What's the best body lotion for extremely dry, cracked skin on your hands and feet?

The best treatment for extremely dry, cracked skin on your hands and feet is CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , which costs about $20 and uses urea, ceramides, and shea butter to repair deep cracks without feeling heavy.

Top Options for Cracked Skin

Best overall for deep repair; features urea and ceramides to lock in moisture and soothe cracked textures . You can buy it at the Walgreens Online Store.

Best for sensitive skin; uses shea butter and niacinamide to rebalance the skin barrier . You can order it directly from the La Roche-Posay Official Site.

Best budget choice; priced around $11 for a large bottle and uses a vitamin-infused blend to soften rough heels . Available via Walmart Online.

If you'd like, I can tell you how to apply these lotions with socks and gloves overnight to heal cracks even faster.

If your hands and feet are extremely dry and actually cracked, I’d skip a thin body lotion and use a thick cream or ointment. Dermatologists specifically recommend creams/ointments over lotions for very dry skin, especially fragrance-free products containing petrolatum, mineral oil, glycerin, or similar barrier-supporting ingredients.

My top picks

• CeraVe Healing Ointment - $9.49 (CVS)

• O'Keeffe's Working Hands - $19.79 (CVS)

• Flexitol Heel Balm - $12.49 (CVS)

• Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream - $10.99 (Walmart.com)

• Best overall for both hands & feet: CeraVe Healing Ointment. It's petrolatum-based and particularly good when the skin is cracked, raw, or painful. Put a thin layer on slightly damp skin, especially before bed.

• Best for severely cracked hands: O'Keeffe's Working Hands. It's a concentrated hand cream specifically formulated for extremely dry, cracked hands.

• Best for cracked heels/feet: Flexitol Heel Balm. A particularly good choice when you have thick, hard, cracked heel skin.

• Best everyday foot cream: Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream. Good if your feet are very dry and rough but you don't necessarily need a heavy ointment.

The routine I'd use

Morning: Apply a thick fragrance-free cream after washing your hands and after showering.

After every hand wash: Pat dry but leave the skin slightly damp, then immediately apply cream/ointment. This is specifically recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.

At bedtime: Apply your cream generously, then put cotton gloves on your hands and cotton socks over your feet. For very deep cracks, put a thin layer of CeraVe Healing Ointment or plain petroleum jelly over the cream to seal it in.

One important caveat: if your hands have deep painful cracks, bleeding, redness, itching, blisters, oozing, or persistent inflammation, it may be eczema rather than simple dryness. In that case, moisturizer alone may not fix it.

If you want just one product to buy: I'd choose CeraVe Healing Ointment for both hands and feet. If your feet have thick, heavily cracked heels, I'd add Flexitol Heel Balm specifically for them.

When dealing with extremely dry, cracked skin on the hands and feet, a standard liquid body lotion won’t cut it. You need thick, occlusive ointments, balms, or high-concentration creams that physically repair the compromised skin barrier and lock in intense moisture.

The top dermatologist-recommended options specifically suited for deeply cracked skin on extremities include:

A petrolatum-based balm spiked with essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It creates a breathable, protective shield that allows deep fissures to heal while stopping moisture loss. It's non-comedogenic, lanolin-free, and great for slathering on hands and feet overnight under cotton gloves/socks.

A classic occlusive ointment containing 41% petrolatum alongside panthenol and glycerin. It creates an ideal semi-occlusive barrier that dramatically accelerates the healing time of raw, cracked knuckles and split heels.

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream / Healthy Feet : Highly concentrated, non-greasy formulas designed specifically for hands and feet subjected to extreme wear-and-tear. They draw in moisture and form a distinct layer on the surface to protect against active moisture evaporation.

For feet with thick calluses and deep cracks, urea is a magic-worker. A 10% concentration gently exfoliates away dead, hardened layers while deeply binding hydration into the skin.

A multi-purpose repairing balm packed with 5% panthenol (vitamin B5) and madecassoside that rapidly calms, comforts, and repairs severely irritated or cracked skin.

