OT: how do you treat/prevent cracked heels?

[Emmas Mom]

My DH has a terribly cracked heel on one foot. It's constantly bothering him & he says it hurts when he runs. Does anyone know of a good lotion/cream that they would recommend? And any ideas on how to keep them from cracking when it gets healed?

[Wife_and_mommy]

I started slathering Aquaphor on my heels/dry spots and wearing socks to bed. I do that about two nights a week as an upkeep. It has helped *wonders*.

It sounds like your Dh's heels are in pretty bad shape so he might want to get a pedicure to get rid of some of the dead skin. We did that for my FIL but his heels were so bad off it barely made a dent. Hopefully your dh's aren't that bad, though. I think the Aquaphor will help though. I've been amazed.


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I love them most when they are sleeping.--Me
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[caheinz]

I have good luck using a pumice stone. (Thanks to a later poster who reminded me of what it was called!) You use it on a wet callous, and it helps to remove the dead skin.

In combination with doing that at the end of the shower (when the heels are as moist as they're gonna get), I also put Eucercin cream on after. When it's really bad, I also use those socks that are supposed to help with moisturizing with the Eucerin cream at night.

I had one a week or two ago (I tend to do this less often than every day), and I think it felt better the next day after doing this. It was gone within 2-3 days.

(Edited to clarify with pumice stone, once another poster used the term, I remembered that was what I was trying to describe!)

[Lynnie]

you mean they really can go away ? My heels are AWFUL cause I wear sandals or no back shoes alot being in fla, so I need to do something. thanks.

i'll try the thing - which I have in the tub, and both of the lotions you all have recommended, with socks to bed.

[caheinz]

Yep! I was doing really well this winter -- I tend to start the routine as soon as they start getting "rough" feeling, but I fell off when it got warmer out. (Got warmer, but not more humid, so it was a mistake.)

I stumbled on the solution by luck, but am so glad to have found one!

[jd11365]

Flexitol Heel Balm! I just put some on with some socks as I'm about to go to bed. It's amazing. His heels will be much better after just one overnight use. It's in the foot care section of most drugstores.

[Emmas Mom]

He showed me tonight & it looks like it was bleeding & has scabbed now. Yuck...poor guy. Can he use a pumice stone or one of those callous remover files while it's cracked like that? We have some Eucerin cream & Aquaphor. I'll have him put some on & wear socks for the next couple nights. A friend of mine also mentioned that Flexitol, so I'll check that out too. Thanks ladies!

[DebbieJ]

When my hands get really bad I cover them in Vaseline and wear socks over them. Would probably work for feet, too.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org

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[shilo]

i have a lot of trouble with my heels, and do a pretty extensive 'regimen' to keep them from getting to the point where they open deep enough to bleed. i posted my 'regimens' in a couple of past threads, here ya go:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=37&topic_id=335491&mesg_id=335491&listing_type=search
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=37&topic_id=308231&mesg_id=308231&listing_type=search

i'm not a runner, but i do find that for my callouses on the balls of my feet from cycling, they don't get nearly as sore or push in to the point of cracking next to the callous if i keep them worn down. same goes for my heels, but that's just from wearing sandals all year. anyway, ITA with pp, getting rid of some of the thickened skin can actually help keep the pressure from developing to the point of cracking/bleeding.

hth, lori
Sam 5/19/05 How lucky I am that you chose me.

[gatorsmom]

yes, absolutely buy him a pumice stone to keep in the shower. All that cracked skin is dead and if he just rubs it over his feet each day before he gets out of the shower, that will start to take all the "crispy" skin off.

Then have him apply one of those lotions and things will start to get better.

You know, you could also buy him one of those foot filers or what ever they are called. Essentially it's fine sand paper on a paddle- like thing and he can run it over his feet before putting that lotion on at night. That would really help too.

Lisa
Mom to Gator July 2003
And Cha-Cha July 2005

[caheinz]

Pumice stone is the thing I was thinking of! (Going back to edit and clarify!)

It will probably actually feel better after rubbing it. It's the thick layers of skin that are pulling it open, and rubbing some of them off should reduce the pain.

Or, well, that's how it feels, anyways.

[gina]

I have a foot file that actually has a razor in it that shaves off the skin. It works way better and faster than a pumice stone or rasp. They often use them at nail salons when doing pedicures.

Also my brother just recently started using Kerasal lotion and he says its great. I think it has something like alpha hydroxy in it to get rid of all the dead skin. They have it at drugstores.

Gina

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DD 15 yr Jade
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[Fairy]

I've been dealing with insanely dry FEET, especially heels, for a very long time now. They get so dry that they peel a bit, then catch on stuff if I'm barefoot, then I have to do away with the dead skin. I have a pumice stone, but I can't find it. I have to find the sucker, and I am going to look into the creams mentioned here. Ihave aquaphor right now, so i may try tht tonight.

If your DH's heels are actually cracked to bleeding, I would not pumice them until they heel over a bit. If they're really, truly, bleeding, the pumice stone on that spot will, of coruse, make it hurt more. Make sure he wears socks at all times, put on a balm to protect them, and when they've healed, definitely pumice. My two cents.

[bcky2]

i use one of those razor type foot files and i love love love it. it works wonders. my feet crack and bleed alot and if i keep up with the file and lotion i dont have any feet issues at all.

[mariza]

not just for sore nipples! After I stopped BF'ing I had a tube left over and it worked great on DH's heels with socks on overnight. It's really thick and hard to work in (maybe if you keep the tube in some hot water for a few minutes it will help soften it?) but it does the trick.

Mariza
Mommy to my "Thing 1" DD 1/05
and "Thing 2" DS 9/06

[supercalifragilous]

I'm a big fan of lanolin myself but for heels I really like Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme. Beware though, it's REALLY thick so you'll definitely need to wear socks before walking around!

http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10751&storeId=10101&productId=10188&langId=-1&categoryId=&showSubCategory=yes

Here are the ingredients:
Vegetable glycerin, olive oil, oat kernel protein, lanolin, coconut oil, tocopherol (vitamin E), peppermint oil, rosemary leaf oil, fragrance.

Of course it has my beloved lanolin! :)