Cracked, split feet (sexy)

[GAL8]

If the above seductive title hasn't scared you, the following will.

Oh. My. God.

My feet, I've always struggled with dry hard skin on them DESPITE using every lotion & potion available but this is new level. The last 6 months + they've been splitting. On the heel, on the outer sides. The cuts even make walking painful. I've spent a lot of money on creams that don't seem to do much. I've just ordered some Flexitol as a last resort. Is there ANYONE out there who has ever had this issue? Or am I turning in to some sort of Troll & need to find myself a bridge...

@GAL8
I suffered with this painful problem for years until I discovered that it was multi-prong issue..not just dry skin on my feet, but pressure on the area, and not allowing the cracks to heal adequately.
The solution is pretty simple albeit unorthodoxed, and you will probably not find a doctor to recommend it...I discovered the solution by watching how long- distance runners take care to avoid blisters..(DH is a long distance race walker...think 100 mile events)... .DUCT TAPE is your friend!
After washing and drying the area, push some healing cream, petroleum jelly, lanolin ,or vicks into the cracks and then pull the cracked area together with the duct tape so that the cracks are joined together and the tape helps keep it that way...leave at least overnight (I leave mine several days without peeking)and the area should feel much better. I then continue to do this until the cracks are completely healed...if I know I'm going to be doing a lot of walking, I put the duct tape on preventively...if we think about it, all of our weight is coming down on that one area..so if the skin is dry, the splitting occurs. Also, I found that the cracks occurred because I was dehydrated...I was even getting cracks around my fingertips..duct taped them closed also...you can imagine what kind of a nut I looked like..but I didn't care..I was desperate .
They do make a medical grade tape for this purpose..COMPEED here in the US...but I've found that duct tape sticks much better and is tonnes cheaper...and it comes in many fun colours here.
Good luck...hope this helps...once you're healed up, then all the pp suggestions will work a treat and try getting adequate water
If you can't get the tape to stick, clean off the ointment on the outside of the wound or use a bit of gauze..the important thing is to pull the skin edges together..kind of like a butterfly plaster.

Yes me and it's excruciating. I've tried everything including Flexitol and it's not worked. Then on a recent camping trip I realised I'd forgotten cream so I ended up sticking lip balm in all the cuts. And for the first time ever I saw a massive improvement, so I've been using lip balm ever since. And tbh it's the best it's ever been and I've tried EVERYTHING!

Had this as long as I can remember. What works for me is pumice stone in the shower followed by flexitol. Really is the best I’ve ever found. When it’s under control, I use aldi’s own brand foot and heel cream twice a day (ombiamed?). I think what helps is that like flexitol, it has uric acid-just a fraction of the price😊. I find it is important to do this regularly, even when I think it isn’t needed. When I have open cracks, I cover them in sport tape. It usually stays on 2 or 3 days which is long enough for things to heal. Hope that helps.

I have had cracked heels for most of my adult life. My biggest game changer was not walk around barefooted. Indoors I always wear crocs or flip flops. I have just met an amazing podiatrist and his recommendations for nail fungus is amazing. I Vaseline my feet at night and wear socks alongside Vapour Rub for nails. More info if requested…

Is it me for whom flexitol goes very hard and gritty in the tube after a few uses?

I’ve given up on it and find Cerave foot cream works better (or maybe the weather this year is more favourable or something).

I've always had deep cracks and really dry feet. It just suddenly went away when I stopped eating sugar, grains and root veg. My heels are softer now and I don't have dry skin on top of my big toes. Very weird.

Aveno hand cream, on feet before going to bed (wear cotton socks if really bad). Works great for me. I find rubber/plastic flip flops make it worse.

I use a foot knife thing that literally scrapes the skin off your heels. I was amazed at the amount of skin it got off. Just soak your feet fir 30 minutes then get scraping. Gross but nothing beats it. Once you've got it all off I maintain with heel repairing cream like Flexitol.

I've used a pedegg grater thing which helps but I'm going to get a scalpal thing I think.

Pumice on the shower every single day keeps it at bay once it's under control though

I would see a chiropodist for a proper treatment and then take their advice as to home management. DIY with Scalpels and other sharp instruments is a recipe for pain, infection, injury or (at best) a dodgy hack job, especially if you are prone to bleeding.

