Each one of my heels is cracked (vertical split, about 1/2 inch long) in one spot and it hurts to walk. Just when I think they’re healing, it starts to hurt again.
Short of duct-taping the edges together, how can I help them heal?
Also, I’ve been getting pedicures every two weeks for a couple of months now, is this causing it?
The jacuzzi?
::limp limp limp::
Ow. And I mean that sincerely.
The only time my heels did that was when my feet got really dry from wearing sandles all the time. I had to slather on some cream and sleep in my socks for a couple of nights and wear shoes and socks for a couple of days for it to heal.
First, may I say… OW! Since you probably can’t refrain from walking, I’d say follow Arden Ranger’s advice. Let them heal at night. Neosporin, etc.
And I would avoid the duct tape. I tried protecting my toes from the evils of summer sandals with the tape of the gods last week. I ended up with toes that were stuck to my shoes. And I’d expect that duct tape sticks really well to the inside of socks.
Of course, it might help if you stopped walking on razor blades… 
I used to have this problem to the point that there were many deep cracks in my feet, occasionally preventing me from walking. Here are some suggestions:
Wear socks all the time, with shoes rather than sandals, including inside your home.
Shave the excess calloused skin off your heels (obviously you can’t do this until your heels are healed, but it will help stave off future problems).
Apply moisturizing cream several times a day. (Might as well put your hubby to work applying the suff).
If you still have a problem, visit your doctor (I had to do this many years ago, and was helped greatly by a simple topical cortisone-based cream prescription).
Sue, I had the same problem recently. The skin around the heel area was very dry, itched like crazy, and cracks were threatening.
I have found that applying Bag Balm after my shower each day leaves me with happy, supple tootsies. The ‘homey scent’ takes some getting used to, but the results are worth it.
and my feet crack and bleed. The solution was a thick coat of vasaline on my feet every night covered with brand-new cotton socks. It helps if you start doing this at the first signs of breakdown. It also helps to wear socks 24/7 and use a moisturizer on your feet during the day (I recommend Moisturel-expensive but efficient).
Thanks for the advice.
I have started the serious moisturizing, and I use a…well, I don’t know what it’s called. It looks like a big-ass nail file. I sand off my callouses a few times a week.
You all have pretty much confirmed that my problem is moisture. I walk around barefoot most of the day and usually wear some sort of sandal if need be. I didn’t have this problem when I was wearing sneakers and socks all winter, so I suspect you’ve nailed it.
Thanks again!
Just another thought Sue: I had the same prob when I was a teen with a paper route - my feet were getting wet all the time and then drying out and cracking so deep you could see the meat deep inside :shudder:
Tar Bath.
Yup, its as gross as it sounds. Go to a pharmacy and ask about it, then soak your feet. It fixed mine up in no time at all.
What you describe is worse than just dry skin, and moisturizers might not clear it up completely.
Good luck. Oh, and my WAG: its the jacuzzi.
The thick skin on my heels cracked too. After a shower or something, when the were wet, they were O.K. As they dried out the thick skin on either side of the crack would shrink down, opening the crack more. Owwie, owwie, ow, ow.
Moisturizer, and Neo-sporin helped. And, oddly, wool socks. (They kept the skin dry so it didn’t get sweaty and dry back out and pull my heel apart. I guess.) The biggest help was a pumice stone (like your nail file thingy). I scraped off the worst fo the callus, which kept the skin from shrinking as much, so it didn’t pull itself apart.
So it’s not your Jacuzzi, it’s getting out of your Jacuzzi.