Why, why do I keep getting cracked heels? So painful!

[IHeartKingThistle]

I've had this occasionally for a while but lately it seems like one crack heals up and then the next appears. They are agony to walk on when cracked. Last week I even had a crack on the hard skin of my big toe! Ouch.

Cracked heel balm is good and works but doesn't seem to prevent them coming back. If I file or PedEgg my feet they seem to crack faster. Long hot baths to soften them don't help.

I have terrible circulation and constantly cold feet and if anything does happen to my feet they take ages to heal. I don't have verrucas any more (thanks, MN!) but I have a fungal infection in most of my toenails that resists everything I've thrown at it. So yeah, my feet are buggered.

I'm 37 FFS. How can I stop them cracking all the bloody time?

You must go back to your GP and get else to try.

The chemist recently recommended Flexitol with 25% Urea to combat some really dry skin on my foot. Seems to be working but yours sound a lot worse.

I suffer from this!

However since I started going to the chiropodist every 6 to 8 weeks life had got easier.
I had an infection which I didn't know I had called moccasin infection that is easily treated.
I'd recommend that you go to the chiropodist for a treatment. My feet always feel amazing afterwards and they will diagnose any infections and give advice.

do you have health issues (diabetes?)
what kind of shoes do you wear? do you wear the right size?

This sounds like hypothyroidism. Get a full thyroid panel done including tsh, free t3, free t4 and tpo antibodies. I had those very same symptoms of cracked heels and cold feet for years before I got diagnosed. Fungal infections are usually related to candida which is another hypo symptom.

Sounds like a fungal infection of the skin as well as of the nails. They're an absolute bugger.

Oh thanks so much for replying! I only wear flats, usually ankle boots or converse type shoes with socks.

It's so silly but I never really thought of going to get it checked out.

Kohi that's really interesting - I have had blood tests 3 times over the years as 3 different doctors suspected thyroid issues (tiredness, palpitations, dry skin, cold etc), but they've always come back normal. Maybe I should get checked again?

kohi36 Thanks. I have an underactive thyroid & my feet are shocking!

Op. My feet are especially heels are as you describe. I suggest professional help as I've tried everything to no avail!

IHeartKingThistle, I went undiagnosed for a long time. You can have what is considered 'in range' bloods and still be hypo. You need to take symptoms into account. Taking your basal body temperature daily for a few days is a good indicator. People with hypothyroidism have low body temperature. There is an autoimmune type of thyroid disease called hashimotos. I have this condition. This is diagnosed by testing tpo antibodies. Doctors will tell you that you are 'in range' but for most people being in range isn't enough they need to have optimal thyroid range to feel well. Maybe try and get the thyroid panel done somewhere else for a second opinion. The minute I read your post and your symptoms I thought hypothyroidism as I had these symptoms and more. Are u quite tired no matter how much sleep you get? Fatigue was another big symptom for me. Once I got my thyroid optimal I no longer have the cracked heels or fungal nail infection. Stop the thyroid madness is a good resource for all things thyroid related. Hope you get some answers soon

I could have written your op, (I'm 37 too!!) my feet are truly terrible, I was putting it down to neglecting them since the dc arrived, it's interesting to read about possible other causes, does anyone know how your sort or cute hypothyroidism?

Sorry that should say 'cure' nothing about my feet is 'cute'

Thanks so much for the info. Yep I function OK but could and fairly often do nap at any given opportunity. I only work part time and kids are a bit older so no reason to be fatigued really.

DH has family BUPA cover with work; I wonder if I could get tested privately?

God the thought of showing my feet to anyone is horrifying! Just keep thinking I don't want to be one of those old ladies with gammy feet

Should add I have been having problems with my hands too for the last couple of years. I have been tested for rheumatoid arthritis but that was also negative thankfully. As soon as the warmer weather appears my hands are a million times better but I struggle when it's cold.

I have this! I try to keep on top of it by taking off the hard skin myself with a scraper, and moisturising, but it happens so frequently I can't keep up with it.

I had tests for thyroid some years ago as had symptoms for under active thyroid but my levels came back literally just within the border so they wouldn't take it further. My hair is thin and dry and I am also borderline anaemic, but again, being just within the range they said they wouldn't do anything more.

My feet have gone crazy in the last couple of years and yet I wear cushioned well fitting leather shoes and never wear heels so have been very puzzled what could be causing it.

They crack all along the heel, deep fissures that are so painful it's like walking on glass. Last week I walked in tiptoe for a day because I couldn't put weight down on the heels.

I will be going back to the doctors! I haven't seen a chiropodist as I just thought it was one of those things although it seems so extreme, it's not just a bit of dry skin.

Lots of posters on here dead right about resting within the 'normal' range but there actually being something wrong with how your thyroid is functioning. Great advice to get yourself tested and make sure you get the actual results, rather than the GP just saying everything is fine.

Also, do think about visiting a chiropodist (or foot health practitioner) every 6 weeks. My feet used to be awful but after a few trips there they are actually pretty nice, the thick hard skin has gone and I wouldn't dream of not going regularly now

I will post here later when I get home with the range of optimal thyroid levels as you need to get a copy of your own results and see for yourself what is going on

Use tea tree oil cream as a moisturiser for your feet religiously. Slaver it all over your feet, ankles, toes etc etc.

This was the only thing which killed my fungal infection. Took about three weeks.

Also boil wash your socks, and drop a couple of drops of tea tree oil in your shoes. Get new insoles.

Don't go barefoot. Wear flipflops in the shower even.

Moisurize soles with coconut oil every night before bed then put socks on over it all.

Take a multivitamin.

Cut or file down any thick coarse skin. A podiatrist can do this if you would like to see them.

See a chiropodist. I haven't been to one, but I've heard many a person recommend it for troublesome feet. I have a recurring crack on my heel and I use the Scholl velvet pedi once a week. I use Scholl cream for cracked heels everyday and these two things combined work well. I'd say treat yourself to seeing a chiropodist, as they're the experts.

Thank you! So I need a chiropodist, not a podiatrist? I don't know what the difference is!

Ivwad regeref to a podiatrist to help eith pain in my hip. She analized my walkibg and gait. A chiropodest sorted out my bad heels snd infection.

So sorry about my typos. The post doesn't make sense.
I was on my phone,with no reading glasses!!

I popped into an independent health store for a pain I was getting in my leg, now gone, and the woman in there told me to visit a chiropodist. A chiropodist can tell you if your gait is out and if you have any balance issues.