Cracked, Bleeding Hands or Heels?

Don’t Blame the Weather – The Cause is More Likely Internal

For years, every winter my knuckles would get so dry and brittle that even lightly bumping them on a countertop would cause them to split and bleed. My heels were rough and dry too. I blamed it on the winter and tried lotions and potions but nothing really helped much. Then, about 10 years ago, I switched to a whole-foods diet—lots of healthy fats and nothing processed, and many supplements (mainly for bone joint issues) so I wasn’t sure what really helped but my dry hands and heels became baby soft, no more cracking or bleeding in the winter, even without applying anything topically. The only real change was inside—diet and lifestyle—and it proved the winter wasn’t the root cause. It was deficiencies.

If your fingers are splitting, cracking, or bleeding (especially near the nails or on the knuckles), it’s usually a sign of dryness and a weakened skin barrier. While cold weather, low humidity, and frequent handwashing can make it worse, the deeper issue is usually internal.

The heels are even more prone because they get less natural oil from sebaceous glands, bear constant pressure/weight, and are often exposed to friction, socks, or open-air drying.

Other Possible Contributors:
Skin conditions — Eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis can cause deep cracks that bleed, especially near nails.
Other factors — Allergies/irritants (soaps, detergents), fungal infections (in damp environments), or even hypothyroidism (slows skin turnover).
For dry heels: Also diabetes, or fungal infections (if cracks are deep/painful/red).

Here are practical steps that address the real causes:

• Hydrate inside out — Drink plenty of water and get plenty of electrolytes/minerals throughout the day, in your water or with meals, doesn’t matter which, as long as you are getting them.
• Hyaluronic acid oral supplements—Provides systemic hydration—HA gets absorbed into the bloodstream and supports skin from the inside out. Studies show 120–240 mg/day (often 100–200 mg capsules) for 4–12 weeks improves skin moisture, elasticity, and dryness significantly. It’s especially helpful for overall body-wide hydration (including joints, eyes, and skin).
  Topical Hyaluronic Acid (creams, serums, or DIY): This gives immediate, local hydration by drawing moisture into the skin’s surface layers. It’s great for targeted dry spots like hands, knuckles, or cracked fingers. (Comment below if you’re interested in a simple DIY hyaluronic acid skin treatment, no emulsifiers or preservatives needed).
• Nutrient boost — Key deficiencies that show up in dry, cracking skin:
  • B-complex (especially B3/niacin, B6, B7/biotin, B12) deficiencies → Dry, scaly, cracking skin; common with poor diet or gut issues.
  • Zinc, iron and essential fatty acid deficiencies can cause brittle skin/nails; low omega-3s make cracks more likely. I got a little crack by my nail last week, and realized I haven’t been taking zinc much lately. It healed up fast since I started the zinc again.
  • Vitamins A, C, and E deficiencies cause weak skin barrier and slow healing.
  • Omega-3s The omega-3s (especially EPA and DHA) help rebuild the skin’s lipid barrier, reduce inflammation, and improve moisture retention from the inside out. Many people notice softer, less cracked skin after 4–8 weeks of consistent use (1–3 grams of combined EPA/DHA daily).
  • Vitamin D deficiency is linked to poor skin repair.

Great food sources: leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, eggs.

• Barrier support — Use natural occlusives at night like coconut oil, shea butter, or beeswax (wear cotton gloves to lock it in).
• Avoid irritants — Switch to gentle, fragrance-free soaps, wear gloves for chores, and run a humidifier in dry rooms.
• Gut check — If the problem persists despite good nutrition, leaky gut or malabsorption might be blocking nutrient uptake. Some people find relief with anti-inflammatory foods like cabbage or a low-carb/keto approach to support gut healing. L-glutamine has been a game changer for my gut health.

Your skin is often the first place your body signals something’s off inside. Once you give it the right building blocks, it can heal beautifully—no endless creams required. 

Go here for an effective topical treatment for DIY hyaluronic skin treatment that works great on dry cracked skin and more.
https://staging.mohrhealthyliving.com/simple-diy-topical-hyaluronic-ha-treatment/