Cracked feet

I wear flip-flops in the summer and clogs in the winter and because of this have cracked heels. I try to take care of my feet in that I exfoliate with a pumice and get pedicures. I put lotion on with socks at night -- one of my worst pet peeves, yet I do it anyway for the health of the feet.

And they still crack and it's so painful. What to do?

Have you tried straight oil?  Jojoba oil is pretty good for skin.  My weather is a bit friendlier than yours for bare feet, but I also do flip flops or sandals most of the time and I don't get cracked feet although I do have fairly heavy callouses, especially for princess feet that can't go barefoot for a minute.

They make a callous remover that you can buy at walmart for about $5. It's basically a razorblade with a handle. You need to be careful with it, but if you soak your feet until the callouses are soft, you can more or less "shave off" the dead skin. Don't expect to get it all done in one day, though.

PLEASE be careful. After doing it once, it's more a matter of upkeep than anything else.  Keep doing the lotion, socks, pumice, etc and you shouldn't have to use the callous remover again.

Vaseline, or bag balm.  They also make a hand creme that you can buy at JoAnn's fabric for severly cracked hands.  Lots of lanolin.

I actually like my callouses, I'll occasionally use one of the gentle files on my feet, but that's it!  Even when I get a pedicure done I have to tell them to leave my calluses...I earned them!

I know that razor thing and once I had the pedicurist use it, years ago, and the cracks were way worse after it. So I think razing them isn't a good idea. I heard being too aggressive on the soles just makes the calluses and cracks worse. This seems to be true as recently I started to pumice them every day and the cracks appeared out of nowhere.

I second the bag balm recommendation.  I used to work with textiles all day, and they totally suck all the moisture out of your hands.  My hands would crack and be really sore.  The bag balm was one of the only things that really helped.  The other thing I've had luck with is the beeswax hand salve made by Burt's Bees.

I've poured some olive oil in a gallon sized ziploc bag and put one on each foot. I rubber banded it and put socks over them. Don't walk around too much because you can poke a hole in the bag. Worked great for me.

Also, I got one of thoe Ped Egg knock offs. It's got a file on one side which looks more like a cheese grater, And a soft emery file on the other side. You could try that if it's not the same thing as the razor that you were talking about.

Try wearing closed shoes in the winter at least instead of clogs.  Constantly having the skin exposed to the elements will make them crack.  If you carry on exfoliating the dead skin, moisturising and then wrapping them up well with socks/shoes/boots etc., then at least they'll have winter to recover.

Original Post by gi-jane:

Try wearing closed shoes in the winter at least instead of clogs. Constantly having the skin exposed to the elements will make them crack. If you carry on exfoliating the dead skin, moisturising and then wrapping them up well with socks/shoes/boots etc., then at least they'll have winter to recover.

I know, I must stop wearing open backed shoes, but I just cannot bring myself to give up my beloved clogs ... I guess I must endure the pain.

I did however use Vaseline on the heels with socks for the past few nights (ew!) and it did seem to help. I will keep reporting back to see if it helps over time. I guess I just must put more effort into my poor tortured feet ... !! :)

There's also an intense glycerine lotion from Bath & Body Works called "Look Ma New Hands", I imagine that it will work just fine on your feet.

My daughter has extremely dry skin (she is 9...) and her hands were cracked and red all the time. Her pediatrician said - use petroleum jelly and gloves when she goes to bed and also put petroleum jelly all over her body. It cleared up within a few days. She does not like having to wear surgical gloves to bed but it worked. I would use petroleum jelly! It was amazing. 

There is also this callous rough skin remover called: Sally Hansen Salon - Intensive Callus Remover. You put it on and you are supposed to wash it off after a few minutes - but I left it on over night and washed and scrubbed in the shower - feet were perfect... 

Good Luck.

I use Flexitol Heel Balm, available at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, etc., and it works like a charm.  It is a 25% urea cream (synthesized urea, thankfully) in an emollient base.  I put it on, then put on a pair of those spa socks (those chenille socks that are usually in the foot care aisle), then a pair of regular socks just to make sure the thick balm doesn't get on my carpets or whatever. 

You can also talk to your doc about getting an Rx for a 40% urea foam spray...I think it's called Hydro 40 or something but I can't remember.  My doc gave me a sample can and an Rx (which I still need to send in), and the sample was really great.  The beauty of the foam as opposed to the Heel Balm is that it's not at all greasy.  In fact you wouldn't even know it was a moisturizing product while you're applying it, but the results were great.

hi, i experience the same thing; you may want to try hydrocortizone sold in stores and put some on each night before bed (so your not walking around on them and rubbing off the lotion) do it for about three-four nights and you'll see the improvement. It worked for me; it should not be a long term thing but only to heal them and then treat them everynight with lotion after those 3-4 days.

"Neutrogena Foot Cream" beats petroleum jelly.  Its a lot thicker than petroleum jelly and all but removes the yuck factor.  I had cracked feet for years and was told about the socks and jelly from the docs- really not pleasant and the wife didnt think it was too nice either!  Then I started using the Neutrogena product and it really works fine.  Only need it now and then after using it daily for 4-5 weeks.

Good luck - you've lots of choices!

I skimmed through the responses so sorry if this is a repeat. But sometimes dry cracked skin on the feet can be a sign of athletes foot. No you don't have to be a man or be an athlete to get it. I believe it's some form of fungus and while the nails may or may not have black on them it can show up as cracked dry skin.

I suggest seeing a podiatrist. But first I would try Lomitril from over the counter to see if that helps. You only have to use a small amount morning and night after you have cleaned your feet. It may take 2-3 months to see the effects but well worth it.

After you have done that I concur with other posters suggestions of not walking around with open shoes (wear socks or slippers) that cover your feet.

Also any product that has Urea or Glycerin will not only penetrate the upper layers of skin but begin to get the moisture in there to heal.

Products with mineral oil are not good as they mask only and do not penetrate. You will see immediate results with mineral oil or petrolium products but not LONG TERM results.

Good Luck!

Cetaphil makes a wonderful cream that I used on my son when his feet and legs were very very dry.  I liked what it did to my hands from putting it on him, so now I use it quite a lot myself.  I've also used tea-tree oil on my hands, feet and elbows for dryness. 

Thanks for all the advice everyone ... I know about the Athlete's Foot connection and tried that route years ago and it made no effect. It's definitely wearing bare feet all year round (flip flops in summer Uggs in winter and when I do wear socks it is with open backed wooden shoes like clogs!) ... Using Vaseline the past 3 days and nights with socks my feet are like a babies bottom now give or take one troublesome spot, amazing stuff.

Most of these are great tips and, I too, do the Vaseline. If you want to try something else, I would also check your pharmacy for the specialty heel creams made for diabetics.  There's no reason you cannot use them and they tend to be some of the best out there b/c cracked heels are a dangerous and common problem for diabetics.