Seriously cracked heels

[Cordial11]

My heels are so cracked they are actually quite painful! I think it’s a new symptom of my thyroid issues ... anyway... best remedies please to save my feet?!

urea based heel balm to soften the skin and relieve pain. use daily until cracks are healed. longer term management is easier with regular removal of the dead layers of skin rather than keeping the dead skin soft. I use a ped egg to grate it away.

Cracked heel repair cream from the pharmacy

Flexitol cream or any other with at least 5% Urea. Works within days but also would be a good idea to see a chiropodist to keep hard skin down

You need the cream to soften your feet overnight. Then after a shower or bath the next morning, get a cheap dispoable razor and remove the old skin using it. Shave it off- I promise ot doesnt hurt! Get back to frsh pink skin. Then keep using the cream for prevention. The cracked heals wont 'repair' using the cream - you need to get rid of the old layers of skin.

File the feckers!

Vaseline

Newton Chiropody sponge, soak your feet then gently rub and it takes the hard skin off and you will be left with soft skin first go, chemists used to sell them but I get mine on eBay now, couple of quid.

Smother feet in vaseline, polythene bag over each foot, keep in place with hairbands round the ankles, cover with a pair of socks, keep on overnight.

I know that sounds beyond odd but it really works ! The hard skin can practically be removed just by rubbing it.

Flexitol

The best thing I did was treat myself to a chiropodist appointment and now file them a couple of times a week use flexitol cream at night x

Flexitol daily and I see a chiropodist too, my feet are so much better but I have to maintain the regime.

A medical pedicure is great for fixing heels - is there a Margaret Dabbs near you?

CCS foot cream or heel repair balm - really do work when combined with filing down.

I have one of those heel shaver things, takes of slices of old dry skin, then I use footfile and vaseline. Peachy pink heels and no longer cracked heels.

Large emery style foot file (some of the metal ones are very harsh)

Dry file (over a piece of newspaper or the toilet ) It'll come off as a dry powder . Do Little and Often don't overdo or you'll make them tender . Go in one direction (not side to side like sawing) and if you have fissures , go with the direction of it not across

Soak your feet 5-10 minutes in warm water then pat dry leaving some moisture in the skin.

Urea based cream like Flexitol (it helps skin to absorb moisture unlike Vaseline which is just a barrier) . Warm in your hands and really massage in (or get someone else to do it for you !)

Socks - keep some cotton socks just for this . It'll keep it in place and the warmth helps it absorb .

It'll take a while , skin takes 28 days to turn around but you'll see results quicker .
Prevention is better than cure

Don't overdo it . Only babies have baby soft feet . Adult heels are tough for a reason !

Another vote for flexitol. Its amazing!

And another vote for Flexitol.
I have a pair of slippers for my post-Flexitol treatment too.

If your heels are seriously cracked you need the Flexitol with 25% urea.

5% will get you nowhere. It will sting like crazy the first time but honestly it will all be gone in a week.

Pumice stone, heavy duty flexitol with socks overnight

Flexitol is a game changer

I know how bad it is, I used to get deep dry cracks, mine is thyroid related too. I started with a chiropodist to take all of the dead skin off as far as she dare. The difference was amazing, the skin in the tray was

Then I use Vaseline every day and as often as needed. And as a pp said I use a razor when I need to remove skin. I often put a treatment on and wear cotton socks overnight. (never tried the plastic bags but I might)

I still sometimes have feint map like lines but the trick is keeping them moisturised once the hard skin is off. No point in trying while the skin is thick.

I use Sanctuary Spa heel balm and find it great.

Sleeping with socks and vaseline.

Another vote for flexitol heel balm, I use to have cracked and bleeding heels and now they look fabulous. Cannot recommend 25% urea highly enough (CCS is also good, my Mum uses that).