Help, the heels of my feet look just awful. I have been putting lotion on them for two days, Does anyone have any suggestions to get the moisture back in them?

-- Melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002

Answers

Use petroleum jelly on them and wear socks over it over night for awhile.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002.

Can you get a few drops of "pure" lavender. I use lavender "pure" to heal all bug bites and also as a massage. But make sure it is the real stuff. A lot of people sell the frangrance which will do nothing for you. Of course you can overdo it and smell like a lavender bush. Just a few drops Debbie

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), May 06, 2002.

Yikes..I hate that Melinda! I use Virgin Olive Oil. I would take a bath or soak your feet and pat them dry and then load em down with the Olive Oil..it would not hurt a thing to put your socks on and let it work while you sleep....good luck to you!

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), May 06, 2002.

Bag Balm.....this stuff is terrific..it's a combination of petroleum jelly and lanolin and all sorts of goodies..originally used to heal cracked cow udders (hence the name), farmers have been using it for over 100 years in the NorthEast to cure chilbains and chapped feet etc.......It costs around $12 for a tin which should last a good year or more and you can get it through Lehmans online. There just isn't anything like it!

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), May 06, 2002.

Bag balm's the best,take it from this barefooted redneckgirl!!!! Also I've started spray my feet with vinegar every night after I get a shower and it helps also.I was told (by my Dr.) the deep cracks on my heels are from going barefooted and the scaly skin on the bottom is fungus (didn't want to take the meds with bad side-affects) so far both have gone away. Now I only use the vinegar 2-3 times weekly and bag balm when needed.

-- Sandy(N.E.Fl) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), May 06, 2002.

don't use petroleum jelly, Love Mom

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

Are you drinking enough water every day? Water deficiency could be part of your problem.

-- clove (clovis97@Yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

Hey there, Cindy! Just curious. Why not petroleum jelly? I've cured the problem for many years with that and was wondering.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Often you can buy bag balm in Quilt stores-I like that stuff. Also Cornhuskers Lotion is good.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

My husband uses Bag Balm every day then puts on socks. Keeps his feet in good shape. I buy it at Medicine Chest here and it is $6.00, half the price of Lehmans.

-- Nancy (nannyb@huntel.net), May 07, 2002.

I'd vote for the bag balm and socks too. I do that on my hands before bedtime and it has helped the dryness and cracks. I use Corn Husker's lotion during the day because it's not greasy.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhillfarm@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

I've used tea tree oil on my hands and elbows for this and it seemed to work good but it could have just been luck or coincidence. Has anyone else has tried tea tree oil for this?

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), May 08, 2002.

Dave -- I've never used Tea Tree oil for that -- but it sure works on deterring "critters"!

Melinda -- I have the same problem, and I've found only two things that work for me -- One is Body Shoppe Peppermint foot lotion -- it is expensive, but it REALLY works. The second (when I'm not feeling rich!) is Curel lotion. Rub it in a little at a time until it's fully absorbed, then a bit more and a bit more, until your feet won't absorb any more.

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), May 08, 2002.

I bought bag balm at walmart .They also have udder cream that is not greasy.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Your really want to know how to moisture back in your feet. Simple stop going bare foot often and where socks always when going out and when alos workingout after 3 weeks no more problems.

-- Your Cabrone AL (al_garzon@yahoo.com), July 30, 2002.

Hi, by accident i discovered how to alleviate my chronic aching bunions and dry cracked heal problems. We use oil of oregano for a number of ailments, so I was reading an essential oil book and it said that chronic dry cracked feet can be a result of yeast or fungual problems and that oil of oregano would help. It also was an anti-inflammatory and helped the pain. So I faithfully began rubbing it on my feet every night before i went to bed. My feet are as soft as a babies bottom, and the pain has been greatly reduced. We bought several expensive brands of oil of oregano, until we finally got it in bulk from the source. We now bottle it ourselves. Check us out at oregoil.com

-- beth meissner (beth@oregoil.com), August 03, 2002.

The Facts on Mineral Oil Mineral oil is a mixture or refined liquid hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. It is colorless, transparent, odorless and tasteless. When heated, mineral oil smells like petroleum. It doesn't resemble what is found naturally in the skin. Mineral oil is commonly used by suppliers of skincare because it is a cheap inexpensive ingredient, commonly used as a cosmetic lubricant, protective agent and binder. Noevir does not use mineral oil in its Skincare products for two reasons. One reason is that mineral oil cannot be found in human sebum. Therefore, it is not natural to the skin. Another reason is that when mineral oil is used with petroleum-based synthetic surface active agents, it enters the skin and builds up under the skin's surface. When this happens, the workings of the skin get all out of sync. Mineral oil is absorbed poorly into the skin and, by interfering with the skin's natural moisturizing factor, actually produces dry skin, clogs the pores (which makes them larger), hardens and thickens the skin, causing dark patches in the complexion and causes breakouts!!

Research suggests allergic reactions such as eczema, rashes, acne, and scaliness, can be caused by artificial preservatives, fragrances, colors, and emulsifiers. Studies funded by the FDA implicate artificial fragrances and synthetic preservatives as the major allergens, along with pore-clogging petrochemicals like mineral oil.

-- Justine (sagesdream@hotmail.com), August 29, 2002.

Hey there, I just wanted to say thanks..I actually had the same question and everyone hear seems to think (well majority does) votes for Bag Balm..sorry to say I had never heard of it..but will be looking for it soon to soothe my dry feet and elbows..THANK YOU EVERYBODY!

-- Brooke (freekwowarningya@aol.com), September 08, 2002.

Does anyone know if you can get Bag Balm in Australia?

-- Nina Springle (nina@mira.net), September 15, 2002.

I was looking for information on where to buy Bag Balm and it says that is not approved for use on humans? Anybody know why are there side effects?

-- Deneen (neener@stargate.net), September 19, 2002.

I think you sprout horns and a few more nipples? Hee hee. j/k I grew up on a farm and we used Bag Balm on ourselves and the animals. No side affects here. I hadn't thought about using it on my feet, going to have to go find a tin of it.

-- Sonja (schane@journalist.com), September 22, 2002.

Does anyone know where to buy BAG BALM in San Jose, CA? Is that what its called?

-- Michele O'Hanlon (break_yourself_fools@yahoo.com), October 05, 2002.