Cracked heels

[catnapper]

My coworker has very, very dry heels and major cracks that cut deep. She has tried hundreds of dollars' worth of prescription creams to no avail. She was so mad last week to purchase a $100 tube of cream that had petroleum jelly as the second ingredient. She slobs on the cream, sleeps with socks (which she hates) and the cracks persist. The podiatrist has "shaved" the calluses and basically said thats all he can do.

We're convinced there is something that can be done. I am hoping my friends here on PT have experienced something like this and has found relief.

I saw the cuts. On friday, she wore open back shoes because her heels throbbed and hurt. She put on nylons and the cracks tore through the nylon, which she eventually took off and left her heels exposed. They look sooooo painful. I cringed to even look at them.

In desperation, she went to CVS friday night and bought that stuff to glue her heels closed. She said it provided just a little relief because the cut is at least closed for the time being.

I feel bad for her and pray nothing like that ever happens to me. I'm currently giving myself a nice pedicure ;)

[Randi]

She really shouldn't walk too much if her heels are that bad. I suppose she has tried "Reinventing the heel" from Origens? That is very good, but very fat, and she should wear socks if she puts that on - and have a wet tissue ready to wipe her hands if she puts it on in bed, because it smells!

Hope she will get some relief! :)

Also, at the pharmacy here, you can get something called Sheep Tallow in sticks, that should help, too.

[pomtzu]

She might want to try a product called Zim's Crack Creme. It was originally formulated for use by cement workers, so you can imagine what their hands were like. Some people swear by it, but I tried it on my hands when my fingers used to split in the corners of my nails, and it didn't work all that great for me. Maybe I just didn't give it long enough to work. It's available at most of the big chain pharmacies.

[caseysmom]

She might want to try a product called Zim's Crack Creme. It was originally formulated for use by cement workers, so you can imagine what their hands were like. Some people swear by it, but I tried it on my hands when my fingers used to split in the corners of my nails, and it didn't work all that great for me. Maybe I just didn't give it long enough to work. It's available at most of the big chain pharmacies.

I think any decent product would help as long as its used consistantly and I don't think she should be wearing open shoes, I would think socks and shoes would be better. My feet get dry and cracked in the summer when I hang out around the pool too much and if I remember to moisturize regularly it really helps. I would think if it was that bad it could be a fungis?

[Scooter's Mom]

Has she tried AmLactin?
It's supposed to be really good for dry cracked heels.

[gemini9961]

Has she seen a doctor? It might be psoriasis. UV lights tend to help with psoriasis. Just a thought.

[Karen]

Would it help if, after she put on the salve, she wrapped it tight in an ace bandage, to keep the ages together and the salve working?

[catnapper]

I'll have to ask her if she tried everything mentioned. I know she's tried a lot of things. She says the salves and lot feel good for an hour or so but then stop working because of their ingredients--- she also sells a high-end cosmetics line and is all about ingredients. She says the bulk of the ingredients of things she's tried just sit ON the skin and do not soak in. I guess I believe her, but I also know there's not much need to go too far in because the skin is only so thick. (shrugs)

She's been talking about changing doctors.

[Randi]

I forgot to mention E45, it's great! It comes in cream, lotion, foot and heel cream, etc. I use the lotion in summer and the cream in winter - love it! Unfortunately, I can't get it in Denmark, so I buy it in England or ask someone to bring it back for me.

Take a look at this:
http://www.e45.com/emollients/product_range/e45_foot_and_heel_cream.php

Another thing... if she wear socks, she might want to avoid any with too much synthetic material in them, she should get some that has at least 80% cotton. I was trying to save and bought 3 pairs for DKR 50,- but they have only 75% cotton and I could feel the difference.

[smokey the elder]

This might sound strange, but I know Bag Balm works for chapped hands; people who are around farms swear by it! I get cracks on my fingertips in the winter; I use a product called NewSkin, which is a liquid bandage. It works quite well. I also keep them bandaged if I can (a pain since I'm always having to change them.)

