I'm interested to know if you find any answers!
My teenage son has had some cracking, peeling skin issues on his soles. It started this summer. He has peeling between the toes and on the ball of his foot, but no redness or soreness. It really does not seem to be fungal (we know what that looks and feels like). It's not itchy. Just keeps peeling, cleanly, like a sunburn might. Also the skin is very thick on his soles, even though he NEVER goes barefoot or even wears sandals. He once said his feet feel like they have plastic on the bottoms. The skin feels like vinyl. It cracks and forms fissures especially under his big toe. It helps to put Eucerin cream on them once a day. He also had a toenail that fell off some time ago. It has grown in again, but the nail is mottled, and a few of his nails have some pitting.
His Dr. didn't know. Very frustrating.
In this case it does sound like an infection, most likely fungal. I recommend treating it like a fungal infection just in case. Soaking his feet in a strong black walnut hull tea several times a day is a good start. He should always put on clean sock afterward. And don't forget to sterilize the shoes. This can be done by spraying the shoes inside really well with Lysol, then placing them in a plastic bag for a while to allow the Lysol to permeate the shoes completely.
A deficiency of B vitamins can also lead to cracks in the skin, so foods high in B vitamins or a B supplement would also be a good idea.
When the bottom skin of feet in contact with the ground becomes very thick, frequently peeling and cracking, what may be the cause(s)?
My ideas are:
1. Omega 3 deficiency/imbalance of EFAs
2. Elevated insulin
3. Elevated estrogen
4. Dysbiotic/leaky gut
Any other ideas? It is difficult to narrow down specific chains of events that lead to fast growing, thick, cracking, and peeling skin without diagnostics IMO. Any ideas welcome!
It can be something as simple as the surfaces we often walk on are too alkaline for the skin. The skin should be slightly acidic, and surfaces such as concrete and many soils remove the acid mantle causing the skin to dry and crack.
If it were simply a nutritional deficiency then the feet would be dried and cracked regardless if shoes are worn or not.
A few things that can help are spraying a weak citric acid solution on the skin several times daily then rub a little oil in to the skin. Avocado oil is the best, and sunflower oil is good.
This happens in winter...never used to happen to me, but I think it's "age-related". I'm only 53 , but this is new to me,and I recall my mother has this in her early seventies.
It's likely I could keep it all under control if I wee the kind having regular perdicures...but I am not.
What do you recommend?
The same recommendations I made for dry skin can be applied:
http://curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1737398#i
Urea is classic,right? It's in all the heavy-duty cremes for such things.
Yes, urea is an excellent moisturizer, which is why it is in so many creams, lotions and shampoos. Synthetic urea is most often used. You can probably find this on line to add to your own concoctions.
And urea - urine. I actually have tried it for a time, massaging it in. It seems to help, but is such a pain...
What in the diet can address this?
Staying hydrated is very important. Good fats can also help. Taking them with lecithin will help with absorption, especially for anyone who has had their gallbladders removed.
should I make a salve of coconut oil, beeswax and herb?
I don't like waxes on the skin. It just plugs the pores and inhibits the absorption of beneficial compounds. Try using a butter such as mango or cocoa butter in place of the wax. Melt the butter in a double boiler then mix in some oil. Avocado oil is still the best. I also like walnut oil. The ratio will depend a lot on the temperature it will be stored at. Colder climates require more oil and less butter. Warmer climates require more butter and less oil. After mixing the oil and butter allow it to cool. But when it is cool but not yet solid you can add essential oils. Palmarosa or geranium essential oils are great for skin. Blend in about 40 drops of oil per 6-8 ounces of the blend. Stir it well and let the mix sit covered. It will harden back up but if done properly will melt with body temperature.
It is best to spray the skin with a weak citric or malic acid solution before applying the cream.
Is it related to some hormonal thing?
Hormones can play an indirect role. Going back to the good fats I mentioned above. Fats require bile, or the lecithin that makes up the majority of bile, to absorb fats. Elevated progesterone levels though relax the gallbladder though preventing proper excretion of bile for fat absorption.
Natural Ways to Prevent, Soothe and Heal Cracked Heels and Feet
by Tony Isaacs
(The Best Years in Life) Cracked heels and other foot cracks are usually caused by a combination of pressure and dry, non-pliable skin. Standing and walking applies pressure which makes the skin on the bottom of the feet expand sideways. If the skin is not sufficiently pliable, cracking can result. Known medically as heel fissures, cracked heels are linear cut wounds which usually affect the surface level, or epidermis, of the heel. When the cracks extend beyond the epidermis, they can result in pain, bleeding and even infection. Fortunately, there are several natural remedies for treating and preventing cracked heels.Read More.
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