Dry, Cracked Heels

[BaBaBa]

My heels get so dry and cracked, especially in the summer when I don't wear socks.
What can I do to take care of this?

[dawningmama]

Sigh. I have tried so very many things! And, they do actually work, if I keep doing them on a very regular basis. I just have trouble fitting "foot care" into my daily list of responsibilities.

Here's what helps:
~soaking in warm water with some tea tree & peppermint oil
~gentle wash with an exfoliating soap (I love javaspice from Chagrin Valley)
~exfoliate with a sugar scrub (I make my own from sugar and olive and jojoba oils)
~use microplane if it's really bad, or a pumice stone to get the rest of the dead, thick skin away
~slather on oil or moisturizer of choice, cover with warm wet towels or plastic bags and put your feet up for a while
~slather moisturizer on again before bed and wear good breathable socks

That's a lot. I do find just exfoliating with the scrub and microplane every other day or so is helpful. But having very pretty dainty feet takes a lot of flipping work!

[phatchristy]

We have the same problem!

Here are some things that have helped us.

Having good Omega-3 and zinc sources in the diet helps. Maintaining a healthy weight also reduces the cracked heel issue.

Exfoliate--we have both pumice stones (I used after soaking the feet in warm water for a while) and I have a nickel based file.

Virgin coconut oil--use as a moisturizer a couple of times a day (stuff is slipperry, if using in the morning wear socks LOL).

Over here DH had serious heel fissures to start (as in would crack so deeply it would bleed). We initially used a lotion for a while that contained urea and lactic acid...made especially for heels. I can't remember what it was called! I'm sure the health food store would know if you asked. That, in conjunction with some serious filing cleared up the initial problem for him.

Though, for us, no matter what we do we're always on our feet and we have ceramic tile...we just have to keep on using the pumice/filing/moisturizing regularly! I always walk barefoot around here .

[dogmom327]

I went and bought a foot file awhile back. It works really well.

[sunnysandiegan]

Eating healthy and drinking plenty of water is first, in my eyes. Work from the inside out, so to speak.

I also use a pumice stone on my heels and big toe every other day in the shower.

In the winter, I use a thick moisturizer on my feet and sleep in socks once a week.

In the summer, I use a regular lotion on my feet (and elsewhere) in the mornings. About once a week, I add a thicker layer to my feet and walk around in socks for awhile (early morning).

[amcal]

I SWEAR by the ped egg! I have tried every lotion, cream, balm, pumice, file etc.... known to man and my heels are always cracked, dry etc....

I used the ped egg and the difference was immediate and lasting. I use it every few days to keep the callouses at bay and my feet have never looked better.

[boobybunny]

I just did my weekly with the pedi egg.

I had those heels you see that peel and bleed. Even with weekly pedicures, my feet were awful. I wear clogs in the winter, chacos in the summer... if I am wearing shoes at all. Summertime I am out on a boat at least three days a week, in and out of the water, no shoes. I guess you could say I abuse my feet.

I LOVE the pedi egg. I would recommend using it outside, or over a towel though.

Pedi egg once a week, file in between, and almond oil. I also scrub my feet with a stiff nail brush when I shower

Nothing has worked like this, not pumice stones, not files, not scrub brushes alone.

I bought mine at bed bath and beyond...for 9.99, with extra blades 9.99. I had a 40% off coupon.

So for about 14 bucks, I have not been back in a salon since I bought it. AND MY FEET ARE BEAUTIFUL!

[Jemmind]

Zim's Crack Cream. http://www.crackcreme.com/
It's the best foot product I've ever used!!!

[MilkTrance]

My friend said that in her home country, um, peeing in the shower helps relieve cracked skin.

[Annabel]

I have a huge problem with cracked feet in the summer. It gets to the point where they bleed and it hurts to walk.
-I eat healthy
-I drink enough water
-I don't weigh an awful lot
-I pee in the shower
-I file my feet and apply moisturiser (tried lots of different kinds)

nothing much helps. I would love to know a magic cure. Summer here you can NOT wear socks to bed, it is much too hot.

[SquishyKitty]

Ped egg once a week, and slater your feet with shea butter or some other heavy moisturizer at night, and wear socks to help it soak in.

It took me about 2 weeks of doing that to get my feel back to soft, after a summer of running around barefoot. The Ped Egg seriously rocks, but it is messy.

[Jemmind]

I've also read that wearing sandals make your feet crack. So maybe just wear closed shoes until you get them healed well!

[kristenok18]

I have a terrible time with callouses and cracks, no matter what season it is and what kind of shoes I am wearing/not wearing. The only thing that has really worked long-term for me is the Ped-Egg. Until then, no matter how much I filed, pumiced, used various lotions, etc., nothing much worked.

[AuntNi]

OK, I can tell I'm going to have to check out this Ped-Egg thingamajig. I've never heard of it!

In the past, when I'd go for pedicures, the technician would sigh and frown when he got to my heels - so embarrassing! I finally found two lotions that really work on my heels. Now my pedicure technician brags on my heels every time!

Here are the two lotions that work for me:
Origins Reinventing The Heel - perfect for the winter. I just put it on right before I go to sleep - no socks necessary.
http://www.origins.com/templates/pro...CT_ID=PROD5757

OPI Callus Therapy - this isn't quite as heavy - it's been great this summer.
http://www.opi.com/Feet.asp

[flybabytina]

This might seem odd, but I had read on a forum many years ago to use Crisco (vegetable shortening) slather your feet with the Crisco, cover them with plastic bags, put on heavy socks, then go to bed. In the morning, take off the socks and oily bags and you will be amazed at how soft your feet are! It really does work; I don't do it nearly as often as I would like, it is not easy to walk with greasy bags on your feet! LOL

[Polliwog]

I love my Microplane Foot File. There's nothing to replace and there's a compartment to hold the shavings (really a powder.)

[Trac]

My N.D. told me a couple years ago that calloused heels were a symptom of hypothyroidism. I used to have really miserable callouses, but since we began doing "thyroid support," they went away. My heels are still dry, and they do crack sometimes if I don't look after my feet, but they are not calloused anymore.

[MamaRabbit]

I suddenly have cracking/dry heels. So far I've just been doing a foot scrub followed by moisturizer (Burts Bees Buttermilk Lotion was all I had!) and then socks for bedtime. I hate sleeping with socks...

[Caneel]

I am going to buy a pedi-egg on the way home from work. I have battled this problem for year. Every woman in the family has it, even my super healthy mom and aunt.

Recently I read in the Dr. Donahue column of our local paper that chronic thick split heels are a mild version of a certain skin disorder. The more extreme cases include scaling drying skin on the legs, which is something else I have. I have the clipping at home but I can't remember the medical term off the top of my head.

[mosesface]

another vote for the ped-egg!!
seriously.
SERIOUSLY.