Painful Cracks on heels, Help! ?

Question

Used a callous shaver already and for the last two days the crack actually went deeper and is red and in my flesh! Should I used super glue. Heel repair lotion and generic neosporin haven't worked. All the callouses are gone but when I walk it's terribly painful just keeps getting deeper! HELP!

Answer 1

Every time your skin dries out from a shower or neosporin application, the crack is going to get worse because the skin goes from hydrated and soft to dry which contracts the skin and pulls the crack further apart. If you keep the skin moist by using enough neosporin(or bacitracin) under a large waterproof bandiad (nexcare brand is great) you'll create an environment a lot like a blister(or scab) which is how your body heals itself naturally. An un-popped blister or scab provides a protective shield, under which there is a fluid produced by the surrounding tissues called serum(if it's white or cloudy then the serum has immune cells in it, which is what your body sends to fight infection, also known as pus). Your skin mends itself the best in the blister environment because the serum and the protective cover of skin it's under form a pillow over the area that needs to heal.

As for the glue idea, Liquid Band-Aid(sold in the band-aid aisle of most drug stores) has anti-septic and pain relief ingredients, and is ideal for hand and foot wounds which hard placed to keep a band-aid on. However, for your heal, I would be worried about trapping lint, dirt or bacteria into the wound, the glue would be such a strong barrier that your body would have a hard time getting rid of the debris. The debris should easily become dislodged and come off with bandage changes.

Don't forget to clean the wound with an anti-septic before you bandage it up  with the anti-bacterial ointment If the band-aid wont stay on you could wrap it in a bit of tape and gauze or even an ace bandage. Keep it well covered and slathered in the anti-bacterial ointment for a full week without letting it dry out at all, it's worked for me in the past and I hope it works for you as well.  

Answer 2

Could be atheletes foot if deep cracking else where on your feet.. A good moisturiser and clean socks should work, esp around the home.

Answer 3

I get deep cracked heels also, most often in the summer. I have tried Vaseline and covered my feet with plastic wrap then a sock at bedtime. No good. The thing which works the BEST is something a dairy farmer told me he and his family use, as do other farmers. I have used it, not at bed time but during the day and it is excellent--although it stains your socks, which clean up with a washing.

The stuff is called Bag Balm. Don't laugh. It's used to soften the cows' udders when they crack. Just like some people use horse--mane and tail shampoo for their hair because it's so good, this really works. It's about $10.00 at a local Co-op, or feed store.

It may sound gross or stupid, but, believe me, it is the only thing which really works. Even if you don't choose mine as the best answer, try it anyways.

Answer 4

Soak your feet in Empsin Salt -

dry off and be sure to cover with Dr. Scholls cracked heal cream.

Wear socks too so dirt doesn't get in the cracks.

Be sure to use any cream that is pure/natural and nothing like mineral oil, vaseline - (petroleum)

Don't use the razor as you risk an infection - be sure it's healing otherwise see an MD if it gets worse.

Keep a pumice stone handy in the shower so when your feet start to feel better you remove dead skin this way every day to help build up.

A pure/natural oil I use is Vaseline Intensive Care all natural Cocoa Oil - it's clear/brown and really great.

Look in the foot section of the drug store for now for your painful feet.