People hand me the jar and ask the same thing. Can one balm for dry skin handle my hands, my heels and my cuticles, or do I need three?
The short answer: One. A balm for dry skin is a firm mix of oils and beeswax. You rub it in, and it stays where you put it. It softens rough spots, seals in moisture, and protects skin that takes a beating. The same jar works on hands, heels, elbows, cuticles and the spots that chafe.
By Dr. Doug Strobel, MD, a board-certified neurologist who formulated Dr. Doug's balms. Last reviewed October 16, 2026.
This balm started on my own feet
The first balm I ever made was for my own feet after obstacle races, when my cousin Ted's blisters and a lot of hard miles showed me what working skin needs. Most of my day belongs to my patients, since I am a board-certified neurologist, and what I tell them is simple: skin that works hard needs something that stays on it. Natalie, my co-founder, had one test before it went out the door, no footprints on the floor and no stains on the sheets, and it passed.
What is a balm for dry skin, and how is it different from lotion?
A balm is thicker than lotion, and it stays on your skin longer. Lotion feels light and is gone in an hour or two, so you keep putting it on. A balm is firm in the jar. It melts from the heat of your hands as you rub. Then it stays put and does its job.
Put it on once, right after the shower, neck to toes or just the rough spots, and it holds until the next shower. One coat a day is a routine people keep. Three coats a day is a routine people quit.
What is the best balm for dry hands?
The best balm for dry hands is one with simple oils, no sting on cracked skin, and a size you will keep by the sink. Hands get washed all day long. Each wash strips the oils your skin makes. A balm puts oils back and holds them there. Simple first: oils, wax, rub it in. If that does not do it, then we talk.
Rub it in until it disappears. Start small. Still feel the oils? Use less next time. Not full coverage? Use a little more. The magic happens when you massage it in. If your knuckles are split, put it on at night and let it work while you sleep.
Does a balm help dry, cracked heels?
Yes, if you rub it in and give it time. I look at a lot of feet in clinic. The skin on your heels is the thickest on your body, and thick skin needs more rubbing, not more balm. Work it in for a full minute after the shower, when the skin is already soft. If you can, pull on a pair of socks. The socks hold the balm against the heel overnight. Heels take longer than hands, so give it a couple of weeks before you judge it.
Can you use it on cuticles and elbows?
Yes, and those are two of the best places for it. Cuticles crack because they dry out. You did not do anything wrong. Rub a tiny bit around each nail and let it soak in. Elbows are the same job on a bigger patch of skin. Rub it in after the shower and again before bed, and they soften.
Does it help with chafing and blisters?
Yes. I made it for race morning, and that is still the job it does best. Put it on before the start line: heels, toes, inner thighs, and anywhere a strap or seam rubs. The balm cuts the friction and helps prevent blisters and chafing. Hikers, runners and people who work with their hands use it the same way. A little, before you start, is the whole trick.
What is in Dr. Doug's Original Miracle Balm?
Seven ingredients. Six are certified organic: olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, and peppermint and lavender essential oils. The seventh is vitamin E. That is the whole label. No petroleum, no filler.
Dr. Doug's Original Miracle Balm is a hand-crafted skin balm with a base of certified-organic oils and beeswax, made in the USA and formulated by Dr. Doug Strobel, MD, a board-certified neurologist. It is the first balm the company ever made, and every other balm we make starts from this base. It comes as an 8 oz jar, a 2.5 oz twist-up stick and a 0.5 oz mini for your bag.
What our customers say
"I slather it on my feet before socks, on my hands several times a day and my face 2x a day. In these dry Indiana winters my skin was taking a beating, but not since I discovered Dr. Doug's!" (Katrinka T., verified buyer)
"I have rough feet. The first time I used Miracle Balm on them they felt so soft! It's my go to from now on." (Shelley W., verified buyer)
"The balm helps prevent blisters and chafe; calms and moisturizes skin irritations..." (Michelle G., verified buyer)
Your plan: pick, rub, repeat
- Pick the spot. Hands, heels, elbows, cuticles, or the place a strap rubs. Skin is this balm's job. Sore muscles are a different balm.
- Rub it in. Take less than you think. Work it into the dry spot and about 5 inches around it, until it disappears. Thick skin gets a full minute.
- Repeat. Once after the shower. Touch up hands after washing. Before a race, before the socks go on.
Picture January. You pull off your gloves and your hands look like your hands, not like paper. One jar on the nightstand, and nothing to think about.
Related reading
- To Bee or Not to Bee: why beeswax is in every balm we make
- Natural Relief for Dry, Itchy Skin: What Actually Works
- What Is Magnesium Balm and How Does It Work?
Frequently asked questions
What is a balm for dry skin used for?
People use it on dry hands, cracked heels, rough elbows, cuticles, and any spot that chafes. It softens the skin, seals in moisture, and protects skin that gets a lot of wear.
Is a balm better than lotion for dry skin?
A balm lasts longer on the skin, so you put it on less often. Lotion feels lighter and is gone sooner. For hands and heels that crack, most people do better with a balm.
What is the best balm for dry, cracked hands?
The best one has simple oils, nothing that stings, and a size you will keep by the sink. Rub it in until it disappears, and use it at night so it can work while you sleep.
Does it burn on cracked skin?
Most people find it gentle, even on split knuckles. The seven ingredients are oils, beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E and two essential oils. There is no alcohol and no menthol in it. If the skin is open, try a small spot first.
Does balm work on dry, cracked heels?
Yes, with rubbing and a little patience. Work it in after the shower for a full minute, then socks if you can. Heels are thick skin, so give it a couple of weeks.
How often should I put it on?
Once a day, right after the shower, is the routine most people keep. Touch up your hands after washing and your heels before socks. Any time is fine.
What sizes does Dr. Doug's Original Miracle Balm come in?
An 8 oz jar for home, a 2.5 oz twist-up stick for the sink or the gym bag, and a 0.5 oz mini for your pocket or purse.
This article is educational and is not medical advice. Dr. Doug's products are cosmetic and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.