If you experience deep pain in your heel, you might have cracks in the skin that penetrate deep into your foot. Cracking in your heels can make walking painful, and it can open you up to the risk of infection. Fortunately, with some TLC and a few lifestyle changes, you can help repair the cracks you have and prevent more cracks from forming. Here are some tips to follow to help your cracked feet. 

1. File and moisturize.

First, care for your heels by providing much-needed moisture. You might need to soak your feet for a bit to loosen up the thick skin on your heels. Then, use a gentle pumice stone to clear away some of the skin. This helps to make the crack shallower. Dry your feet with a towel, but do not let them dry out all the way. Instead, while your skin is still a bit moist, use a strong moisturizer, like petroleum jelly or thick glycerin-based cream, to cover your heels. Put socks on over the moisturizer to help it sink into your skin. Do this routine daily, and be generous with the moisturizer. Dry skin on your heels is one of the main causes of heel cracks. 

2. Change up your footwear.

Cracks can be made worse by certain types of footwear. In the summer heat, flip-flops concentrate pressure on your heel because they have no support will make cracks worse. The open design of a flip-flop can also cause heel cracks because they expose your skin to dry hot air which can make your already dry heel skin even drier. Try to wear sandals that have good arch support, and if you already have deep heel cracks, wear shoes with an enclosed heel until your skin is healthier. 

3. Lose weight if you are overweight. 

Obesity can cause heel cracks because the extra weight increases the pressure on your feet. When you have thick, dry skin on your heels, the extra pressure forces the skin to split. Talk to your doctor about a healthy weight loss plan as part of your goals to improve your foot health. 

4. Get treatment for illnesses that increase your risk of cracked heels.

Finally, see your podiatrist to talk about other reasons why your heels could be cracking. Athlete's foot, for instance, is a fungal infection that causes fissures and cracks in your heels, as well as under your toes. 

For more information, reach out to podiatry clinics like Collier Podiatry PA.