Stay away from blades or cheese graters.

What works for me is a fine sanding block used on dry hard skin. Wipe foot clean with warm damp flannel then moisture with some kind of rich emollient. Do this every night before bed.

www.toolstation.com/prep-sanding-block/p84314

I take hard skin to a whole new level - this is this the only thing that has helped my poor feet. Before using this I had massive cracks on both big toes and heels, has made a massive difference

SugarStealers
Would love to know what podiatrist recommends for fungal nail infections
Is the the Vicks Vaporub

I was in the same boat a few months ago the foot masks from home bargains (the peel one) that pp mentioned was life changing! Used it once and had the most disgusting peeling feet for about a month then I started using the moisturising masks once a week and Vaseline at bed time the cracks were mostly gone have just used the peel mask again cue gross peeling but no where near as bad as last time! However no cracks in sight and I know once I start moisturising again (the masks advise not to until peeling stops) I will have feet that look and feel human! Lot less effort than all the other stuff,files, ped eggs, loads of lotions and potions etc! Added bonus of having to sit down while the foot mask does it’s job which is relaxing!

Urea cream fantastic, this happens to me every summer time, it always happens when I’m either wearing flip flops or sandals with heels showing, i go to podiatrist regularly now as long as I put that cream on I’m fine

Sorry just realised that the stupid link didn’t post www.amazon.co.uk/CCS-Foot-Care-Cream-175/dp/B000YH5C3E/ref=sxts_rp_s1_0?psc=1&crid=27V5P95O6ONWZ&keywords=foot+cream&sprefix=Foot+cr%2Caps%2C196&pd_rd_i=B000YH5C3E&qid=1626038073&cv_ct_cx=foot+cream&dchild=1&pf_rd_p=ebdd0ead-7e9d-4518-ba85-779c172f72e9&pd_rd_wg=f5noy&pf_rd_r=3GJ62JQ5Q98Y0JD6HMX2&pd_rd_w=BYl6i&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&pd_rd_r=34945e84-daa9-4d94-a82d-d006bb763dc9&sr=1-1-1890b328-3a40-4864-baa0-a8eddba1bf6a

Use the "grater" when you come out the shower. Go gently and do it daily, then apply the foot cream.

Argan oil before bed. Every night. Try not to have bare feet/sandals.

Gel healed socks to sleep in. Honestly they make a huge difference!

I go to a chiropodist for involuted toenails. I have some dry skin and she takes off the worst then suggested urea cream 10% every night - just a thin layer. Works for me.

The foot peels mentioned before wrecked my feet so I have gone back to my usual one from Amazon.
Which does wonders...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exfoliating-Foot-Peeling-Mask-Soft/dp/B07G75DJTC?pdrddw=P4l7L&pfrddp=292e6549-0898-4d4f-9d89-f0400bba32e5&pfrddr=PG0D4DZZ1Q4F0RQKWJPS&pdrddr=981a1a45-7f9c-4b22-99cb-c6e5b9aef528&pdrddwg=bZn77&pdrddi=B07G75DJTC&psc=1&ref=pddbapmmrp11_sc

Just putting it out there but could you possibly have an underactive thyroid? I had it for years without knowing and this was one of the signs,because I didnt find out till late i ended up with b12 & vit d deficiencies and still struggling to get on track after being diagnosed 8mths ago. Just a thought and worth checking 😊

My weird but true method is rubbing the wet side of a banana skin on foot and covering with a sock for a few nights before bed. Worked amazingly well and has done for other people I've suggested it to.

I've just done a quick Google on the bananas and glad to see it is a thing!

[quote GAL8]@MrsPatrickDempsey Thank you, the issue is when I file them that seems to open up the cuts again! So it just puts me off! Think I'll make a Chiropodist appointment, what a delight that will be for all involved! 🤦‍♀️🙈[/quote]
Was going to suggest going to the chiropodist, I watched 'The foot doctor' I think it's called and there was a woman on there who'd had the same thing for decades as she was too embarrassed to seek help. He pretty much shaved the dead skin off and she couldn't believe they were the same feet after :)