Dry Cracking Feet help

[jcramin]

I have horrible allergies especially outdoor, and I am on medication for it which works excellent. I am able to do any out door activities with very few allergy problems as long as I stay on my medication.

BUT, of course allergy medications dry you out, and the worst side affect I have is dry cracking skin on my feet. Mostly the soles of my feet, and if I don't keep lotion on them they get very painful.

NOW the question I have is, I am just now getting back into backpacking with my son. I haven't hiked or backpacked for 25 years.

What is the best way to keep my feet in shape for backpacking. Of course I don't want them too soft and smooth to the point I get more blisters ,but I also don't want them dry and cracking to the point it causes pain when walking.

Any witch craft, home remedies, or even drug store medication would be appreciated

Thanks,
J

[take-a-knee]

Champhor Ice is the best palliative treatment for dry cracked skin, that is only treating a symptom though. Allergies often have a dietary cause, leukotrienes are a by product of digesting too many refined carbohydrates. Cut out sugar, pasta, breads, etc and go on a diet that is "metabolically correct" may help your ailments. Check out Dr Barry Sears' Zone Diet.

[Bearpaw88]

My callouses craked often while hiking. The remedy that worked best for me was to pumice around the crack to remove dead skin. Then rub on it a mixture of vasaline (or similar) and neosporine. This took care of all my cracking problems.

[neighbor dave]

drink more water and rub eucerin on yer feet all the time

[Maddog]

i use aquaphor. its like medicated vaseline.

[neighbor dave]

yup and drink water

[Bucky Katt]

I was born with bunions on both of my feet and as a result of the way I walk, I have really hard callouses on the bottoms of my feet underneath my second toe. They have cracked many times before and are very painful when they do. I've tried using a pummice stone and it has helped some, but one thing I've been told to try is something called "flexitol" heel balm. I am told you can find it in just about any drug store. Maybe that'll work for ya?

[neighbor dave]

buy some 100 grit emery cloth and sand 'em down, then lather on the grease

[JAK]

I would try some natural grease also, like lanolin, if your not allergic to that.
You can buy it in tubes that are sold to breastfeeding women.

It is sheeps grease, but is medical grade, so they must sanitize or sterilize it somehow.

[JAK]

http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanol.../dp/B000QVOXCY

[JAK]

That stuff might also be a good way to help prevent frostbite or trenchfoot.

[Gaiter]

Johnson's Foot Soap, every once in a while, will be good for your feet, also using lotion every day

[Gaiter]

woops heres the link http://www.johnsonsfootsoap.com

[mudcap]

http://www.bagbalm.com/

I have great luck with Bag Balm.

[jcramin]

WOW thanks for all t he GREAT information. I will try it all until I find the one that works for me.

J

[Spirit Walker]

Vaseline for me and if the cracks are so bad it hurts to walk, moleskin over them. They generally close up in a day or two.

[garlic08]

I started using a beeswax/olive oil bar, like this: http://www.hiveharvest.com/hand_bars.html

It's the best solution I've found for the cracking feet, a chronic life-long problem for me.

[Mother's Finest]

proper fit and support becomes much more important for a person like yourself....

you do not want any shear going on since you are pre-disposed to problems.

peace
mf

[jcramin]

proper fit and support becomes much more important for a person like yourself....

you do not want any shear going on since you are pre-disposed to problems.

peace
mf

Good point, thank you for the info, I never even thought about that.

J

[Roots]

I have horrible allergies especially outdoor, and I am on medication for it which works excellent. I am able to do any out door activities with very few allergy problems as long as I stay on my medication.

BUT, of course allergy medications dry you out, and the worst side affect I have is dry cracking skin on my feet. Mostly the soles of my feet, and if I don't keep lotion on them they get very painful.

NOW the question I have is, I am just now getting back into backpacking with my son. I haven't hiked or backpacked for 25 years.

What is the best way to keep my feet in shape for backpacking. Of course I don't want them too soft and smooth to the point I get more blisters ,but I also don't want them dry and cracking to the point it causes pain when walking.

Any witch craft, home remedies, or even drug store medication would be appreciated

Thanks,
J

Vaseline. I have the same problem but not when I use vaseline.