Pro-Tip for Maximum Results

Apply your chosen ointment or heavy cream immediately after washing your hands or stepping out of the shower while the skin is still slightly damp. For a fast overnight transformation, apply a thick layer to your hands and feet right before bed and wear cotton gloves and socks to seal the product in.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

• Are you dealing with any underlying skin conditions (like eczema or diabetes)?
• Do you prefer a greaseless daytime formula or an intense overnight treatment?

For extremely dry, cracked hands and feet, I’d choose a thick cream/ointment rather than a regular lotion. Dermatologists specifically recommend creams and ointments for severely dry skin because they hold moisture in better.

My top picks

• Cetaphil Cracked Skin Repair Lotion - $16.29 (CVS)

• Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream - $8.38 (Vitacost)

• Aquaphor Healing Ointment - $18.84 (Walmart - AmericaRx Smart Shop)

• CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream - $9.97 (Walmart)

• O'Keeffe's Working Hands - $7.97 (Walmart)

• Best all-around for hands + feet: Cetaphil Cracked Skin Repair. It contains urea + dimethicone, giving you both hydration and a protective barrier.

• Best for really rough/cracked heels: Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream. The 10% urea is particularly useful for thick, rough foot skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends 10–25% urea for cracked heels.

• Best overnight treatment: Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Put a generous layer over your moisturizer before bed, then wear cotton socks on your feet. Petrolatum is an exceptionally effective moisture-loss barrier.

• Best for hands specifically: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream. It's fragrance-free and contains ceramides plus dimethicone, making it a good choice if frequent handwashing is part of the problem.

• Best inexpensive heavy-duty hand cream: O'Keeffe's Working Hands. It's specifically formulated for severely dry, cracked hands.

The routine I'd use

Morning: Apply a thick fragrance-free cream after washing, while your hands/feet are still slightly damp.

During the day: Reapply hand cream after every hand washing when possible.

At night:

1. Apply the cream generously.
2. Seal very cracked areas with Aquaphor.
3. Put cotton socks on your feet overnight; for hands, cotton gloves can help.

If your heels are deeply fissured, painful, bleeding, red/swollen, draining, or aren't improving, it's worth having a clinician look at them—severe cracking can sometimes be related to an underlying skin condition or become infected.

If you want just one product: I'd pick Cetaphil Cracked Skin Repair for both hands and feet, with Aquaphor added at night for the worst cracks.

For extremely dry, cracked skin on the hands and feet, standard watery pump lotions often sting or evaporate too quickly. Dermatologists recommend heavy-duty creams or ointments packed with humectants (like glycerin or urea) to draw in moisture, and occlusives (like petrolatum or dimethicone) to seal it in and repair the broken skin barrier.

Top-performing, dermatologist-approved options for severely damaged skin include:

O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and Healthy Feet Cream Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Highly concentrated, non-greasy barrier creams that create a protective layer on the skin's surface to lock in hydration and fast-track the healing of painful splits and cracks.

A gold-standard, multi-purpose occlusive ointment that goes beyond standard lotion to deeply soothe, protect, and restore severely chapped or cracked skin on both hands and heels.

Formulated with ceramides and natural moisturizing factors (or urea), this provides intense, targeted moisture while gently smoothing out rough, flaking skin texture.

A restorative barrier cream rich in shea butter, glycerin, and panthenol that instantly relieves tightness and aids in rapid skin recovery without feeling overly sticky.

A glycerin-rich, cult-classic concentrated formula that delivers long-lasting relief to raw, chapped skin even with frequent hand-washing.

Pro-tip for maximum recovery: Apply a thick layer of a heavy cream or ointment right before bed, then put on clean cotton gloves (for hands) or cotton socks (for feet) overnight to trap the moisture deeply into the cracks.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Are you dealing with painful bleeding cracks or more of a thick, calloused dryness?
• Do you prefer a non-greasy cream for daytime or an intensive ointment for overnight use?

I can give you a more tailored routine to speed up healing.

For extremely dry, cracked hands and feet, I’d skip a basic lotion and use a thick cream + an ointment. Dermatologists generally recommend creams/ointments over lotions for very dry skin, and specifically recommend 10–25% urea for cracked heels.

