Quick answer
Rough hands and painful cracked heels are classic Bangladesh winter problems. Here is how to heal and prevent them — the right creams, ingredients like urea, and a simple nightly routine.
✓ Verified • 2× money-backCeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry SkinFrom ৳1,649Buy →The short answer
Fixing dry hands and cracked heels in winter comes down to two things: thick cream straight after water touches your skin, and cream covered up overnight. For heels, use a urea or glycerin-based foot cream at night, or if you do not have one, a thick cream like Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume or CeraVe Moisturising Cream, applied generously under cotton socks. For hands, apply cream after every wash, and for very rough hands use a rich balm under cotton gloves at night. Soak and gently file the hard skin on your heels once or twice a week. With consistent care most people see a big difference within one to two weeks.
Why hands and heels crack more in winter
The skin on your hands and the soles of your feet is thick and has very few oil glands. Facial skin stays partly soft with its own oil; hands and feet do not.
- Hands are washed many times a day: wudu, cooking, dishes, laundry, childcare. Every round of soap and water strips natural oils, and detergents and dish soap strip even more.
- Heels carry your body weight all day. When thick skin dries out it loses flexibility and splits under the pressure of walking, much like dry earth.
- Bangladeshi winters bring dry air, and many people walk barefoot or in open sandals at home. Floor dust, cold and hard water together make heels rougher. For more on hard water, see this guide.
A night routine for cracked heels
- Soak (once or twice a week): put your feet in lukewarm water for 10 minutes. Not very hot water, which dries skin further.
- File gently: use a pumice stone or foot file with a few light strokes on the hard, white skin only. Never cut skin with a blade. Do not file anywhere that is raw or bleeding.
- Apply cream: pat your feet dry and, while still slightly damp, apply a thick cream generously.
- Urea (10 to 25 percent) softens hard skin; urea foot creams are available at pharmacies.
- If you do not have a urea cream, use a thick ceramide cream or balm such as Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume.
- For very thick, rough skin without open cracks, a salicylic acid lotion like CeraVe SA Lotion helps. Do not use it on raw or bleeding cracks; it will sting.
- Cover up: sleep in cotton socks. Covered all night, the cream does not dry off or rub onto the sheets.
- In the morning: a little more cream, and wear closed shoes or sandals with a back strap outdoors. Open-back slippers let the heel skin spread and split more.
Daily habits for dry hands
- Cream after every wash. Keep a tube by the basin and in the kitchen, and a small one in your bag. It works best while hands are still slightly damp.
- A mild soap. Swap harsh antibacterial or detergent-heavy soaps for a creamy bar such as Dove Cream Beauty Bar.
- Lukewarm water. Very hot water melts away skin oils fast.
- Rubber gloves. Wearing them for dishes and laundry cuts hand dryness a lot.
- An overnight mask. For very rough or cracked hands, apply a rich cream or balm thickly before bed and wear cotton gloves.
- Around the nails. Do not tear at cuticles; rub cream in there too.
Which cream for which job
Prices as of 27 September 2026; the product page shows the current price.
| Cream | Best for | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume | Very dry, cracked hands and feet, overnight | 75 ml | ৳1,799 |
| CeraVe Moisturising Cream (Dry to Very Dry) | Hands and heels, ceramides | 177 ml | ৳2,250 |
| Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin | A big family tub | 453 g | ৳3,449 |
| Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream (small) | Hand cream for your bag | 28 g | ৳1,000 |
| CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin | Thick, rough skin without open cracks | 237 ml | ৳3,099 |
| Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow | Daytime hands and feet, budget | 200 ml | ৳789 |
Common mistakes
- Cutting cracks with a blade or tearing off skin. The biggest infection risk.
- Scrubbing hard every day. Your body responds by building even thicker skin. Once or twice a week is enough.
- Only using lotion in the daytime. Thin daytime lotion wipes off as you walk; the real repair happens overnight under cover.
- Walking barefoot on the floor after applying cream. You risk slipping, and dust sticks to your feet.
The same barrier logic applies to your face; see the winter face routine. For an in-depth look at heels alone, read how to fix cracked heels.
When to see a doctor
- Cracks that bleed, hurt a lot or make walking difficult.
- Redness, swelling, warmth or pus, which are signs of infection.
- If you have diabetes, show any crack or wound on your feet to a doctor quickly, and never file or cut the skin yourself.
- Itchy blisters on the hands, splitting between the fingers or toes, or scaling that does not improve with cream, which could be eczema or a fungal infection.
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What to use, how to use it, where to buy it
Step by step, by time of day. Every product is invoice-verified.
- 1
Morning, before going out
Lotion on hands
In the morning and after every hand wash, rub half a teaspoon of lotion into hands, between fingers and around nails. We don't have a dedicated hand cream on the shelf right now; this rich body lotion does the job well.
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin৳1,649Buy - 2
During the day
After dishes and laundry
After using detergent, rinse your hands and apply cream right away; wear rubber gloves if you can. Don't keep bare hands in washing powder for long.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin৳1,000Buy - 3
Right after a bath
Soften heels in the bath
2–3 times a week, at the end of a bath when heels are soft, rub gently with exfoliating gloves. Never cut skin with a blade or anything sharp.
Skinlogic Exfoliating Shower Gloves 1 Pair৳249Buy - 4
Right after a bath
Lotion on feet after bath
Pat feet dry and apply lotion to soles and heels within 3 minutes. On hard, rough heels this SA lotion softens dead skin; don't apply it to cracks that are bleeding.
CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin৳3,099Buy - 5
Before bed
Thick cream and socks at night
We don't stock a dedicated foot or heel cream right now; before bed, apply a thick layer of this rich balm to heels and hands, then sleep in cotton socks. Do it every night for 1–2 weeks.
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume৳1,799Buy
💡 If you have diabetes, or a cracked heel turns red, hot, swollen or oozes, don't scrub it yourself; see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What does urea do in a foot cream for cracked heels?
Urea softens hard, cracked skin, and foot creams with around 10 to 25 percent urea are useful for rough winter heels. Apply it at night, ideally after soaking and gently filing, then cover with cotton socks. A glycerin-based foot cream is another option for softening dry, rough heels in winter.
Does wearing socks overnight help cracked heels?
Yes, putting on cotton socks after applying foot cream at night helps the cream stay on the skin and work while you sleep. For deep, painful cracks, use a thick occlusive balm under the socks every night. If the cracks bleed or show signs of infection, see a doctor.
How often should I file hard skin on my heels?
Soak and gently file hard skin once or twice a week, not every day, and keep the filing gentle. After filing, apply a urea or glycerin-based foot cream and cover with cotton socks overnight to lock in moisture and soften the skin further.
Can I wear gloves overnight for very rough hands?
Yes, applying a richer balm and wearing cotton gloves overnight helps very rough winter hands. The gloves keep the balm on the skin for hours. During the day, apply hand cream after every wash, use a gentle, non-stripping hand wash, and avoid very hot water.
Where can I buy an original urea foot cream in Bangladesh?
Buy from a seller who can show the importer's invoice and batch number for the product. This check matters for foot creams too, since they're a common target for counterfeit packaging.
How can I tell if a foot cream or body balm is genuine?
Check the batch number and seal on the packaging, and be cautious if the texture or smell feels different from what you'd expect. Blurry print or missing batch codes are also common signs of a fake.