Dry, cracked very sore heel.

[AmberLeaf]

My heels have been dry lately. I've neglected my general foot care of late.

One is better than it was, but I picked one of them and the cracks are very sore and have bled a little.

What can I buy to put on it?

I've used flexitol before but not sure if it is suitable for heels that have deep cracks that have bled?

Any advice or miracle cures welcome.

I use Flexitol Heel Balm, it says on the box "The medically proven treatment for dry and cracked feet" perhaps have a word with the pharmacist when you buy it. My heels have been sore for quite a while and I have to use Flexitol twice a day to keep on top of things. When they have been very bad I've put the cream on to a plaster and stuck that to my heel, it was really soothing.

HTH

For tonight,

Posted too soon! For tonight, any good moisturiser applied liberally and then wrap your foot in cling film. Grotty as it sounds it will be much better in the morning. Then take yourself off to the pharmacy in the morning for some advice!!

I would put some vaseline on and sleep with socks, then wear a protective dressing till it's less sore.
then I'd use a Newtons chiropody sponge in the bath, and start using flexitol.

These cracks can sometimes have fungal infection so you can use canesten cream or if that doesn't work try some lamisil cream that needs to be prescribed.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I've never had this before and have always given myself regular pedicures.

I think I have one of those newton sponges. it looks like that sponge that you arrange flowers in but its hard, does that sound like it? id just got a bit slack with using it lately.

I will slather on some vasaline or cocobutter tonight and see if that helps. will also speak to a pharmacist.

its really sore when I walk on it I will never pick at dry skin again no matter how tempting!

I used to live in flip flops & sandals when we lived in Asia and I often got cracked heels. I swear by tea tree oil applied liberally around and in the cracked skin, I used to use a cotton bud, then a layer of medicated Vaseline and finally a large heavy duty plaster to keep it all on. When things got really really bad I did superglue it together once - it stung like @!*#! At first but actually did the job!

I get this sometimes and always vow not to forget to file and cream my feet - I have found compeed cream really good.

papalazaru (love that name! )

from may to september I live in flip flops and I expect hard heels then. I lessened my pedicure routine because usually in winter my feet are soft. that's what is weird about getting this now.

tea tree makes me feel sick but I think id try anything now!

I've just put a load of cocobutter on it and it feels better already.

super glue you're hardcore!

pearlgirl I will never neglect my feet again!

There is a magic tool you can get that slices the dry cracked bits around the wound off and allows you to stick the two halves of the cut together so it can heal.

Sounds bliss, I haven't tried it but apparently it's great.

Think I'd be scared to even attempt to use one of those Corygal

I would recommend CCS Heel Balm (I get it from Boots). I prefer it to Flexitol, which I find too greasy. I'm a yoga teacher so try too keep my feet looking halfway decent!

Can I hijack a little bit please?

The tee tree oil? Is that puré essential oil, and if so should I use a carrier oil?

TÍA

TCP ointment - if you're after a miracle cure, this is pretty much it...! Use in any painful open cracks (not as a general moisturiser or anything) and top a thick layer with a plaster at least overnight. It's thick, yellow, stinky and feels quite old fashioned (this was a first aid box staple during my childhood ) but it really works...!

Also body shop hemp creamfheel protector works really well for me.

Vaseline or EA eight hour cream ann socks
Newtons chiropody sponge after a soak in the bath. Got it from Amazon the last time.
Good luck, had awful cracked heels when I was pg the last time. There is nothing that beats a newtons sponge. Just beware, they snap in half quite easily, you have to kind of rotate them.

Pure coconut oil and socks overnight.

You need to remove as much dead skin as possible. Soak your feet (20 minutes while you are in the bath is perfect) and rub your heels with a black Newton's chiropody sponge and some shower gel to get the worst off.

After your bath dry your feet and use a battery-operated Scholl dead skin remover to smooth the skin. Only then smother your feet in Flexitol.

Repeat this treatment every day for a week or so and you should see big improvements!

Foot care practitioner here.

DO NOT USE VASELINE, as a petroleum based product its use will actually case your skin to dry out . Its fine to use for protection and to prevent chaffing but will not ease your problem.

Gentle use of a footfile BEFORE your bath or shower around the affected area then apply a natural plant based moisturising cream or oil. Cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil are all excellent. Put loads on and then put on cotton or bamboo socks. Apply the cream/oil twice a day and hopefully you will see results within days.

Try not to pick at it though i doubt if i really need to tell you that.

One of the reasons for heels drying out it dehydration so try to drink plenty of water.

Good luck

Thanks everyone.

I put a thick layer of the hard cocobutter on and wrapped a bit of carrier bag round my foot then socks over the top
ran out of clingfilm hence the plastic bag!

it feels much more comfortable now.

re TCP the smell reminds me of old ladies, but yes it is good stuff!

Oh thank you CityTilidie

I use coconut hand cream. Its cheap and does the job quickly

I put a bit of cocobutter on it this morning and a plaster over it.

It's very comfortable now. Not hurting at all.