Summertime is the season for sandals and flip-flops. They keep you cool on those hot summer days and are mostly comfortable and easy to wear. The downside, however, is that they sometimes leave you with dry, cracked skin on your feet, especially around the heels.

Dry, cracked skin on the heels (or heel fissures) that is superficial can be treated at home. We’ll discuss some of those tips below. However, when the cracks are deep and infected or bleeding, it is a more serious issue. It warrants a call to our office at Fords Foot and Ankle Care. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Carl Ingrassia, and his team will provide you with excellent foot care.

Home Remedies

There is no bad time to start caring for your dry feet. Here we list some ideas for how to treat your dry skin at home in order to prevent or reduce the problem.

1. Stay hydrated so that your overall body has enough to nourish skin.
2. Use a thick cream (could be foot cream or regular body cream) to spread onto your feet. Socks or keeping your feet up for a while is recommended to prevent slipping and falling.
3. Use a pumice stone to scrub off the dead skin cells after a warm foot soak.
4. Use antibacterial soap to prevent or treat infections.
5. Paraffin Wax can cover the feet and help retain moisture
6. Add Epsom salt to any baths.
7. Add Honey to any baths.
8. Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice softens the skin.
9. Rotate your shoes so that your feet are not always exposed to the air.

Some dry skin may persist even when treating heel fissures. You can make an appointment with us at our Fords, NJ office by calling (732) 738-4441. Dr. Ingrassia will work with you to find the right treatment for your dry feet.