Dry Cracked Heels... HELP!!!

Updated on February 24, 2012
H.X. asks from Los Angeles, CA
34 answers

So lately i've noticed that my feet are soooo dry, they crack!!! i've used special creams, get pedicures every 2,3 weeks (its winter, summers are definitely more often...) i guess it comes with age, and my body is 'drying out'... Any magic recipes of how to cure this ugly problem??? its sandal season soon, and from the looks of it, i'm gonna need some 'rejuvenation'... HELP!!!

1 mom found this helpful

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S.M.

answers from Memphis on

Found on Pinterest...Baby lotion, vaseline, and vitamin E oil lotion. I can't remember exact amounts. You mix them together. My heels are so smooth. It is truly amazing and I bought honey apple baby lotion so it smells so good!

2 moms found this helpful
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V.S.

answers from Harrisburg on

unrefined coconut oil, I put it on my hands and feet most nights (and my legs after I shave, and my kids butts as a diaper cream) Oh and you can cook with it. That stuff is amazing and its about $10 a jar but lasts forever.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

I use a file to get as much of the dead skin off as possible and then I put a nice thick layer of vaseline and then put a pair of cotton socks for the night. After a night or two it should be as soft as a baby's behind!!! IF it isn't, you may have something else going on that requires a doctors attention and some medicine of some sort.
Good luck!!!

2 moms found this helpful

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S.F.

answers from Utica on

Ive said on here before that Lanolin cream for breastfeeding mothers is a freakin miracle worker. Spread that stuff on your heels and anywhere that needs a good moisture treatment, slap on some socks and go to bed. I swear you wont even recognize your feet as your own the next morning
Good Luck

3 moms found this helpful

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Burts Bees makes a foot cream that I love. I slather it on at bedtime, then wear socks to bed to hold it in. Then I use it normally after showers, etc. Then repeat the "slather and sock" at night for a few days.

I was getting cracked heels even when I was getting regular pedicures also. Ugh, right?

2 moms found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

Have you tried the creams that are made for diabetics? You may have to get a good one from a podiatrist.
They may be using something in the pedicures that is drying our your skin.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.K.

answers from Wichita on

The only thing that works for me is Aquaphor and socks. I usually do this at night but if I'm going to be wearing socks with tennis shoes I use Aquaphor before putting on the socks.

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Lots of good suggestions here...
I was just in Bed Bath & Beyond yesterday, and sitting at the checkout counter they had some little canisters of cream. One was for feet, one was for hands. I tried the hand one---it was A-MAZING. If the one for feet was anything like it it is probable fantastic. It looked like white wax, felt like the tacky stuff offices used to use for paperwork (TackyFingers I think?) but it left your skin feeling smooth and not greasy but--- interestingly enough--dry. Not dried out, but dry. As in not wet, greasy or "lotion-y". I think I'm going to get some next time I go in.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.H.

answers from Birmingham on

I have callused feet from working on my feet all day and exercise. I use a Ped Egg to file off the dry skin. It really is the best and easiest tool I have ever used, and I have been battling this problem for over 10 years.Then I put plain old vaseline on my feet and cover with socks before I go to bed.

1 mom found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

have you been checked by your PCP for any medical conditions that would cause dry, cracked feet?

If you are using lotion regularly and getting pedicures regularly - there might be a medical issue that is causing the cracking.

I put "lay it on thick" pedi-cream from bath and body works on my feet before I go to bed. I also have stopped walking around bare-foot - I LOVE to walk barefoot but it was wreaking havoc on my feet. I use a pair of ugg-style slippers my girlfriend bought me for Christmas and my feet don't get hot. I LOVE THEM!!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Start from the inside and take fish oil. Then onto using Burt's Bees products, they are awesome. BTW, the fish oil won't be noticed for about 4 weeks, but you will see a definite difference - it's worth the wait.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Cracked-Heels...

Have not used any of these myself yet, but I am thinking about it, my heels look like h-e-double-hockey-sticks right now too. Might be worth a try!

I second a good soak and some work with a pumice stone too.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

this works and it's very inexpensive-rub castor oil on your feet and wear socks to bed-it also works on the hands-and it relieves pain!!! A more expensive route-as effective but not for pain is Shea Butter. In its pure form-Shea butter rocks the house! You can put it around your eyes and watch fine lines disappear!

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

For most it's just a function of getting older.
They actually recommend you soak/remove dry skin about once a week.
I soak in warm water with Epsom salts and a little vinegar till the dry skin gets totally water logged.
Then I use a foot rasp or pumice stone to rub off the dead skin.
After that I use a good foot cream.
Works pretty well, but you have to keep at it.

Once in awhile I'll use something called Milky Feet, which is a chemical peel for feet.
You use it for an hour, then rinse your feet.
After about 10 days your feet will start to shed skin like a snake - it peels right off, totally painless.
Soaking you feet hastens the process.
Once it's over your feet are very smooth for several months.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with Vanessa S., extra virgin coconut oil.

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M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

COCONUT OIL! :)

It's good for what ails you. In addition to being a fantastic moisturizer, it has anti-biotic and anti-fungal properties. It could be a fungus that is causing the cracking anyway.

