I’m glad you’re going to the doctor. I do t think this situation is typical. Hope the doctor can help you. Take good care.

I am seeing a dermatologist on Wednesday. Thank you to all who responded, I really appreciated the push to see a doctor and the lack of judgement.

At the very least you can have some infected eczema. Get it looked at!

OP - I have had a similar experience thanks to perimenopause and drying skin, but the itching sounds like an infection of some sort. I have very dry feet, especially heels, and picking at them definitely is a cyclical problem. If you can get them to heal (ie no open sores), use kerasol ointment on them every night for a week, along with a foot file in the shower. It will eliminate the dry bits and if there are no severely dry bits you can’t pick and break the cycle. However the itching sounds like it might be athletes foot, so you might try an antifungal first. Good luck. Skin picking is a common but rarely discussed affliction that comes with a lot of shame. Try to treat your feet while also changing your nighttime routine so you don’t have the opportunity - hand hobbies like knitting or crocheting help me bc they keep your hands occupied while watching tv, etc.

Anonymous wrote:This may not work if you have sores,, but I use a pedicure razor to remove the calluses. That stops the deep cracks from forming.

DP I can't figure out how to use the razor, and I'm scared to experiment with it.

I think you need a podiatrist. This sounds like a serious infection and not at all normal/typical. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you may have a fungal issue.

You can try an athlete's food cream/spray but I would also see a podiatrist.

+1. See a doctor. This problem is beyond self-treatment

Yeah. This is a big YIKES.

This. Use it after every shower.

https://www.drscholls.com/products/dr-scholls-severe-cracked-heel-repair-restoring-balm?srsltid=AfmBOor4_plEokhLp2FVMFgwrfFyjNAptKvXJURWTt2NMp7iFp6uSjkW

This may not work if you have sores,, but I use a pedicure razor to remove the calluses. That stops the deep cracks from forming.

Definitely go see a doctor.

O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet works really well on my dry itchy feet during the winter, seemingly repairing my extremely dry cracked heels. I’ve never found anything better. However, I do agree with others here, you should see a doctor to figure out what’s going on. I hope you are able to get relief soon!

Try Vicks Vapor Rub instead of Aquaphor.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you may have a fungal issue.

You can try an athlete's food cream/spray but I would also see a podiatrist.

+1. See a doctor. This problem is beyond self-treatment

It sounds like you may have a fungal issue.

You can try an athlete's food cream/spray but I would also see a podiatrist.

I have picked at my feet for a 4-5 years, and have a huge problem now trying to fix the damage and stop this awful cycle of picking at night. Here is what happens. A lot of the skin on the soles are thickened, and there is deep cracking. I apply tons of Aquaphor and keep socks on all day and don’t touch it at all. At night, it all falls apart. I can’t sleep with socks on. The itching starts, and then the urge to touch and scratch and pick. That creates new sores, and so it goes on. What products can help me deal with the nighttime itching? And how to soften the very hardened parts?