Barefoot Running Advice » Tips & Tricks

Cracked pads - dry climate

(4 posts)
  • Started 2 months ago by mjsull
  • Latest reply from pythelico

  1. mjsull
    Member

    I'm new to BFR (and VFF) and am transitioning from shod. I live in the Las Vegas area where 10% is considered high humidity. Before starting BFR I occasionally had trouble with overly dry feet and cracks in my pads. I'm gradually building my pads up but have occasionally had problems with deep (and painful) cracks in my pads, especially around the heel area and between toes.

    I'm interested in recommendations for treating the problem. Around the house we have various hand and body lotions, but I'm reluctant to use them and soften the pads too much.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  2. pythelico
    Member

    MJ,

    I have the same problem. I have to put something on my feet or, running or not, I'm going to get heel cracks (and toe cracks - underneath or on the side of my big toe - during the winter).

    I haven't found a perfect solution but, I use cocoa butter almost every day and that seems to help. I also soak my feet daily when it starts getting bad and then put the cocoa butter on right after and some socks on over that.

    Anything with Lanolin in it appears to work for me and the cocoa butter I use has lanolin and also doesn't smell like medicine or too girly (sorry, I'm a guy and my feet will not smell like flowers while I still draw breath!).

    Hope that helps some. If you come across something that you think works well, please post it here.

    Kelly

    Posted 2 months ago #

  3. greglby
    Member

    Foot file and Burt's Bees Hand Salve (Beeswax, minty smell). If not, I get amazing bleeding cracks in my heels. Very painful. Utah, so very dry climate also.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  4. pythelico
    Member

    I went to a traditional Indian wedding last night with my family. It was a blast and extremely interesting and entertaining (though very long!).

    Most people had sandals or were barefoot. You had to remove footwear to go onto the stage for various events. It was interesting because most of the people's feet had very little arch but had very thick feet (it looked like a layer of fat on the bottom of their feet).

    Relevant to this topic, the father of the groom sat in front of me and was visiting from India for the wedding. His heels were a mess. My wife actually pointed him out and said, "You think you've got heel cracks. . .". He had thick ridges of skin on the back of both heels that had too many cracks and crevices to count. So, I think I'll keep trying to minimize my personal crack problems (sorry, couldn't resist) and realize that cracks will just happen and the best you can do is to minimize the damage and allow your feet to heal.

    FWIW, he walked just fine and it didn't seem to bother him at all. All the other feet I saw didn't seem to have the same issue though.

    I really enjoyed sitting through most of the ceremony with no shoes. I told my wife if we ever renew our vows, we'll make it a barefoot ceremony.

    Posted 2 months ago #

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