Cracked heels normally begin as dry skin on the heels, leading to hard growth of skin on the outer edge of the heel, leading to a crack. Which can be felt by running a finger along them, or when they catch on clothes or socks. Other symptoms include:pain while walking, pain in thin soles or open back shoes, peeling cracked and itchy skin, or may not be painful at all. Never try to remove the hard skin, or peel cracked skin using blades or scissors because it can lead to infections and bleeding.
Attribution: Straight Talk Foundation