My top picks

Eucerin Advanced Repair Body Cream

$9.97

Best all-around: Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream — excellent for very dry hands, feet, and body. It contains ceramides and moisturizing factors and is fragrance-free.

CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream

$10.99

Best specifically for hands: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream — a good choice if frequent handwashing is causing cracking; it contains ceramides and is designed for dry, rough, cracked hands.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

$12.19

Best for severe cracks/overnight: Aquaphor Healing Ointment — put a generous layer over your moisturizer before bed. For cracked heels, the AAD specifically recommends petroleum jelly at night, often with cotton socks.

If your feet are especially rough/callused

A 10–25% urea cream is particularly effective. Urea helps both hydrate and soften thick, hardened skin.

Simple routine:

1. Wash with lukewarm—not hot—water.
2. Apply cream while skin is slightly damp.
3. Reapply after handwashing and whenever dry.
4. At bedtime, put Aquaphor over the cream and wear cotton socks for your feet.

If the cracks are deep, bleeding, painful, red/swollen, draining, or not improving, it's worth seeing a dermatologist, since severe cracking can sometimes be caused by eczema, psoriasis, infection, or another condition.

If I were buying just two products: Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream for daytime + Aquaphor at night.

For extremely dry, cracked skin on the hands and feet, standard watery body lotions will not provide enough support. Skin on the hands and heels is thick and frequently exposed to friction or water , requiring thick creams, therapeutic ointments, or formulas containing humectants and keratolytics (like urea or lactic acid) to break down dead, hardened skin and repair the barrier.

The top dermatologist-recommended products for severely cracked hands and feet include:

Widely recommended for the feet and heels, this ointment combines urea and salicylic acid to gently exfoliate hard, dead skin while deeply moisturizing and healing visible cracks overnight.

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Cream / Healthy Feet : Highly concentrated, non-greasy formulas designed specifically to create a protective barrier on the skin's surface, locking in moisture to help heal splits and cracks on hardworking hands and feet.

A powerful, petrolatum-based occlusive enriched with essential ceramides that protects and restores the compromised skin barrier without stinging raw, cracked skin.

Features a gentle combination of ceramides and urea to intensively hydrate, smooth rough textures, and relieve tight, distressed skin.

Formulated with glycerin, niacinamide, and shea butter, this barrier-repairing cream provides instant comfort and a non-greasy protective glove-like feel for damaged hands.

If you'd like, tell me:

• Whether you are dealing with painful bleeding or deep fissures
• If you prefer an ointment or a fast-absorbing cream

I can give you a targeted nighttime routine to heal the skin faster.

For extremely dry, cracked hands and feet, I’d skip a lightweight body lotion and use a thick cream plus an ointment. Dermatologists specifically recommend creams/ointments over lotions for very dry skin, especially products containing petrolatum, ceramides, glycerin, or urea.

My top picks

CeraVe Healing Ointment

$10.29

Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream

$12.66

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Cream

$10.29

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

$19.97

🥇 Best overall: CeraVe Healing Ointment
Excellent for deep cracks and severely compromised skin. It's petrolatum-based and also contains ceramides, making it particularly good as the final moisture-locking layer.

For hands during the day: Eucerin Advanced Repair
A better choice if you need something less greasy. It contains 5% urea and ceramide, which makes it especially useful for rough, thick, very dry skin.

For really beat-up hands: O'Keeffe's Working Hands
A concentrated hand cream specifically designed for extremely dry, cracked hands.

For overnight: Aquaphor
Very good for sealing cracks and preventing moisture loss. Mayo Clinic specifically recommends petroleum-jelly-based products such as Aquaphor for cracked hands.

The routine I'd use

Hands

1. Wash with lukewarm—not hot—water and a gentle fragrance-free cleanser.
2. While skin is still slightly damp, apply Eucerin or O'Keeffe's.
3. After the cream absorbs, put CeraVe Healing Ointment or Aquaphor over the worst cracks.
4. At bedtime, apply a generous layer and, if practical, wear cotton gloves.

