Cracked Heels in Canadian Winters: Causes, Home Care and When to Get Help
Cracked heels in Canadian winters are so common that many people ignore them until a split catches on a sock or starts to bleed. Cold air outside, furnace heat inside, and long, hot showers all pull moisture from the thick skin on your heels.
This guide explains why heels crack, a simple routine that helps, and which moisturizer ingredients to look for. It also covers when cracks need a professional, especially if you live with diabetes. And if bending down to reach your feet is hard, mobile foot care at home can take that part off your plate.
How Do You Treat Cracked Heels in Winter?
Keep showers short and lukewarm, pat your feet dry, and apply a thick moisturizer with urea or petroleum jelly while the skin is still damp. Wear cotton socks at night and closed-back footwear by day. If cracks are deep, bleeding, or infected, or if you have diabetes, get professional help.
Why Heels Crack, and Why Canadian Winters Make It Worse
Your heels carry your full weight with every step. So when the skin there dries out, it doesn’t just feel rough. It splits.
What’s Happening in the Skin
Mayo Clinic explains that heels crack when the skin around the rim of the heel gets dry and thick. Then pressure on the fat pad under your heel pushes that stiff skin outward until it splits. Doctors call deep cracks heel fissures, which simply means cracks that go through the thick outer skin of the heel.
Friction from the back of your shoes can make the dryness and cracking worse, according to Mayo Clinic.
Winter Triggers in Brampton and Mississauga Homes
Ontario winters stack several triggers on top of each other:
Cold, dry air outside. Humidity drops when it’s cold, so skin dries faster (Mayo Clinic).
Furnace heat indoors. Mayo Clinic notes that the way homes are heated in winter also dries skin.
Long, hot showers. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists these as a common cause of cracked heels.
Harsh soaps. These can damage the skin’s natural barrier and pull out more water (Mayo Clinic).
Bare feet and open-back slippers. Walking barefoot and wearing open-heel footwear both raise your risk (AAD, Mayo Clinic).
This article sticks to heels. For general winter foot care, such as boots, socks, and nails, see our guide on how to keep your feet healthy during the winter months.
Who’s More Likely to Get Dry, Cracked Heels?
Anyone can get cracked heels. However, some people are more likely to, including:
Older adults. A University of Calgary dermatologist explains that skin gets thinner and makes less oil as we age.
People with diabetes. The AAD notes that diabetes is sometimes the cause of cracked heels.
People with eczema or psoriasis. Mayo Clinic lists both as possible causes.
People with circulation problems. Poor blood flow to the legs can leave the skin of the feet thin and dry.
People who stand for long hours. Long periods on your feet add pressure to the heel.
People carrying extra body weight. Mayo Clinic lists obesity as a risk factor, because more weight means more pressure on the heel pad.
How to Heal Cracked Heels at Home: A Simple Nightly Routine
Mild cracks usually respond to steady, gentle care. The steps below follow advice from the AAD, Mayo Clinic, and Diabetes Canada:
Wash, don’t soak. Use lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, and keep showers to 5–10 minutes (AAD). Diabetes Canada advises against soaking your feet, because it can dry the skin.
Pat dry. Blot your feet gently with a towel instead of rubbing (AAD).
Moisturize right away. Apply moisturizer to your heels while the skin is still damp, then again whenever they feel dry (AAD).
Seal it in at bedtime. Put a layer of plain petroleum jelly on your heels and pull on socks to keep it off your sheets (AAD). Cotton socks are a comfortable choice.
File gently, or not at all. For mild rough skin, use light pressure on damp skin, and stop if it feels uncomfortable. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, ask your diabetes care team or a foot care nurse before you use any file or pumice stone.
Check your heels daily. Look for cracks getting deeper, bleeding, or redness.
Moisturizer Ingredients That May Help
Plain lotion often isn’t enough for thick heel skin. Instead, the AAD suggests a cream with one of these ingredients:
Urea (10–25%). Urea is a moisturizing ingredient that also softens hard skin.
Alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid. These help loosen dry, dead skin.
Salicylic acid. This also helps soften and thin thick skin.
For everyday care once your heels improve, thick creams with petrolatum (petroleum jelly), lanolin, or ceramides help keep skin soft.
That said, creams with urea, salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids can sting or irritate. Mayo Clinic suggests using them no more than twice a day. Also, if you have diabetes, check with your diabetes care team before you use acid-based products on your feet. Your pharmacist can help you choose a product that suits your skin.
Pumice Stones, Heel Balms, and Liquid Bandages: Pros and Cons
Option | Pros | Cons |
Pumice stone or foot file | Removes some thick, dry skin when used gently | Overuse can make cracks worse (Medical News Today); needs cleaning and drying between uses people with diabetes should ask their care team first |
Heel balm with urea or acids | Softens hard skin and holds in moisture (AAD) | Can sting open cracks; use no more than twice a day |
Liquid bandage | Forms a protective layer over cracks, which can ease pain and keep germs out (AAD) | Only for clean, shallow cracks, not infected or very deep ones |
What Not to Do With Cracked Heels
Some common fixes make cracked heels worse. So skip these:
Don’t cut or shave hard skin. Never use razors, blades, or callus shavers on your feet
Don’t scrub hard. Aggressive filing or grating can make cracks worse
Don’t soak for long. Long soaks and long showers dry the skin further
Don’t go barefoot. Walking barefoot can lead to cracked heels (AAD). The Ottawa Hospital tells people with diabetes to avoid bare feet even indoors.
