Luckily for consumers, the cracked heel conundrum can be finally cracked – with the super-exfoliating skincare ingredient, glycolic acid.

Cracked heels begin as a result of dry skin on the bottom of the feet. For many consumers, the most logical remedy for dry skin is to apply moisturizing or hydrating products to the feet – but this tactic is flawed. The dry and dead skin cells on the bottom of the feet can no longer absorb any moisturizing product, as these cells have stopped functioning properly.

So, as more hydrating products are applied, more and more dead skin cells build up. As the dead skin cells accumulate and thicken, calluses – which are often discolored and unseemly – form on the heel of the foot.

As the weight of the body continues to be applied to the fat pad of the heel in the foot, the fat pad expands sideways. This expansion is what then creates the signature “cracks” of a cracked heel. 

Over time, the problem exacerbates itself, as the already cracked skin becomes less and less elastic and even more prone to cracking, thanks to a continued lack of moisture.

While cracked heels are mostly viewed as a cosmetic problem, the pain of cracked heels can cause daily physical discomfort and even bleeding.

Additionally, cracks have the potential to become infected and can pose significant problems for people with diabetes.

The solution to cracked heels lies not in hydration first, but in exfoliation. More specifically? The secret cure-all for cracked heels is the “holy grail of exfoliation,” glycolic acid.

Thanks to the small molecule size of glycolic acid, this Alpha Hydroxy Acid is best able to penetrate the dead, damaged, and dry skin cells responsible for cracked heels – and essentially sweep them away. Over time, multiple applications of a glycolic acid-based skin care product can help shed off the thickened dead skin cells that create a callous, and eventually reveal the softer, smoother skin underneath.

Additionally, glycolic acid is the best ingredient to treat cracked heels because glycolic acid rapidly drives new, healthy skin cells back to the surface of the foot. These new skin cells can then absorb preventative moisturizing products – and stop the frustrating cycle of cracked heels from beginning again.

Cracked heels are more than just a nuisance. This common skin condition is a problematic and painful issue that can cause daily pain and plenty of embarrassment. But, with the help of exfoliating skincare products that harness the superpowers of glycolic acid, the cracked heel conundrum can finally be cured once and for all for consumers.