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.