One of the best ways to get rid of rough heels is through exfoliation followed by the application of moisturizing lotion. There are additionally some over-the-counter foot creams that, when used according to package directions, might help to get rid of the rough skin on your heels. You should keep in mind that getting rid of rough heels does not normally happen overnight, and it might take several heel treatments to get your skin completely smooth. Getting rid of heel roughness is also something that you will probably have to keep doing every few months, particularly if you wear sandals or go barefoot frequently.
To treat your rough, dried out heels, you can soak your feet in very warm or hot water for about 10 minutes. This will help to loosen up the dried out skin, making it easier for you to remove. After your feet have soaked, use either a metal heel scraping tool or a pumice stone to scrape away the dead, rough skin. Be careful as you do this because if you scrape too vigorously, you may accidentally cut into the new skin growing underneath. When you have gotten rid of as much of the dead skin as you can, stop scraping and spread a thick layer of lotion or petroleum jelly onto your heels.
If you chose to moisturize your rough heels with lotion, you can simply rub it in until the skin completely absorbs it. Keep in mind that if you use petroleum jelly, you will likely have to wipe it off with a napkin or rag after several minutes because it doesn't absorb into the skin as easily as lotion does, but it should still make your heels feel much softer. If you do not want to use lotion or petroleum jelly, many stores carry specialized foot creams that would probably work well instead. In addition to moisturizing your feet, many of these lotions contain ingredients such as aloe, which can be soothing if your heel skin is irritated.
You may have to exfoliate and moisturize your heels several days in a row to get the desired results. Your heels will probably become rough again over time, especially if you don't wear socks very often and your feet are frequently bare and exposed directly to the elements. If you like going barefoot but don't want to have to deal with rough heels, you may benefit from wearing socks when you sleep. You can use lotion on your feet at night and cover them with socks, which will help to lock in the moisture and keep your feet soft.