Cracked Heels and One Cracked Toenail!! What Advice Do You Have??

Updated on August 10, 2010
K.H. asks from Denton, TX
9 answers

Hi Mamas,

I would like advice on what to do about having cracked heels. I do go and get a pedicure at least once a month and still have cracked heels. I use lotion daily and also have a heel brush I use in the shower. What do you use? Also on one foot my second toenail is cracked. I have only one toenail with cracks. And I do where flip flops all the time. The lady at the salon said I must have damaged it and it will grow out. It have been like that for about two years now. It doesn't look nasty or anything just a few cracks running up and down the toenail. Just wondering what it might be and what you use? Thanks in advance.

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Featured Answers

M.C.

answers from Dallas on

I use Heeltastic. That is wonderful stuff! I put it on everyday, sometimes twice a day when i remember and by the end of 3 or 4 days, WOW!! I now use it everyday or everyother day! I can were cute sandals now as wjere before, i was a bit embarrased to. My heels look like my 1 year old now!! Yeah! it is about $10. You WONT be sorry. hope this helps!

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

The cracked toenail could be from damaging your toe. It could also be from an under nail fungus. My husband had a similar problem and it was a fungus-plus hitting the top of his shoes so double trouble. Under nail fungus does not itch, just ugly. We used tea tree oil on the nail, I have also heard that soaking for a few minutes in regular Listerine is good. Since you have had this for a while, you could try it. Uusally there is a bit of discoloration in the nail when fungus is present. IF it is just a matter of dryness, you could put vaseline on the nail at night or when you will wear socks. This is a tip a foot doctor gave my sister. As others have suggested, a good thick lotion at night can do wonders when coupled with the heel brush.

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N.L.

answers from Medford on

Wearing flip flops every day eventually gives me cracked heels. I mix olive oil and salt together and rub my heels with that, then rinse off the mixture and put socks on. The salt rinses off but the olive oil stays on my skin. It feels wonderful.

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C.X.

answers from Dallas on

To keep feet/heels soft, sloughing, lotion, callous removal.... all that stuff helps, but the one thing I never hear people say is wearing shoes ALL OF THE TIME helps. Even in the house. Carpet, wood, all types of flooring sucks the oils right out of your foot. Wearing shoes constantly and doing all the stuff above will help. Someone else here mentions that she notices wearing flip flops causes cracks.... well I wonder if it doesn't have more to do with the fact that flip flops are quick and easy to slide off and on which results in more barefoot walking around the house. I wear flips flops 8 months out of the year and as long as I wear shoes all of the time and do the sloughing/lotion routine, my feet stay soft.

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

Mary Kay's Extra Emolient Night Cream works wonders on this! I'll be more than happy to send you a sample to try if you don't already have a consultant.

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

I bought "heeltastic" for my hubby for Christmas and he loves it. I believe I got it at Walgreen's. You can't wear it on your bare feet on the floor- very slippery. You can put it on at night, maybe with some socks or like he did, put it on and then wear your shoes. He didn't care that it somewhat absorbed into the particular shoes he wore, because it will.

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

I have heard that wearing flip flops a lot causes the cracked heels! And I notice a big difference b/w summer and winter on my feet.
I use the real thick heel balm sold in stores. Basic lotion doesn't cut it at all.

I have heard cracked toe nails are caused by dryness too. Moisturize with that heel cream around the toes and reduce flip flop wear.

Contrary to the previous poster's opinion, foot fungus causes itchy, peeling, burning, toes and soles of feet.

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

I had cracked heels also until I started using a Ped Egg, its great! I basically filed down the calluses and made sure my skin was soft all around, and I used Neosporin on the cracks because some were bleeding (ugh it was horrible)....and then using Eucerin or another thick lotion whenever I could put socks on for a while helped too. As long as the skin is thick and callused where the cracks are, they will continue to crack and not heal since the callused skin is dead.

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A.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Fungus causes cracks in heels and toenails. Go see a dermatologist.

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