If it were my feet I'd put the salve on, wrap them in gauze and only wear white cotton socks until they healed. People can be sensitive to the dyes in socks, or to the fibers themselves. Good luck to your friend and her sore feet.

[Taz_Zoee]

This might sound strange, but I know Bag Balm works for chapped hands; people who are around farms swear by it! I get cracks on my fingertips in the winter; I use a product called NewSkin, which is a liquid bandage. It works quite well. I also keep them bandaged if I can (a pain since I'm always having to change them.)

If it were my feet I'd put the salve on, wrap them in gauze and only wear white cotton socks until they healed. People can be sensitive to the dyes in socks, or to the fibers themselves. Good luck to your friend and her sore feet.

My sister always uses bag balm on her feet. She gets severe cracks on her heels as well, since she goes bare foot most of the time. Each night she lathers on bag balm and puts on socks.

I also use New Skin on sores. It's great! One time I jumped out of the boat and cut the bottom of my foot pretty bad on a rock. After scraping the moss out of the cut I used New Skin IN the cut and then squeezed it together and then put more over it to hold it together. It does help the healing process go much faster.

[Randi]

Speaking of cracks on fingertips, my thumb has had a crack for weeks, but it's finally healed. I found some really good band aid for this, called Hansaplast finger strips. It's not thick, but has double length, so it doesn't come off easily. :) Another one I tried is a kind of almost u-shaped band-aid which is similar to the one showed at the bottom of this link (2nd last to the right). That is also good, but expensive.

http://www.google.com/search?q=finger+plaster&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=u6tLT5fkN8iJhQfWs5HhCw&ved=0CHMQsAQ&biw=918&bih=717


The H-shaped ones, I haven't seen here. Very smart!

Do you know of other good ones for finger tips?

[Catty1]

How about good old olive oil? She can even mix it with one of her salves. That will soak in.

Changing doctors or asking to see a specialist - I guess that would be a podiatrist? - might definitely be an idea.

I don't know if it would help - but she could also try upping her water intake.

I hope she gets some results soon!

[cassiesmom]

I agree with the suggestion of Bag Balm. Skin cracks are so painful.

Avon Foot Works Cracked Heel Cream-- works great and smells nice.

[pomtzu]

Speaking of cracks on fingertips, my thumb has had a crack for weeks, but it's finally healed. I found some really good band aid for this, called Hansaplast finger strips. It's not thick, but has double length, so it doesn't come off easily. :) Another one I tried is a kind of almost u-shaped band-aid which is similar to the one showed at the bottom of this link (2nd last to the right). That is also good, but expensive.

http://www.google.com/search?q=finger+plaster&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=u6tLT5fkN8iJhQfWs5HhCw&ved=0CHMQsAQ&biw=918&bih=717


The H-shaped ones, I haven't seen here. Very smart!

Do you know of other good ones for finger tips?

I've never found a good band aid to protect my fingers when they crack, since they don't stay on very long (the band aids that is, lol). I use New Skin as Taz and Smokey mentioned and it works great. It's liquid - almost like a clear nail polish - and you just brush it on the affected area that you want to protect. It stings when you first apply it, but it works better than anything you could use to cover the area. Great for paper cuts too!

[Freckles]

I used to get very dry hands and Corn Huskers Lotion worked for me. Should work for feet.

[beeniesmom]

Avon Foot Works Cracked Heel Cream-- works great and smells nice.[/QUOTE]

I was going to suggest the same but not because I sell it. I used to have the same problem as your friend but maybe not quite to her extent. First thing she needs to change drs. to see if it's a diabetic issue. She might have diabetes and not know it. Then she needs to stop wearing open shoes. Soft shoes with socks are a must and then she needs to use a product like the Avon foot cream consistently. I hope she gets relief. You are a good friend.

