My foot - do I need a chiropodist?

[dinny]

Hello, this is a bit vile but I have really hard skin on the balls of my feet, and one side has now CRACKED and is agony. Have tried previously to get rid of dry skin with bath/file/cream but to no avail. Think doing pretty strenuous yoga4 times a week has made it worse. Any tips on what to do? It is sooooo sore. Thanks, Dinny

if you have a Scholl shop near you, they do lovely pedicures and would advise you about how to deal with it.
I would slather it in Vaseline and wear cotton socks to bed until i go to the School shop!

think not wearing socks (as so hot) also problem for it! just have images of chirpodist hacking off bits of skin

They do hack off bits of skin, Dinny, but because it's all dead, it doesn't hurt. Honest - it's fine (and better than being in pain all the time). And then they get their rotary sander thing and sand off the skin so it's all lovely and smooth. I find that that tickles . Go for it!

How do I get a good one then?

Am embarrassed to go with foot so cracked (and sore to touch too...)

Not sure how you find a good one. I go to a Scholl one, but I think there are NHS ones (probably a huge waiting list for those). Definitely don't be embarrassed - they'll have seen it all (think elderly people who can't look after their own feet...), but obviously they might suggest something to put on the cracked bit so it heals before they can get rid of the skin, or they might be able to do it all in one go. I go regularly (every 6-8 weeks) as I've got an ingwrowing bit on my little toes that gets really painful if I don't. Good luck.

right, just googled and am going to phone one in area who does home visits and beg her to come pronto!

Excellent - good luck.

Have you tried Flexitol dinny? I find the their heel balm is excellent, rub it in twice a day and it'll sort your feet out. Don't apply it just before a yoga class though or you'll be slipping all over your mat (like me this week!).

oh, will try that Reive, thanks.

seeing chiropodist in Sat! scared!

in the meantime try putting moisturiser on it under a pair of socks to go to bed at night.

I have been - hurray! Wow, it was amazing, she sliced off soooo much dead skin from balls of feet and I honestly feel an inch shorter, lol.

Isn't it weird that the slicing doesn't hurt??