View Full Version : Chapped Feet?
Traveler
02-19-2015, 09:55
Something new for me and was wondering if anyone had this occur.
Chapped feet is what I call it. The condition just appeared the other day, dried and cracked/flaking skin on the outside edge of both feet. Some of the cracks are deep into the skin and are painful. This just appeared a day or so after a rather long snowshoeing day, though I don't believe there is a connection.
Is anyone familiar with this? I am using Vaseline to soften the skin, but I'm not sure if thats helping or hindering the healing.
Getting old isn't for sissies.....
garlic08
02-19-2015, 10:03
Bleeding skin cracks are a curse for some of us, on feet and fingertips for me. It's only bad in winter, but a summer hike in dirty conditions can cause it too. I was a firefighter in a previous life, and wet freezing conditions pretty much guaranteed some miserable days.
There are several solutions. My favorite is a homemade bar made of equal parts beeswax and olive oil, easily made in a microwave and formed in an ice cube tray.
Bonnie's Balm Climber's Salve?
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/minimizing-the-effects-and-aftermath-of-wet-feet/
If you are in farm country, bag balm applied to your hands. It could be very good for what you are describing.
I get USP lanolin for the edges of my index fingers because they get "chapped" if I don't stuff my hands in pockets or wear gloves in winter cold.
Lanolin, yes. Most lotions, no.
Recently, I am using Eucerin "Aquaphor" healing ointment because I can't find USP lanolin, locally.
DeerPath
02-19-2015, 10:34
Cosmetic Dept lady at Walgreens recommended Curel Ultra Healing to me. It works very fast, seems like overnight, and I recommend it. Comes in small tubes if you want to pack it.
http://www.curel.com/products/ultra-healing.aspx
Sole Solution by Nu Skin. Works well and fast. Recommended to me by a pedicurist.
Bag Balm has the identical anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredient as Nu Skin, 8-hydroxyquinoline, plus it has lanolin.
I haven't found the ingredients list for Sole Solution.
The price of Bag Balm is favorable.
Bag Balm has been used for hands and feet, probably more than for dairy cows.
illabelle
02-19-2015, 11:34
Haven't needed to try it myself, but I've heard of people using superglue to close the cracks (clean 'em up first, of course).
Old Grouse
02-19-2015, 11:59
+1 on Bag Balm for dry and cracked feet. I'm also somewhat susceptable to chilblains, which I attribute, rightly or wrongly, to my English heritage.
You're right about old age not being for sissies, brother.
"chilblains" might be nothing more than otherwise imperceptible "dead skin" nowadays referred to as not well exfoliated skin.
I was once told the deep cracking of the edge of my index fingers was "chilblains".
I don't know what "chilblains" are. The problem I have described is, actually, exfoliating skin that doesn't easily release as for others: toweling off, after washing is the remedy for most. Few people actually need a mild exfoliant.
This is true of feet.
This is true of face.
This is true after shower. It explains that rolled off dead skin seen after shower.
The deep cracking and bleeding is first seen on index fingers and feet.
If you let it go, the "risk" is having to treat your damaged feet, for months, with ammonium lactate lotion and clean socks. This means, "calloused" built-up dead cells are not better than not. If these cracks develop in callouses, the problem is more difficult.
It is better to somewhat vigorously towel feet twice or more, washing between towelling, again, if necessary.
This also explains the value of a good soak in the tub: the exfoliating skin releases more easily.
However, do that in advance to avoid having a problem.
Once there is a problem, careful washing. Better: ask someone skilled in foot care. Maybe not necessarily a podiatrist. I think it may be part of having a pedicure liscense.
pumice stone really helps my flaky heels in the winter, scrub gently to help the exfoliating process. then apply one of the lotions mentioned above.
.com
Tuckahoe
02-19-2015, 13:44
http://www.marykay.com/en-US/Body-Sun/Mary-Kay-Extra-Emollient-Night-Cream/100407.partId?eCatId=10001
I work outside, in a forge, and so dry hands and feet are an issue I have dealt with many times. I have found though that the product that best works for me is Mary Kay's Extra Emollient Night Cream. I use a little just before bed and I have not had an issue with dry hands of feet for a long time. Yeah I know its meant for ladies, but I am secure enough to use it and happy with the results.
Spirit Walker
02-19-2015, 14:07
When I get the cracks, Vaseline will heal them up in a day or two.
http://www.marykay.com/en-US/Body-Sun/Mary-Kay-Extra-Emollient-Night-Cream/100407.partId?eCatId=10001
I work outside, in a forge, and so dry hands and feet are an issue I have dealt with many times. I have found though that the product that best works for me is Mary Kay's Extra Emollient Night Cream. I use a little just before bed and I have not had an issue with dry hands of feet for a long time. Yeah I know its meant for ladies, but I am secure enough to use it and happy with the results.
I may need to try that out. I work in steel toes 12 hour shifts. Pruned feet are a problem if I can't change shoes and socks mid shift.
Old Grouse
02-19-2015, 15:18
Connie: This is what chilblains are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilblains
OG
Nodust, Andrew Skurka specifically dealt with pruned feet, if the photos and description are identical.
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/minimizing-the-effects-and-aftermath-of-wet-feet/
Looking around for 100% USP Lanolin I found Lanolin Hydrous.
It has deionized water, I guess, added to make the lanolin soft and pliable: dei-water.
Nodust, Andrew Skurka specifically dealt with pruned feet, if the photos and description are identical.
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/minimizing-the-effects-and-aftermath-of-wet-feet/
Thinking of trying that also. Thanks for the info.
Traveler
02-19-2015, 19:30
Great feed back, thanks to everyone! I had never heard of this before and was a little surprised it was as common as it seems. Perhaps my feet will behave better with one of these solutions.
FlyFishNut
02-19-2015, 19:40
invest $10 bucks into a vat of Bag Balm..... it works wonders. Don't let your issue get out of control - use Bag Balm all the time as a preventative.
peakbagger
02-19-2015, 19:51
There is a another skin issue that winter climbers and those in wet conditions called trench foot. Mountaineers get it due to wearing their boots for long periods. There have been a couple of folks trying to set records on the AT that have been sidelined by it when they run continuously in wet shoes.
FlyFishNut
02-20-2015, 16:27
There is a another skin issue that winter climbers and those in wet conditions called trench foot. Mountaineers get it due to wearing their boots for long periods. There have been a couple of folks trying to set records on the AT that have been sidelined by it when they run continuously in wet shoes.
Doesn't sound like he has trench foot to me. We were taught in the Marines to look out for this, usually occurs when feet have been wet for too long. We were always taught to look out for feet turning white and skin peeling..... Here is additional info.
Affected feet may become numb, affected by erythrosis (turning red) or cyanosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanosis) (turning blue) as a result of poor vascular supply, and feet may begin to have a decaying odor due to the possibility of the early stages of necrosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrosis) setting in. As the condition worsens, feet may also begin to swell. Advanced trench foot often involves blisters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blister) and open sores (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_sore), which lead to fungal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus) infections; this is sometimes called tropical ulcer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_ulcer) (jungle rot).
I think this describes what was happened to Andrew Shurka on his long hike in Alaska.
I put the link higher up this thread. He has photos of his feet.