K.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

My husband gets that, along with cracks om his fingers that wouldn't heal for months at a time...until we used my leftover Lansinoh (lanolin) from breastfeeding. He puts it on his hands and feet at night, puts on gloves and socks, and in the morning he's soft and smooth.

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O.S.

answers from San Diego on

Yes, this problem is related to ageing. I've got cracked hills couple of years ago. I use shea butter or liquid vegetable glicerin. You can get them in Sprout's market (10$ and 5$ respectively) or other health food stores. Put thick socks on after applying butter or glicerin (after shower). Usually I use those remedies overnight.
Try not to wear flip-flops often - they dry your feet. And eat nuts, avocado, fish and food with vegetable oils.

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D.J.

answers from Atlanta on

I used to have the same problems with my hands. They were so dry that they would crack and bleed. Eucerin works wonders! O yea, socks at bedtime. I had to do gloves on my hands

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

Ped egg twice a week and vaseline at bedtime with socks :)

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A.P.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

Eucerin healing cream and socks at bedtime!

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Soaking is a big deal, I think.

And get a half dozen of those pumice stones on a handle. I do my feet after every shower and it helps with that cracking thing.

Oh--a really nice lotion (not greasy) is Udderly SMOOth (cow prints on the tube.)

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B.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Cracks heels come from the inside...not the outside. Creams are a "band-aid" the underlying cause comes from within. Actually EVERYTHING does! When we feed our insides, out outsides take care of themselves.
An actual SOLUTION is simple, FEED YOUR BODY RIGHT. Start with a good NUTRTIONAL cleanse (I recommend www.SoYouWantToCleanse.com) then continue with GREAT, dense nutrition. It is easy!

B.
Family Success Coach

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I use Ahava Foot Cream and I use Aveeno Bath Oil every day. Put it on after you shower while you are still wet. Let it soak in then dry off. It isn't greasy.

Good luck!

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D.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

HeelTastic works great ( I've seen it at Bed,Bath & Beyond and Walgreens). I combine it with the Ped Egg to exfoliate while in the shower.

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L.M.

answers from Reno on

Hi.

I have found that using lanisohl helps tremendously. It's natural and nursing moms use it for cracked/sore nipples while breastfeeding. It's awesome for most skin problems. Rub some in at night and sleep with socks on. If you can't handle socks on at night, do it during the day with socks on. My brother in law used it on his hands which were cracked from physical labor. Good luck!

D.F.

answers from San Antonio on

I had dry cracked heals for years. It literally took me almost a year to clear it up. Every morning and every night I lotioned my feet. I tried the expensive brands like bath n body works but the good ole Vaseline Intensive Lotion is what I have stuck with. You have to be diligent if you really want to clear it up. And then exfoliate after your showers. I spent the money and got a good one. It takes time but it does get better.
Good luck!!
Blessings!
D.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

So, in between my pedicures, I went and bought a soft sanding block with medium grain sandpaper attached. I use it every 2-3 days after the shower and no more cracking! I live in flip-flops, as most of us in SoCal do! I bought mine for $1 at BigLots, but my aunt found hers at WalMart for $3. I use grapefruit seed oil for everything, even as a facial moisturizer.

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K.C.

answers from New York on

I have to slather both feet with cream before bed. If I miss a night, the cracks come back. I, then, cover my feet with white cotton socks that I wash in detergent free of dyes and perfumes - usually Seventh Generation. I cannot use Tide detergent !

I did see a Podiatrist to rule out any medical concerns. He mentioned to me that I should wear socks during the day throughout winter. At one point, I was wearing slippers with open backs. The doctor told me not to wear any shoes with open backs.

I use the Burt Bee's Cream. It's fabulous !

I also boil a pan of water (take it off the burner) and put my feet over the steam.

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R.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

It took years for me to figure out what was bothering me, rubber shoes and no socks. I love my crocks and flip flops around the house and outside during warm weather, but the plastic and skin touching is cracking my feet. SMOOth Cream also known as Udderly SMOOth (used to be used for cow udders, now also sold for humans) is the best not greasy, not stinky, not expensive and always effective stuff we have found, and we have tried a lot, a lot of products.

Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Vick's VapoRub. LA Times Health section listed this remedy. It works.

M..

answers from Appleton on

Aquaphor before bed and then make sure you put some more on after you shower in the morning and then socks. It does wonders for me! Also, I take Fish Oil. My SIL told me that I should try that. At first I didn't see a difference, but now that I have been taking it for a few months, I do believe it is working well. I have always suffered from cracked heels and fingers and this winter I have not.....

Best of Luck - I know how painful they can be!!!

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I live in AZ and we basically live in flip flops year round. I *had* terrible heels. I got them under control now and they look good. Here's what I do: I use the Ped Egg AFTER I shower in the morning (it says to use when feet are dry, but I don't). It doesn't make them smooth, but it kind of roughs them up. Then right before I go to bed (feel must be all the way dry) I use a super rough nail file (the kind used for acrylic nails) and file them, that gets the dead skin off. Then I put on any kind of lotion, no socks, and go to bed.

In reality, any of these suggestions will work, you just have to be consistant at whatever you decide to do.

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