What to do about a bad case of "Zombie Hoof"...

7/9/11

[Bean Counter]

Every summer without fail, I get the worst case of what the Missus and I call "Zombie Hoof", where my heels crack open till they bleed. It is painful enough that I hesitate to put on shoes and it is difficult to walk.

I've been using this heel balm ("Flexitol") the Missus came up with at Walgreens and it works fairly well on the worst of the cracks, but after the fact and it takes a good three days till it stops hurting. The cream is made in Australia, and the label says the main ingredient is concentrated urea. (No, it does not smell bad, it has some fragrance added to it.)

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/flexitol-heel-balm/ID=prod399159-product

When I rub it in it burns a bit, and eventually the rind softens up and some healing begins, but the deep cracks remain around the back of my heel, and eventually they crack open all over again.

Does anyone have a product that works for a problem like this? My foot hurts so bad right now I can hardly walk on it and I'm open to any and all suggestions....(let's just try and keep it polite....)

[Concho]

I use a leather preservative from Whites boots, it is beeswax and natural oils and propolis. I noticed when I was greasing my fire boots that my hands got real soft, and the stuff healed up some dermatitis on the backs of my hands. I used it on my feet to soften calluses and heal my heels. It works.

http://www.whitesboots.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29836

[Jo Nuvark]

Yup. Chapstick works every time and really fast.
If you can find some with eucalyptus and camphor
even better.

See Post #20,

[Blood of Tyrants]

My wive is using a product called Heeltastic. From Walgreens also.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Don’t bother with the balms, etc. until you get the skin repaired and closed.

You need a prescription cortisone-based cream. Use that as directed (not too much, or it will be counter-productive), until the skin heals itself. You can use some daily moisturizer on it while using the scrip cream.

I had severely dry fingers a few years back (same thing, cracked and bleeding) and this was the only thing that fixed it.

Also, watch your diet, that you are drinking plenty of water and, if you can, something like olive oil so that you are moisturizing from the inside out.

Remember that those balms really only seal the skin so that the natural moisture of the skin doesn’t dry out too fast. Very few of them actually push a moisturizer into the skin.

[rabidralph]

Neutrogena Hand Cream might help, but I agree with the others, it could be a vitamin deficiency.

[dangerdoc]

+

[Tax Government]

I would start with the assumption that this is partly a skin fungal infection. (Not dismissing all the advice given by others.) I had something similar once, but it was not severe.

Bathe daily with J&J Clean & Clear Continuous Control acne cleanser. It is a white paste, 10% benzoyl peroxide. Under $5 at Wal-Mart. This kills skin organisms all over the body, and leaves a residue that keeps working through the day. It’s good for fungal infections or rash-like irritations anywhere on the body. (You make that list.)

Also take anti-fungal steps with the shoes — spray them. Make sure fungus isn’t in the towels by changing them with every use, washing them on the hottest setting and with a double rinse. Treat bathroom surfaces with lysol.

[keat]

I use Gold Bond cream. It comes in one of those upside-down tubes with the large flat cap just like the toothpaste we buy.

Which explains why my wife came down the hall one evening into a dimly lit bedroom to find me spreading Crest Whitening toothpaste on my heels.

Good thing out was just my heels.

[Tax Government]

B/t/w, what I said about the acne cleanser is based on personal experience, and is not intended as medical advice. Read the label, discontinue use at the sign of any unacceptable irritation, and consult your medical professional.

[PENANCE]

What Tax Government said. It could be a fungal infection. In which case, no amount of lotions will fix it. You should go to a podiatrist. OR,

Antifungal & Antibiotic Treatments Cracked skin can also indicate a fungal infection. Try alternating the use of an antifungal foot cream like Avon Foot Works Antifungal Foot Cream with an exfoliating product. If you need a more accessible antifungal treatment, you can opt for no-frills drugstore versions of athlete's foot treatments. Worried about the deeper fissures that may open your skin to infection? Apply antibiotic ointment to the fissures at night such as Neosporin. In addition to the antibacterial benefits, Neosporin also contains cocoa butter, olive oil, and petrolatum, all of which help soften skin by preventing water loss. With both antifungal and antibiotic medications, use the products for at least a few weeks to get rid of symptoms.

If it's not fungal, most lotions will only make the problem worse. Were I you, I'd get a couple pair of socks that I don't mind losing, slather my feet with a thick coating of vaseline before bed (neosporin would be even better, but could get pricey), and sleep with the socks over the vaseline covered feet for at least a week of nights.

[Calamari]

Go to a doctor.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Sometimes foot cracks are a manifestation of psoriasis.

In other cases, some dermatologists say that if you wear polyester socks, you should switch to cotton socks, and vice versa.

Corn Husker’s solution may help, but should only be applied to the cracked areas, as it could leave the rest of the foot too tender.

If it is fungal, the fungus might be so deeply embedded that topicals won’t work, but there are oral antifungal pills that, while they take months to work, purge the fungus from the inside out.

[Jonty30]

I used to get that very bad. So bad, that for all intents and purposes, I was basically crippled. But I do three things that have helped immensely.

1. I drink more water. If your urine has any colour in it, you are dehydrated.

2. Keep my feet warm.

3. Get a callous scraper to deal with the dry skin that builds up around the crack line.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Bingo!! Try Bag Balm, works on sensitive cow udders, it ought to work on your heels.

[gura]

I get dry heels, but it became unbearable due to what was really just a bad case of athlete’s foot.

You know what _really_ works? Antifreeze. Ethylene glycol.

[svcw]

My daughter had the same issue. Her doctor told her it actually was a kind of fungus. She took meds but in the mean time put a thick cream on and wore white socks to bed, in about two months gone, and it has been two years now.
Me, I just go get pedicures every other week, that works as well.

[dadgum]

My lovely Pinay better 1/2, would suggest 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil 3x/day orally. It’s their version of Greek “Windex”...

[oneolcop]

Amlactin. I had the same problem. The dermatologist I saw said it is the only stuff that works 100% of the time.

[bgill]

Mine do the same and is caused by not wearing heels in your shoes (barefoot and flip-flops) so your heels don't get sweaty which keeps them moister and softer. Keep your heels sanded. There's a product made by Dr. Scholl's that looks like a large emory board with a plastic handle that works for me. Walmart sells them cheap. Use it every few nights to sand down the dry cracked stuff. At first, it takes some muscle but keep at each foot about 10 minutes a night. You should be down to the soft skin in a week. After that, sand them about once a week (your mileage may vary) and use a standard lotion afterward.

I'm sure the girly one would work on manly feet or they have the same product in a package labelled "for him", lol.

[bgill]

I threw that egg shaped scraper out. It literally cut and ripped the skin to shreds and hurts (duh). I used it once and daughter used it once and it went out to the garbage.