What can I do for super dry, cracked, and crusty feet?
Question:
ANYONE KNOW WHAT I CAN DO FOR HER TO GET HER FEET BACK TO BEING SOFT AND SUPLE?
I HAVE TRIED REGULAR FOOT LOTIONS AND THEY HELP A LITTLE BUT NOT 100%. I HAVE ALSO TRIED COATING HER FEET IN VASELINE AND PUTTING SOCKS ON HER OVER NIGHT FOR SEVERAL NIGHTS. IT SOFTENS THEM A LITTLE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THE CRACKS.
ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Answers:
If any of the cracks are raw looking or bleeding apply neosporin and check daily. If these do not heal quickly or if your grandma has diabetes, take her to the doctor.
As you probably surmise this will not be one time fix. Getting and keeping the skin on the feet will take continued effort.
First of all Grandma needs some easily washed cotton socks.
Nylons or socks made with synthetics make the problem worse. These socks should be roomy. I don't recommend the one size fits all. If you can not find women's sizes that are nice and roomy, try mens white cotton socks for around the house and at night.
Next get a bottle of Castor oil. If you can find it, the unscented kind is more pleasant to use . Check with a pharmacist. After washing and drying the feet apply Castor oil to the crusty patches and then put on socks.
As people age their skin gets much more fragile, I would not use any of those scrapers or callous cutter on myself and I do not recommend any of those for your grandma. After 2 or 3 days of applying the caster oil, at least, once a day before bed time. Soak the feet in mild soapy warm water. Use a rough wash cloth or facial scrub to remove softened crust. Do not over do!! Rinse feet in cool ( this a summer time suggestion) water that has a little bit if vinegar added.
Continue to apply the Castor oil; wear socks and soak every other day until the crusty spots and cracks are gone.
If grandma's health permits encourage her to exercise. Exercise improves circulation which is good for the skin of the feet.
I find that the 30 or 40 minutes I spend in the pool several times a week also help keep down the thickening of skin on my feet. If swimming is not an option realized that long soaks in cool water ... for summer or slightly warm water for winter can be helpful. Apply castor oil or ***bag balm after soaks.
Speaking of winter ***"bag balm" is what I use on my feet after swimming in the winter. If you live in a rural area it is available at "feed" stores. I have seen it at Walgreens you might ask around your area. A green box of it will last for years.
Note about wearing socks... In the winter I have no problem keeping socks on my feet. During warm weather they sometimes drive me crazy . it is okay to take the socks off after about an hour; the caster oil has had time to "soak in" by then.
When the feet are in good shape, you will need to do this treatment only 2 or 3 times a month to keep them in shape.
100% Vitamin E oil rubbed on the feet may help a little.
You should try CORN HUSKERS lotion..Soak the feet and be sure to dry between the toes...You may also use a loath spunge...Good Luck
Have you soaked them and then used a pumice stone or the razors that are specifically for dry calloused feet?
This is something that will have to be done over time. You won't get results right away. It is a process.
You might want to go to a nail salon and get a pedicure. That will help, too.
Just be careful if you are a diabetic with neuropothay.
Good Luck,
DeAnna
Ask a greasy Arab they have the funk they might know
Make an appointment with her Dr. They might give her something to take orally that will help with this.
First of all, Your Grandmother needs a professional pedicure to start with.
After that, she should apply Petroleum Jelly on her feet twice daily and place socks over them. But this should be done after bathing and before bedtime. Keep this up for one month and notice the difference.
I get cracked feet too. Give her a pedicure, (dont have to do toes). use special foot scrubs with those grains of sand in them and scrub. Theres also this little thing that looks like a black rock thats real rough (sorry dont know where to get them or what theyre called!) that are specially for scrubbing cracked heels. my favorite thing to use is this tool that kinda looks like a cheese grater, I think its called a callous remover. run that over the entire cracked area of the foot and you will be STUNNED at all the dry skin that just falls off. Youre gonna get piles of it. Make sure the foot has soaked in warm water about 10 minutes first though. Dont stop doing the sock and vaseline thing either. with time you'll see results. I had awful feet and this worked for me. Good luck!
take her to get a pedicure spa treatment. i go as often as i can, my feet stay soft and smooth even in flip flops even for a few weeks!
Putting vaseline in her feet with socks it will just dry it more...Dry skin on any part of the body can be annoying and can cause flaking and cracking of the skin, redness due to scratching, and unsightly patches of thick/hard skin. However, when dry skin occurs on the feet, the symptoms of discomfort are magnified due to shoe wear, the stretching of the skin on the feet each time we step down, and by certain synthetic materials in the socks and shoes that dry the skin out even more. Because of the confining nature of the shoes we wear and the lack of fresh air that hits the skin of the feet due our socks and shoes, dry feet need specialized care in order to prevent pain. The heels of the feet are the areas that seem to be the most prone to develop dry, hard, and painful cracks or fissures. Even though the following discussion centers on the heels, this information applies to all areas of the feet which present with dry, hard, and cracked skin.
If the cracks are deep, bleeding may occur
Dry and cracked skin is prone to bacteria and fungal infections which can cause serious problems
Wear well padded and supportive shoes that will protect your feet, at all times. Do not go barefoot!
Avoid nylon and rayon socks, as these materials cause dryness of the skin.
Each night before going to sleep, soak your feet in a half and half mixture of mineral oil and lukewarm water (hot water dries the skin). Soak for 10 minutes. After soaking, massage the mixture that remains on the feet into the skin. (The same solution can be used for a few days). Put on clean soaks, or for an added benefit, put on a pair of our Gel Dry Skin Therapy Socks (see above).
If pain becomes worse, if you have open sores, or if you think that you may have an infection, visit your doctor immediately.
Gel Dry Skin Therapy Socks
These socks are uniquely effective in treating and preventing dry cracked skin, without the use of messy lotions. Powerful treatment, but gentle enough to be approved for diabetics. The socks are lined with Silipos' proprietary soft polymer fragrance-free gel that comfortably conforms to your feet while gradually releasing medical-grade mineral oil to moisturize and lubricate the skin. The gel is hypoallergenic, does not support bacterial growth and has been dermatologist tested. The cotton/nylon/Lycra socks are latex free and have a non-restrictive cuff that keeps them from falling down, but does not restrict circulation. Gel Therapy Socks are washable and re-usable and, when worn for at least two to three times per week, will provide moisturizing benefits for months, depending on frequency and length of use. These socks come as a pair; one-size-fits-all.
Order yours from OurFootDoctor.com: $39.00 per pair
good luck
More Questions & Answers...