Okay, it's not even winter yet, but my feet are already starting to peel and crack to the point I can't get socks on without snagging them. This is the time of year when the calluses on the balls of my feet and my heels begin to peel in flat layers and vertical cracks appear on the outside edges of my soles. What do you use/do to keep your feet nice and pain-free in the winter? Simple lotions don't do the trick for me. I'm fortunate that most of the time I wear comfy cotton socks and sneakers for work and home.
Thanks for your tips, mamas!
I do just use lubriderm. But I change my socks at least 2-3 times daily and put new hand cream on each time. I go around in my socks a lot. I think it's important to keep the feet dry, as in not sweaty, and clean. I get the same cracks, but only when I've been neglecting the new socks and hand cream multiple times daily.
I like lemon flutter from Lush www.lushusa.com i think is the site I like to go into the store to shop though.
Oh and the more you scrub the more it grows back so it is just a horrid cycle.
We were just talking about this at work the other day. The two things that have worked best for the group who were discussing it were:
1. Fish oil. If you take fish oil omega 3 capsules, just break open a couple a rub the oil on your cracked heels, then wear socks over them to bed. Apparently it works a treat.
2. Lansinoh (sp?) lanolin cream. The stuff you can put on sore nipples when breastfeeding. It is FANTASTIC for skin stuff everywhere. Seriously, it has healed my sore, chapped, bleeding hands, nipples, feet etc overnight. I recommended it to our butcher who had the same problem (hands, not nipples ;-)) and it fixed him up too. Now he tells everyone about it!
Good luck!
you know what actually works on them is Athlete's Foot Spray.. the cracking in part is due to bacteria and of course, the elements only make it worse.. try the spray. I was amazed at how well it work.. prior, I had only used creams.... get the spray!! you ll be glad you did..
best to you
Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Then scrub your heels and other dry areas with a pumice stone, being careful not to irritate the cracked areas. I also do this when I'm taking a shower in the morning. It will gently slough off dead skin cells, revealing smoother skin. If you already have small cracks, be careful not to irritate those areas. Rinse off your feet, pat them dry, then liberally apply foot cream, salve, body butter, or another thick moisturizer. I use Eucerin or Aquaphor then slip on a pair of socks, and you'll wake up to happier feet. Continue this process until all the cracks are gone.
I use a pumice stone every time I shower, then immediately put on vaseline (used to use Aquaphor, but vaseline is much cheaper and works just as well) and socks. Every night before bed I put on more vaseline and socks. If you can't stand socks while you sleep, then do it earlier in the evening so the vaseline (or whatever) has time to absorb into your skin. My brother used to have dry and cracked hands and would use Vitamin E (same method as the fish oil listed below). Wishing you soft feet!
You've got to get rid of the layers of dried up dead skin before you moisturize.
Soak your feet in warm water with some Epsom salts and vinegar.
The dried hard skin will get very soft.
Then use a pumice stone or foot rasp to slough off the dead skin.
Repeat till it's all off.
THEN use lotion.
Soak and remove dead skin every few weeks in the winter will keep it from building up again.
S.:
Get pedicures regularly.
Put cocoa butter or some other thick lotion on your feet BEFORE you go to bed and then put your feet in socks so the lotion stays on your feet and not on the sheets.
Do not walk around without shoes or socks or house slippers on your feet.
Soak your feet regularly in epsom's salt - with cracked soles, that will keep infections from getting in.
The best thing you can do is get regular pedicures. People spend more on their hair than they do their feet - hair comes and goes but you have to have your feet for the rest of your life - you use them EVERY DAY.
GOOD LUCK!
Bag Balm
great for dry skin.
I do the same thing. I have a ped egg that I use a lot. It gets filled up often so I always make sure to dump it. After I am done I apply a thick layer of Avon lotion/ointment. I put on socks to sleep in otherwise I would have a layer of lotion all over the foot of the sheets. I always apply a layer of the regular lotion after showers too, my skin is dry all over.
Here's a link to some of my favorite Moisture Therapy products:
Extra Strength Cream, it's very thick and creamy.
http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?pf_id=38611
This one is pretty greasy but it works very well too:
http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?pf_id=41008
The various styles of the Moisture Therapy meet each and every dry skin need I have. They are like little miracles.
Get a pedicure -- that will get you started. Slather your feet with a shea butter cream when you get out of the shower, every time. Every night before bed slather your feet with Aquaphor and then put on socks.
I used to get really dry skin on my feet, shins, and elbows every winter, until I started putting a Body Shop body butter cream on my skin every single time I got out of the shower. Now that I have that routine, I have very little dry skin, and it is a wonderful change.
This is how I keep my soles looking and feeling great:
1: I buy aloe infused socks from Wal-mart and wear them with slippers (they can be slick on hard surfaces)
2: I buy the shea butter foot cream at Bath and Body Works and slap that on really thick before bed and cover my feet with cotton socks. ( I sleep with them on)
3: I use any type of gritty scrub in the shower and as soon as I get out, I use the Dr. Scholls foot cream (Target or Wal Mart) and immediately put whatever socks on I'm wearing for that day.
4: I use the ped-egg scraper when they get too dry, but that's only when I slack off on my above treatments.
I hear ya my feet need lots of TLC year round. You can get a callous scrapper at Dollar Tree (it looks like a small hand held veggie grater). They work great. Scrape off the extra skin and when you are finished use Bag Balm, available at Walgreens, put on heavy socks and let it soak in.
Hi!
Have you tried something called Bag Balm? You can find it at the drug store. It is in a big green tin container. I used to use it for my clients who had really dry skin. It is very gooey like vaseline. You might try a little on the affected area, and cover with a pair of socks. I think Bee balm might help too!
Thanks!
B.
I use Berts Bees Coconut Foot Cream. On rough days I put socks on my feet after applying the cream. In the winter I apply it in the morning and at night. Good luck!!
I use a cream called Heel Rescue - in a white container with red writing. Doesn't leave you greasy. Don't have to wear socks to bed.
Coconut oil is good all over the body