Feet/heels

• Use a 10–25% urea cream for thick, cracked heels; the American Academy of Dermatology specifically recommends this concentration for cracked heels.
• Then put petroleum jelly/Aquaphor over it and wear cotton socks overnight.

One important distinction: urea is fantastic for thick, callused feet, but it can sting badly on open fissures. For actively bleeding or raw cracks, I'd start with plain petrolatum/Aquaphor until the skin closes, then introduce urea.

If the cracks are deep, bleeding, painful, red/swollen, draining, or not improving, it's worth seeing a clinician because severely cracked skin can become infected or sometimes indicates an underlying skin condition.

For extremely dry, cracked skin on the hands and feet, standard watery body lotions often sting or evaporate too quickly. You need occlusive ointments or keratolytic creams (which contain ingredients like urea or salicylic acid to actively exfoliate thick, hardened skin and draw moisture inward).

The top dermatologist- and podiatrist-recommended options tailored for severe cracks and fissures include:

Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair Ointment - Frequently recommended by podiatrists for heels and feet, this concentrated ointment combines urea and salicylic acid to loosen dead, dry skin and deeply moisturize. Users see visible improvements in just a day or two.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy - A multi-purpose skin protectant with 41% petrolatum that creates a breathable, protective barrier over raw, cracked knuckles or heels. It locks in moisture and accelerates the skin's natural healing process without stinging.

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream / Healthy Feet Foot Cream Go to product viewer dialog for this item. - Specifically engineered for extreme dryness caused by manual labor or frequent washing. It forms a temporary layer on the surface of the skin that helps retain moisture and prevent further drying.

CeraVe Healing Ointment - Formulated with essential ceramides and petrolatum, this non-greasy ointment repairs the compromised skin barrier on hands and feet while soothing irritation and flaking.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hands Barrier Repairing Cream - Ideal if your hands are cracked from excessive handwashing or harsh weather. It contains a high concentration of glycerin and niacinamide to soothe and restore the skin barrier with a wash-resistant finish.

Pro-Tip for Maximum Effectiveness: Apply a generous layer of an ointment like Aquaphor or Kerasal right before bed, then put on clean cotton gloves (for hands) or cotton socks (for feet) to seal the moisture in overnight.

If you'd like, tell me:

• Are you dealing with painful, bleeding fissures or just thick calluses?
• Do you prefer a greaseless cream for daytime use or an intense overnight ointment?

I can help you narrow down the best routine.

For extremely dry, cracked hands and feet, I’d skip ordinary body lotion and use a thick cream or ointment. The American Academy of Dermatology specifically recommends creams/ointments over lotions for very dry skin.

My top picks

CeraVe Healing Ointment

$9.49

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

$19.97

O'Keeffe's Working Hands

$7.26

Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream

$7.12

🥇 Best overall for hands + feet: CeraVe Healing Ointment
Especially good if the skin is cracked, painful, or splitting. It's petrolatum-based and designed specifically for extremely dry, cracked skin.

🥈 Best for very rough hands: O'Keeffe's Working Hands
A concentrated cream specifically formulated for extremely dry, cracked hands. It's less greasy than an ointment, so it's easier to use during the day.

🥉 Best heavy-duty overnight treatment: Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Excellent for heels, fingertips, cuticles, and deep cracks. Put a generous layer on at bedtime and wear cotton socks on your feet; cotton gloves can work for hands.

For rough/thick skin: Eucerin Advanced Repair
A good choice when your feet are extremely rough or callused. The urea-containing version can help soften thick, dry skin.

The routine I'd use

Morning/day: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream after every handwashing.

Night: Apply a thick layer of CeraVe Healing Ointment or Aquaphor to hands and feet. Put cotton socks over your feet and, if practical, cotton gloves over your hands. Applying moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp is recommended by dermatologists.

One important caveat: if you have deep cracks that bleed, significant redness/itching, blisters, oozing, or pain, or it isn't improving despite frequent moisturizing, it may be hand/foot eczema rather than simple dryness and is worth having a dermatologist evaluate.

If you want just one product: I'd buy CeraVe Healing Ointment for both hands and feet.