Dry, cracked heels

[BunnytheHoneyBee]

I have quite dry cracked heels.

I have one of those school foot files that spins and that helps take away a lot of the hard skin (you know where it gets hard and scratchy?) but it doesn’t quite get rid of it. I’m sure I need to keep doing it but it just seem like a never ending task. I’m trying to moisturise every night.

Would be grateful for help / advice / tips

[SouthWestmom]

No, just warm or buzzy -my feet feel slightly odd. If they are still there in the morning I'll let you know

[AuntieFenella]

I feel your pain! The only type of foot file that works IME is the micro plane rasp type, I've tried all types! Do it before bed and keep going until you can feel it, which will mean hard skin has gone. Then soak in hot water, slather on some foot cream and put cotton socks on overnight. Oh don't forget to put newspaper on the floor or have the hoover handy. Or do it outside! Or save to use as Parmesan for your annoying friends and relations.

[AuntieFenella]

www.ellisons.co.uk/microplane-professional-pedicure-rasp-pink.html

This is what I mean.

[Wowserme]

F

[cookiemonster5]

I get really bad cracked heels. Almost to the point of bleeding. And it hurts! I use the peeling foot socks a couple times a year to get the worst off because filing it just encourages more hard skin to grow. Then I use a cracked heel cream. It really does work along with socks to keep the cream on in a thick layer. I try to keep it up but I forget so end up back at square one.

[Knittingnanny]

The best I’ve found is neutrogena Norwegian formula foot cream. Transformed my dry cracked heels and scaly shins in a week

[VanGoghsDog]

I’m intrigued by this newton sponge! Just had a look on amazon and it’s about £17 but looks good!

Normally about £3! I always put one in my sister and niece's Christmas stockings.

[BunnytheHoneyBee]

Apparently I was looking at a pack of 12 @VanGoghsDog 😂

So do your think that sort of metal grater looking file is better than the kind that’s like a nail file?

I’ll tell you what worked well for filing my feet. I used to get my nails done at Nails inc and they’d use a thick coarse nail on top of the gel and then gave you those to take home. I used to use those on my feet!

[SouthWestmom]

Oh I've just remembered something. Hard skin can be a reaction to scratching - this is relevant to something I saw them for. So I wonder if the filing and grating is counter productive.

I've never had a good result with the grater type ones.

I'm going to pursue the cream for a week and review

[Menopauseandteensdontmix100]

I get really bad cracked heels as i wear a lot of open backed shoes also we did away with our bath and only have a shower which doesn’t do your feet any favours.

Anyway i saw a chiropodist for a callous on the ball of my foot and she also worked on the hard cracked skin on my heels etc etc.

She said the best thing for your feet is Dermatonics Once Heel Balm (Amazon sells it) and an old fashioned foot file like the one in the photo. Anyway my horrible heels are a thing of the past now.

[VanGoghsDog]

I try not to grate really, the pumice sponge works better.

The urea cream works if you put it on twice a day for a week. Then you can probably go down to two e a week. But that's when I forget and it all builds up again.

The footner type things work on me, I use one from Amazon that's not branded. They just make all the skin peel away, it's lovely and you have soft feet for ages after. I've been meaning to do one now we're locked away for a while but somehow I've not got round to it.

I also have a piece of glass in my foot, I broke a glass teapot and then went in the kitchen with bare feet (I cleared it up, obviously, but there must have been a shard left). Interesting to see what happens to it. I can't get it out because I can't reach or see that part of my foot.

[VanGoghsDog]

Really, any urea cream and any exfoliator is going to work - it's just a matter of actually doing it and keeping it up.

Agree re showers, I think baths are better for feet.

[butterpuffed]

All this money splashing out on expensive creams and products !

Plenty of vaseline all over your heels and wherever else the dry skin is. Put on a pair of socks.
Polythene bag over both feet, fix with a hairband.
Do this before bed and keep on overnight.

The dry skin will just rub off in the morning . Smooth with a foot file

[VanGoghsDog]

That method doesn't work for me, my feet need urea cream. It's not expensive. And using our method I'd have to buy vaseline and hair bands, neither of which I have in my house!

[butterpuffed]

My response was a reply to OP who asked for advice.

[MakingASilkPurse]

Mine were pretty bad so before going to bed I rubbed lots of Vaseline into them and then put socks on - by the morning it had worked wonders! I didn't use a polythene bag but it didn't make a mess, I just made sure to use old socks I wasn't bothered about.

[BunnytheHoneyBee]

So you think putting Vaseline on at night helps remove the hard skin? Not just moisturise it and make it less noticeable?

I’ve always found I can get rid of more when my feet are completely dry and I can file off the hard but then I also take PP’s point that this might encourage hard skin.

I am tempted by the exfoliating creams but imagine them making my feet really sore!

[poppy990]

My OH had this. I can’t remember where I read it but wearing slippers or shoes instead of flip flops or bare feet will really help

[janice511]

Sanctuary spa heel balm

[BunnytheHoneyBee]

I’ve googled it and apparently it’s true! Strange.

I have been wearing Ugg type boots around the house (as slippers kind of) as my feet have been cold in flip flops so may have to continue with this!

[Theoldwrinkley]

I was seriously ill a few years ago with a form of sepsis where the bug got in through cracked heel, so be aware (which you obviously are) that feet are important.
I see podiatrist regularly now, and have to cream my heels with Flexitol....used to be able to get it on prescription, but it’s not too expensive to buy. I think there are 2 versions with different levels of active ingredient (urea?). The ‘stronger’ stuff is good. Since applying that, approx 3 times a week, and always wearing socks or popsocks or some close-fitting socks-type thing I’ve not had a problem. Only problem is asking hubby to apply cream.
If your heel cracks, then apply kamilosan....my ‘go to’ remedy for any skin complaint. It is actually for sore nipples, but works on my feet!

[Catsinthecupboard]

I would soak them in shower or bath or foot soak basin of choice with Epsom salt before bedtime. Then use a scrubber of choice that is NOT razor. I use pumice stone. THEN, moisturize with Shea butter (I buy it and whip it myself bc it is difficult to find with simple ingredients. I add lavender essential oil or rose hip.). Put on an old comfy pair of socks. You will quickly have happy heels.

[bellocchild]

A chiropodist once told me that the hard skin tends to form when you wear backless mules, or flipflops. The shoe slaps loosely against your foot as you walk, as you can often hear. If you wear closed-heel shoes or sandals with heel straps it should reduce the problem. But Flexitol and similar cream work well.

[MadameBoulaye]

Flexitol has been fab for me! I rub it on my heels before I get into bed and it makes a big difference the next day.

[Longpinknails]

I recommend Emu oil cream for cracked heels. A few years ago I really suffered on holiday in Florida and they had some in a supermarket. Honestly, it cleared them up in days, using it twice a day, just rubbing it into the cracked and dry heel. I find Birkenstock’s make my heel worse probably the dry cork footbed draws out moisture, so careful what I wear in the summer on my feet and moisturise then regularly. I just googled it as it’s been a while since I bought it and products and prices vary. I was told it was ‘ethically’ produced and no emus suffered. Not sure how they regulate that though. Margaret Dabbs produces a huge range of foot creams and concoctions...she is a major foot therapist ( google her) have tried some of her creams and they too are excellent.