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Original poster

Footcare for cracked heels. Warning- picture!

46 replies

Daisydreaming1 · 21/05/2023 18:02

Hi all. I’m absolutely desperate. My heels are cracking constantly, all year round. No matter what I do they split and bleed and are so sore. I’ve tried a million different creams. All the foot exfoliants including the expensive electric ones. I’m at a loss. I used to go to a clinic to have my feet done but it made no difference so I stopped going. Does anyone have any recommendations?? They’re so sore 😩

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 21/05/2023 23:40

marshmallowmatcha · 21/05/2023 18:10

You need some of those fish that eat your feet. They were everywhere at one point but I think people went off it.

I loved those little fish! I think there was a heath scare or something.

Redebs · 21/05/2023 23:52

The hard skin causes it. Use one of those metal grater types to file it down.

When you get a crack, glue it closed with some cyanoacrylate skin glue. It's a type of special super glue. Instant relief - like magic. Drip it directly into the crack and then add a drop of water. It lasts for days and stops the crack opening when you put weight on it.

Redebs · 21/05/2023 23:54

It's called LiquidSkin

pinkgown · 21/05/2023 23:59

Shea butter worked on my husband's cracked heels.

blueshoes · 22/05/2023 00:02

SmirnoffIceIsNice · 21/05/2023 18:32

I suffer too OP and have had cracks even worse than that. I can empathise with the pain, sometimes I could barely walk. I too swear by Flexitol 25% urea. I got a few pairs of little cotton foot socks from The Body Shop and every night I lathered the cream on thick and wore the socks all night. It does wonders to soften the skin.

Do you drink plenty of water? Being dehydrated can make this problem worse.

This.

I wear socks (or tights) all day long over moisturised feet. I have not had cracked heels since doing this.

MucozadeOnLucozade · 22/05/2023 00:06

I had deep cracks and found it's the foot wear that was making it worse, most noticeably flip flops.

Thighdentitycrisis · 22/05/2023 00:19

I have cracked thumbs and one thing that works is to apply some moisture and seal it. Keeping the moisture in the cracks stops them getting deeper. I cut the tips off surgical gloves and put Vaseline in them then tape them firmly to my thumbs. The Vaseline can’t evaporate . I do this every night until it heals. If you can apply the urea cream then somehow seal it in it will work quicker than if you just wear cotton socks.
hope you get some relief

squidgybits · 22/05/2023 01:01

look at snowfire

Kwackerly · 22/05/2023 03:42

I had this for years. It went when I started using Epsom salts in the bath every night. Softens skin in some magic way... in meantime use flexitol and don't wear flip-flops. So painful. Hope you fix it.

cheeseandketchupsandwich · 22/05/2023 05:18

Boots own foot cream. I swear by the stuff. ABSOLUTE GODSEND!

silverfullmoon · 22/05/2023 05:22

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 21/05/2023 18:12

You need the proper flexitol that is 25% urea.

not the piddly little types the great big tubs of it
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexitol-500-g-Heel-Balm/dp/B007XJN9DQ/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=25%25+urea+foot+cream+flexitol&qid=1684688880&sr=8-5

use it religiously every night. Once a week soak your feet for AT LEAST 10 mins and then remove all of the dead skin using a pumice/ heel skin remover.

some like these https://makeup.uk/product/545918/?gclid=CjwKCAjwgqejBhBAEiwAuWHioE0Gfhenm0I2785fMNVTId8rz4K_hN70Rm-39EA1Es9UW4upRKrDQhoC9YcQAvD_BwE

are best - you rub soap on them before using them to remove the dead skin.

wear socks/ slippers at all times when not showing your feet off.

Agree with this- you need to slough off the dead skin in addition to applying flexitol. Creams on their own might smooth the area but it comes back quickly without getting rid of the callouses

Hairbrushhandle · 22/05/2023 06:37

IME you need to file them a lot, then apply cream every night and pumice them every day in the shower, all year long to just keep it at bay.

FlickyCrumble · 22/05/2023 09:14

Flexitol. Put it on at night. Those heel’s don’t look like they need exfoliating at the moment. Let skin grow. Gentle exfoliation in a few days so cream reaches skin that needs repairing.

BriarHare · 22/05/2023 09:14

Flexitol. I use it about 3x per week and have no hard skin on my feet whatsoever.

MrsFezziwig · 22/05/2023 10:22

Has anyone tried the foot peels? (the sort that profess to remove the dead skin after 7 days)

Zipporah83 · 22/05/2023 10:29

Scrub with pumice stone before bed, lather your feet with raw shea butter then wear socks to bed. This works
Flip flops and other uncomfortable footwear might make cracked heels worse

lookingforMolly · 22/05/2023 10:50

Check with your GP for underlying health conditions such as foot infections, even diabetes or pre diabetes.

Kareeeeen · 30/09/2023 09:08

Hello I have always gotten good results with drinking lots of water. But recently I have been drinking kombucha and it is actually healing my feet

frenchfancy81 · 30/09/2023 09:27

Footmender, around £25 on Amazon.

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