Cracked, bleeding heels: what to do and how to prevent them

A crack that opens up on the heel, sometimes to the point of bleeding, hurts more than you might imagine and is a legitimate cause for concern. Here is what is happening and how to react.

Why a crack sometimes leads to bleeding

When the skin on the heel becomes too thick and dry, it loses its elasticity. The slightest stretch, from walking or wearing open shoes, can then create a small opening that reaches down to the dermis, where blood vessels are located. This is known as a deep fissure.

What to do immediately

Clean the area with lukewarm water and mild soap, pat dry without rubbing, then apply a healing cream or a liquid bandage if the crack is open. Avoid any exfoliation on injured skin: no pumice stone or electric callus remover until the cut has closed. If possible, wear closed shoes while it heals.

Preventing recurrence

Once the skin has healed, prevention involves daily hydration and regular, gentle exfoliation before the skin has time to thicken to the point of cracking again. We explain the causes in more detail in this article on dry heels.

If the fissure does not heal within a few days, if it becomes infected, or if you are diabetic, consult a doctor or podiatrist rather than waiting: for people with diabetes, a foot wound that persists always warrants medical attention, as detailed in our article on diabetes and foot care.