Don’t use corn or callus removers if you have diabetes. Diabetes Canada warns that these over-the-counter products are dangerous for people with diabetes.
Don’t treat deep cracks or calluses yourself if you have diabetes or poor circulation. Diabetes Canada advises having calluses treated by your doctor or a foot care professional.
Mild Dryness or Time to Get Help?
Not every crack needs a visit. Use this table as a quick guide:
What you see | What to do |
Rough, dry, or white edges, with no pain | Follow the nightly routine above |
Shallow cracks that sting a little | Keep up the routine, and protect cracks with a liquid bandage by day |
A thick, hard rim of skin that keeps cracking | Book routine callus care with a foot care nurse |
Cracks that bleed, are deep, or are very painful | See your doctor, or a chiropodist or podiatrist |
Redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or a bad smell | See your doctor soon; these can be signs of infection |
Any open crack, and you have diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation | Contact your doctor, diabetes care team, or a foot care professional promptly |
No improvement after a week or two of home care [VERIFY timeframe] | See your doctor or a dermatologist (AAD) |
Spreading redness with a fever | Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department |
Cracked Heels and Diabetes: Why Extra Care Matters
With diabetes, a small heel crack isn’t just a comfort problem. The Ottawa Hospital explains that diabetes can damage nerves, so you might not feel an injury. Reduced blood flow also slows healing and raises the risk of infection.
So a crack you can’t feel can turn into a bigger problem before you notice it. That’s why daily foot checks matter. If you can’t see your heels, use a mirror or ask someone to help, as The Ottawa Hospital suggests.
Also, Diabetes Canada advises having calluses treated by your doctor or a foot care professional rather than at home. If you have diabetes and your heels are cracking, regular diabetic foot care from a nurse can help you catch changes early.
Who to See for Cracked Heels in Ontario
The right person depends on what’s going on:
A foot care nurse for routine callus care, foot checks, and advice on daily care at home.
Your family doctor or nurse practitioner for signs of infection, or if you think a health condition is behind the dryness.
A chiropodist or podiatrist for deep, painful, or recurring heel fissures. [VERIFY: scope wording for Ontario]
A dermatologist if you or your doctor suspect eczema, psoriasis, or a fungal infection. A foot care nurse can’t diagnose these skin conditions.
In an emergency, call 911.
Winter Habits That Keep Heels From Cracking Again
Once your heels feel better, a few habits help keep them that way:
Moisturize after every shower or bath, and whenever your heels feel dry (AAD).
Wear closed-back slippers indoors instead of open-back ones
Replace worn-down shoes or shoes that don’t fit well (AAD).
Use a humidifier when the furnace is running.
Help for Cracked Heels in Brampton and Mississauga
Sometimes home care isn’t enough, or reaching your own heels just isn’t realistic. That’s where a home visit helps.
At Foot Care Nursing with Gellis, Gellis Jerome-Milandou, a licensed Registered Practical Nurse, visits clients at home or in care residences across Brampton, Mississauga & Surrounding Areas. For cracked heels, a visit can include gentle callus care, a check of your skin, nails, and feet, and advice on daily foot care.She uses single-use instruments, full PPE and strict infection control. If she sees signs of infection or a skin condition, she’ll suggest you see your doctor, a chiropodist, or a dermatologist.
Services include:
First Time Mobile Foot Care and Assessment Service: 1 hr, $75
Follow-up – Ongoing Foot Care Service: 30 min, $70
Diabetic Foot Care: 1 hr, $75
Ongoing Finger-nails & Foot Care Treatment Service: 45 min, $85
Pay online when you book, or after the visit by cash or e-transfer. Some insurance plans and veterans’ benefits may cover foot care nursing.
Smoother Heels Through the Winter
Cracked heels in Canadian winters come from dry air, furnace heat, hot showers, and pressure on thick heel skin. Short lukewarm washes, a moisturizer on damp skin, and petroleum jelly with socks at night help most mild cracks. However, deep, bleeding, or infected cracks need a professional, and anyone with diabetes should get open cracks checked promptly.
If your heels need more than home care, book a home foot care visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes cracked heels in winter?
Cold, dry air, indoor heating, long hot showers, and walking barefoot all dry out heel skin. Then pressure on the heel pad makes the stiff skin split. Open-back footwear and harsh soaps can make it worse.
Is petroleum jelly good for cracked heels?
Yes, for many people. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests putting plain petroleum jelly on your heels at bedtime and wearing socks to keep it in place.
Should you soak cracked heels?
A short, lukewarm wash is usually better than a long soak. Diabetes Canada advises against soaking feet because it can dry the skin, and people with diabetes should skip soaking altogether.
When should I worry about cracked heels?
Get help if cracks bleed, are deep or very painful, or show redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or a bad smell. Also get help if they don’t improve with home care, or if you have diabetes and any crack is open.
Can diabetes cause cracked heels?
It can. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that diabetes is sometimes behind cracked heels. Because diabetes can reduce feeling and slow healing, have any open crack checked promptly.
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