin yourself, that should be done by a podiatrist, especially if it quite bad and/or you have diabetes.