2. Eucerin Intensive Repair Foot Creme (10% Urea) — Best Daily Maintenance

Eucerin’s 10% urea foot cream is appropriate for daily maintenance use once initial cracking has been resolved with a higher-concentration product. The 10% urea provides ongoing barrier function protection without the strong keratolytic effect that 25–40% urea products produce — making it appropriate for everyday use on normal-to-dry feet that have not developed severe cracking. Eucerin’s ceramide and glycerin base supports barrier restoration. Suitable for sensitive skin and diabetic patients. View Eucerin Intensive Repair Foot Creme on Amazon →

3. Gehwol Med Salve for Cracked Skin (15% Urea) — Best for Bleeding Cracks

Gehwol Med Salve uses a unique combination of 15% urea with petrolatum and antibacterial thymol (a natural antimicrobial) — making it the most appropriate product when heel cracks have progressed to the point of bleeding or open fissuring. The antibacterial component reduces infection risk in open heel cracks while the urea softens the surrounding callus. Apply to clean, dry heels after gentle debridement with a pumice stone. Cover with a thin sock for best results. Not appropriate for use between toes. Available in 75mL. View Gehwol Med Salve on Amazon →

4. Kerasal Foot Repair (30% Urea) — Best for Thick Callus

Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair provides 30% urea in a gentle AHA-containing formula that produces the fastest callus softening of any OTC product. The 30% urea concentration is appropriate for severely thickened callus that has not responded to 10–15% products. The AHA (ammonium lactate) complements the urea by acting on the intercellular cement of the stratum corneum through a different mechanism — the combination accelerates keratolysis. Apply twice daily for 7–14 days for severe callus, then transition to a 10–25% maintenance product. Caution: do not apply to broken or cracked skin until the crack epithelializes. View Kerasal Foot Repair on Amazon →

5. CeraVe Healing Ointment — Best for Diabetic Patients

For diabetic patients with dry skin who need a safe, fragrance-free moisturizer without high urea concentration (which can cause stinging in fragile diabetic skin), CeraVe Healing Ointment provides a petrolatum-ceramide combination that restores the skin barrier without risk of irritation. Ceramides (specifically ceramide 1, 3, and 6-II) are the natural lipids that make up the stratum corneum barrier — depleted in diabetic xerosis — and are replenished by this formulation. Not keratolytic but appropriate for maintenance after clinical debridement of callus. Apply to clean, dry feet nightly. Do NOT apply between toes. View CeraVe Healing Ointment on Amazon →

Proper Application Protocol: The 5-Minute Heel Routine

For maximum benefit: (1) After showering, while feet are still slightly damp, use a medium-grit pumice stone or foot file to gently remove loose dry skin from the heel — do not aggressively scrub, just remove flaking material; (2) Pat feet dry thoroughly with a towel; (3) Apply urea cream generously to the heel, Achilles region, and any callus areas; (4) Avoid applying between toes — moisture retention there promotes fungal infection; (5) Cover heels with thin cotton socks overnight for first 2 weeks of treatment to enhance penetration. This 5-minute routine performed nightly produces clinically visible improvement in heel fissures within 7–14 days with a 25%+ urea product.

When to See a Podiatrist for Cracked Heels

Cracked heels that are bleeding, painful with every step, or not responding to 2–4 weeks of twice-daily 25%+ urea cream require podiatric evaluation. Deep heel fissures can become infected, particularly in diabetic patients. In our clinic, severe heel cracks are treated with professional debridement (safe removal of hyperkeratotic skin), application of medical-grade urea paste under occlusion, and evaluation for the underlying cause — often hypothyroidism, psoriasis, or ichthyosis in very severe cases. Diabetic patients with any open heel crack should call (810) 206-1402 for same-day evaluation — open wounds in neuropathic feet require professional management.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. All product recommendations are based on clinical experience and independent of affiliate relationships.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — podiatric physician and surgeon, Howell and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.