[Nomilynn]

I suffer from this problem as well. Most importantly, when there is an open crack on her foot the problem is no longer dry skin, it's an open wound. When my heels and feet crack I put lots of Polysporin ointment on the area and put on bandaids, and leave them there (and fresh ones as needed) until it's healed.

Catty's suggestion of water would likely help as well, and I also take flax oil, vitamin E, A, and D to help with dry skin. I usually forget to take them but when I take them consistently for even 3 days I notice a marked difference.

The last thing I do is get regular pedicures, or do them at home. If there is no callous, there is nothing to crack. I have one of those pedi-eggs thing and I tend to my feet every night.

I hope this helps!

[mrspunkysmom]

I suffer from this problem as well. Most importantly, when there is an open crack on her foot the problem is no longer dry skin, it's an open wound. When my heels and feet crack I put lots of Polysporin ointment on the area and put on bandaids, and leave them there (and fresh ones as needed) until it's healed.

Catty's suggestion of water would likely help as well, and I also take flax oil, vitamin E, A, and D to help with dry skin. I usually forget to take them but when I take them consistently for even 3 days I notice a marked difference.

The last thing I do is get regular pedicures, or do them at home. If there is no callous, there is nothing to crack. I have one of those pedi-eggs thing and I tend to my feet every night.

I hope this helps!

Is it the bottom of her heels or the back of the heels over the Achille''s tendon? I get "pump bumps" although it has been years since I wore pumps. My Achille's swell from either dehydrationa and leg cramps or from the sciatic nerve. They get dry also.

I have dry heel bottoms also and get regular pedicures. I also try to get plenty of water, wear socks, wear platforms and not heels. If she can't try Eucerin, she should stick with petroleum jelly and socks,. All other suggestions sound great, too.

[catnapper]

Thanks for all the ideas! Now I know what to do if I should ever have an issue ;)

I told my cowoker about the suggestions - most of which she already tried. I was surprised when I told her to wear white cotton socks, and she flat-out refused to do so. My thought was, "well, don't ask for suggestions if you're not going to follow them!"

[Randi]

I told her to wear white cotton socks, and she flat-out refused to do so. My thought was, "well, don't ask for suggestions if you're not going to follow them!"
LOL! You know... they don't HAVE to be white, they could be black.

[pomtzu]

Actually, the socks really should be white, since white has no dye and the colors do. This was the scoop I got from a doctor years ago. :)

[Asiel]

Actually, the socks really should be white, since white has no dye and the colors do. This was the scoop I got from a doctor years ago. :)

I agree with that and also they should be 100% cotton, acrilyc or nylon tends to worsen the condition. It sometimes is caused by a lack of zinc, many people were surprised to have this checked out with the results coming back showing their zinc level was too low. Udder cream has had some fantastic results, most pharmacies carry it now, if not any tack shop will. Glycomed also works well.

[mrspunkysmom]

I agree with that and also they should be 100% cotton, acrilyc or nylon tends to worsen the condition. It sometimes is caused by a lack of zinc, many people were surprised to have this checked out with the results coming back showing their zinc level was too low. Udder cream has had some fantastic results, most pharmacies carry it now, if not any tack shop will. Glycomed also works well.

I like 100% cotton and it's been years since I have seen any.

She ight want to watch and curtail her yeast consumption. I get small cracks in the skin sometimes that look like splits and it's from either too many bad carbs that cause a yeast imblance or too much yeast in the food itself. You can get a yeast infection anywhere on your body. Sometimes you can have the skin symptoms without feeling bad.

Is it the bottom or the back of the heel?

[Lilith Cherry]

Petroleum jelly does an excellent job on cracked heels if you slather it on after showering before bed then wrap your feet tightly in saran wrap and put socks on ( to keep the wrap in place) It really penetates and heals fast.

[Catty1]

If she has already 'tried all these things' I wonder if she gave any of them a good chance to work - like, longer than a week?

I hope she finds a new doctor who can solve things for her. :)