Cracked heels

[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=finge...iw=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.

[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.

[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=finge...iw=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.