Why Do Heels Crack More During Winter Than Summer?

Winter means colder weather and dryer air, which for some can mean cracked heels. When skin around the heels hardens and cracks, it’s not just painful – it can be debilitating. Some people find cracked heels make it difficult to walk.

While you can get cracked heels any time of the year, cracked heels in winter tend to be more common. Below, we’ll talk about why heels crack more often in the winter and what you can do about it.

Why does winter make cracked heels worse?

The primary reason cracked heels in winter are worse is dry air. In the wintertime, air is low in humidity. If the air around you is dry, it’ll dry out your skin as well. This makes the outer layer of dead skin around your heels more likely to harden and crack.

In addition to the air outdoors being cold, many people take measures to stay warm that make dry skin worse.

If you heat your home, devices like furnaces and space heaters make the air even dryer. If you’re taking lots of hot baths and showers, the water strips your skin of moisture. Plus, if you’re stuffing your feet in heavy socks and boots, the friction can worsen cracked heels.

All these actions make your skin less elastic, especially if you don’t have a healthy foot care routine. As you can see, the combined effects of the winter months are a recipe for cracked heels.

What can I do about cracked heels in the winter?

Cracked heels aren’t fun, and if you’re a sufferer you’re probably looking for relief. Luckily, in most cases dry, cracked heels are not a major medical concern and a solution can easily be used at home.

First, if you’re bathing and showering more in the winter, revamp your routine. Go for gentle, natural soaps with minimal chemical ingredients.

Moisturize within 10 minutes of bathing or showering with foot cream or lotion. You can wear socks with medicated creams that lock in moisture at night, keeping your skin healthy.

If your cracked heels are really bad, there are over-the-counter footcare products you can use. Pumice stones, for example, are stones you can gently rub over cracked heels to remove dead skin.

It penetrates the outer skin layers to get beneath the surface to stimulate hydration. Delfina is simple to use. All you have to do is spray it on the affected area.

Many sufferers of cracked heels have found Delfina Dry Skin Oil highly effective. Learn more about how Delfina works here and see before-and-after pictures from other cracked heels sufferers here.

Conclusion

While cracked heels can happen any time, they tend to be more likely in the winter months. This is primarily due to dry air, which causes skin to lose its elasticity and crack. While cracked heels are usually not serious and respond to home remedies, they can be painful and debilitating.

If you’re prone to cracked heels in the winter, being extra vigilant about your foot care routine can help, as can pumice stones, moisturizing socks, and natural oils like Delfina Dry Skin Oil.

We understand dry or cracked skin can be painful and finding effective solutions is important. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and ask. We’re here to help.