Cracked heels sensitive skin

[Breathmiller]

Hi beauty experts

I have my inevitable cracked heels now it is summer. I find it really hard to keep on top of them.

I also have very sensitive skin generally and can't use much other than my prescription moisturiser.

My job entails me being barefoot and I hate how they look.

I would love to do a footner type thing but I think it would be too harsh and often some of the ingredients I take a reaction to. Has anyone with extremely sensitive skin including excema done this?

I get some relief from filing them, moisturising and old fashioned snowfire but it's not enough

Any ideas?

Have you been to a chiropodist? I usually have an annual visit and end up when baby soft feet again! I have eczema and would have cracked skin on my feet if I don't!

Newton’s chiropodist sponge followed by flexitol. I use the sponge once a week and the cream daily , they have transformed my heels , and I got the recommendation from MN.

Ccs foot cream works miracles.

Flexitol or almost any other urea-based cream with a high percentage of urea.

Apply thickly at night and put socks on. Exfoliate in the shower. Lighter application before you get dressed. Do not go barefoot for at least a week or until you see a significant improvement.

Do not go barefoot - if you have to go barefoot do it as little as possible and keep applying any thick moisturiser. Then when you get home wash feet and lightly apply urea-based moisturiser and socks.

Intrigued into why you are barefoot, this will make your problem worse. However I agree start with a chiropodist and then use Vaseline, a lot, to keep them moisturised.

I'm reading too. Shag is Ccs footcream please?

Oh my days - no idea why phone typed shag and not what

Margaret Dabbs foot hygiene cream is absolutely brilliant. I am quite prone to eczema but I have had no adverse reactions.

Thanks everyone

I'm a yoga teacher and own a studio hence the barefoot at work.

I might try the sponge which I saw on mumsnet last week and a chiropodist.

Could you wear yoga socks for a week or so to give everything a chance to work?

Thats an idea. I do hate yoga socks but needs must for a short time maybe.

I hadn't thought it was about going barefoot as I do that all year round. I had thought it was worse in the summer because of wearing birkenstock clogs with no socks. What do you all do in hot weather?

I would hate to not be able to go barefoot long term as, apart from my skin obviously, it is so good for the feet. Maybe i can find a balance.

Thanks everyone. A few ideas to think about

I've a problem with cracked heels, mine were disgusting. Found it hard to keep up with them. Tried using those roller things but found them useless to be honest.

What is working for me at the minute is soaking my feet for half an hour in a bowl of water, then literally slicing the hard skin off with one of those chiropody thingies. I got mine from Superdrug and it's amazing. Then I've been using cracked heel cream twice a day and a foot file. Mine have improved dramatically since I started this routine two weeks ago.

Have excema / contact dermatitis and did a Footner with no issues. Margaret Dabbs products are great, also.

I recommend dermoligica, I'm using their hard skin removing balm. Its used in the morning and again at night. It smells like a tropical island should

Margaret Dabbs’ foot lotion is lovely and good for every day use and there is also cracked heel balm for problem areas. But Flexitol, and Scholl’s heel serum are also very good in my experience (and less pricey).

The NYKI ffot file is the best I’ve used.
That and flexitol should help but maybe treat yourself to a chiropodist appointment
www.amazon.co.uk/ULTIMATE-Pedicure-Rasp-Foot-File/dp/B00MRXFJ40?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Generally it’s an internal cause. I’ve found taking the cell salt Calc Fluor has helped so much. I need to take it permanently though.

Some of the eczema moisturisers come in a version that has urea - ask your pharmacist?

Being barefoot doesn’t cause cracked heels, it causes calluses (which are a good thing and protect your feet). So I don’t think being barefoot is to blame. I have eczema too and just put Aveeno on my feet same as the rest of my body! I seem to get really dry arches and it sorts that out so worth a try for your heels.

I live in a hot country and so 95% of time, am either bare foot or in flip flops. My heels get really cracked and I find the only thing that keeps on top of them is:

• regular visits to a chiropodist
• filing several times a week
• flexitol applied every single night
• using steristrips to pull any cracks together and give them a chance to heal
• wearing socks and shoes as much as I can (not ideal, I know)

I can't use Aveeno, but my daughter who has eczema can, it's funny how individual it is. I do use diprobase emolliant and epiderm ointment on the rest of my body and I very rarely get flare ups anymore. But it just doesn't seem to be enough for my heels. My daughter can't use either of them though.

I probably just need to work a bit harder at filing and moisturising to keep it under control.

I think I will make an appointment at the local podiatrist regularly and see if that helps.

Thanks everyone.

I use CCs cracked heel cream every day all year and its worked wonders on my cracked heels. I also use the foot cream on the rest of my foot.

I have this problem too and super sensitive skin. Flexitol heel balm with 25% urea used morning & night sorts it out reasonably quickly. Plus using a electronic foot sander every few days to remove the dry skin. Use the sander after a bath or shower as it will be more effective.

Right, i am waging war on my feet.
I bought an electric sander which amused everyone in the house as my husband has threatened to get the angle grinder out for my feet more than once.

Then flexitol heel balm. It has lanolin in which used to be a no-no but I'm giving it a try.

I'll let you know how it goes. (Because obviously a public update on my manky feet is clearly top of everyone's list of important information 🤣 - I don't want anyone to lose sleep over this)