Horrifically cracked heel, help!

[TTCNumber3uk]

I have no idea how they've ended up like this but I am incredibly ashamed as well as in a lot of pain.
Does anyone know how I can fix this and also what it is and what's caused it? I'm desperate to get my heels healthy again but at the moments there's literal chunks of them missing

Allpresan diabetic foot foam is amazing. Use twice a day . Or as often as you can.

and yes a medical pedicure every few months - investing in your feet is important.

The best option would be to see a podiatrist!

Flexitol. Make sure it’s the heel balm and not just the moisturising cream.

Despite regular pedicures i used to get a crack in my heel during the summer due to sandals bare feet and no socks.
The only thing that worked for me was foot cream with urea in , put a generous amount directly onto the crack -it does sting for a bit ! and cover area with a dressing , i would do mine at bedtime ,after 2/3 days of doing this the crack would heal .
Using cuticle trimmers i would then cut away the dead skin around the crack as it healed and kept it smooth with a foot file.
The beautician would always be very gentle around the crack and do the same .
When you have got past this stage regularly moisturise your heels and leave a thick coating on overnight under a sock.
I have used avon lavender overnight foot cream for years and it is really good.
You will soon see a difference.

Yes I would say go with flexitol. I have never used it but my mum has had bad trouble with her feel and was told to soak them in warm salt water, dry them and apply flexitol. Go and see a podiatrist if unsure.

I hope you find something that works OP!

Flexitol did nothing for me. This stuff however has transformed my feet back into their teenage version. I use this file to exfoliate under the shower as I found it does the job better and quicker than dry exfoliating.

Find a chiropodist. They will sort it for you.

Thank you so much all. I now have a shopping list for pay day and a routine to try and sort it out. Even if it takes a few months I'll come back and update when they're baby soft again!

My podiatrist told me to get checked out for diabetes and she was correct as I've developed pre diabetes

Chiropodist/podiatrist! They will get rid of it all - the crusty bits are pulling the healing skin underneath apart

I had feet that bad.
My chiropodist used a scalpel to gently shave off most of it, then a small electric foot sander. My feet were pretty good at this point then it’s recommended 25% urea cream 2 or 3x a week and 10% the rest as 25% is too strong for daily use. Flexitol is a good brand.

Its worth going to the chiropodist if it’s that bad, as you could damage your feet by doing it yourself.

DH gets horrendous deep crack in his heels, incredibly painful. He uses Flexitol every night and silicone heel socks like these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VM893MK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
They are lined with silicone so the cream is not absorbed by the socks. He wears these every night and it keeps his heel skin supple and smooth so that he can wear sandals during the day.

Works really well for him.

Flexitol is brilliant. Whack it on and sovks%tights. Always socks/tights. I'm afraid once your heels get that bad, the days of bare feet are behind you. But you will be pain free. I apply religiously every alternate day.
Also be aware of the dangers of infection through broken skin on feet. I nearly died from 'necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bug) which got in through my badly cracked heels.

Following! My heels look similar so I’m keen to pick up some tips!

I use this daily. I now have baby soft feet!
Don't waste your money on anything that doesn’t contain urea - at least 10%

Definitely recommend going to a podiatrist as they can get most of that off. Then weekly filing at home (personally I do it dry as I find it more effective), and you need to apply cream like flexitol or a foot oil daily. I feel your pain, just got on top of mine and am now using ccs cream to keep the cracks at bay. Ccs cream is great but it won’t sort that out until you can repair the cracks.

The Margaret dabbs foot file followed by flexitol foot cream should do the job. You need to remove the hard skin - if it's too hard it isn't flexible so it cracks when you bear weight on it instead of stretching.

Half the underneath of my feet looked like that due to a flare up of psoriasis. I could barely walk. I was prescribed Flexitol as well as other steroid creams.
make sure you get the Flexitol with 25% Urea. I also used epimax ointment which is a very thick emollient and then put trainer socks on top immediately.
I was also told to use The Ordinary glycolic acid which also softens the hard skin.
none of these creams are more than about £6.
When the skin was split I couldn’t walk on it because it kept opening. You can also stick a large dressing on top to protect it from reopening or literally stick the split together with steri strips

I don't think you should be filing painful heels. If the skin is broken already, you'll make it more painful and increase your risk of infection.

I agree with the PP who said hydrocolloid plasters. Let them heal and then try gentle exfoliation with a foot scrub and urea cream.

If it gets no better, you should get checked for diabetes.

Everyone has said the main points and I agree:

Podiatrist to get peeling skin off
Flexitol cream on overnight with foot socks
Less wearing of thin sandals

I'd also encourage drinking more water. I was told my dry heels/skin was partly due to not being adequately hydrated.

Please try O'Keefe's foot cream and apply twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening with socks on if you can. Go to a podiatrist and also for regular luxury pedicures.

Bath. Use a pumice or file and work gently away at that skin. Absolutely coat in vasaline every night

Definitely this. Both my sister and I are sufferers and we swear by O'Keefe's. Works really well, is reasonably priced and lasts for ages.

Yes that’s it, amazing stuff.