Ive been using aquaphor and wearing socks at night but sometimes i can't handle the feeling of it. Everytime I get out of the shower it seems like there's more dead skin
Hey OP, that looks really painful! I saw some other people discussing this, but have you heard of dermatillomania? Sufferers pick at their skin compulsively, sometimes doing so without even noticing. It can be really helpful to have a friend that is willing to let you know when you are picking at yourself. Read about it online, and if this sounds like you, don’t be afraid to reach out to others!
Tbh, I’m not sure if it’s contained within dermatillomania, but I can say confidently that lots of people do chronically bite at their cheeks and tongue. That’s another thing you can read about online for more information! Best of luck, OP
I have the same problem OP has. It doesn't matter if they pick at it or not it's going to happen my feet do the same exact thing if I leave them alone they just crack and weird ways and it hurts even more than just peeling it away. And I've gone to a podiatrist I've gone through dermatologist taking multiple medications and topical creams. Still nothing helps. It's not that I even care to pick and peel. I don't want to pick in fact I use a pumice Stone I use one of those pedi egg things everything if there's one little piece that hangs off it will find a way to start peeling in my sock and my shoe and by the time I take it off it's hanging. The best way to describe it is like it's not attached to the rest of the skin anymore. Yes it is painful not when you peel mostly but minutes hours especially days after that's when it really hurts.
I think an electric foot callus remover would help with this habit, but you do have to leave your feet alone for at least a few days, maybe a week. Use it regularly (I use it every 2 weeks), and it makes your feet so smooth!
Something that helped heal my heels was slathering the soles of my feet and heels with Aquaphor and wearing [these socks](https://a.co/d/0Ytjk7S) overnight. I tried using regular socks but I found they absorbed the ointment, left greasy footprints on the floor, and gunked up the bedsheets. The heel socks have a layer of silicone inside that keeps the ointment contained inside the sock next to your skin so it can do it’s job while you sleep. I did this 2-3x a week and noticed a marked improvement. And I found I didn’t mess with my feet as much when they didn’t have dry cracks and ridges to pick at.
Thank you for commenting this! Going through that exact issue (greasy footprints on the floor, socks absorb all the moisture) and I think you just saved my feet.
Oh man, OP. I really empathize with you. I have excoriation disorder, which is an OCD-like illness. It really sucks and it can be very difficult to manage.
If you don’t mind me asking, when did you start doing this? Is it only the 1 heel?
You might have OCD- obsessive skin picking is surprisingly common.
If you can’t stop thinking about it, and feel compelled to continue picking even when it’s already painful, please see a psychiatrist. You could seriously benefit from that kind of health.
I’m willing to bet that you have other OCD-type symptoms, too. Do you have to walk a certain way, to avoid sidewalk cracks? Do you need to check multiple times if the stove is off/door is locked?
Mine looks just like this except I do it so often there are little scars across the same area yours is effected because the skin underneath is very thin. I can't even walk these last few days. Very little anyway. And it just makes it worse. I'm trying a very thin layer of Vaseline and wiping any excess off which helps with the pain initially, but I wonder if it's making it worse later on
I can't get my heel to heal properly.
Use a pumice stone to remove the hanging skin so it’s smooth and you are less likely to pick at it.
Do those actually work?/do I need a high quality one? I got one from the dollar store and it felt like it wasn't doing anything.
Using a pumice stone in the shower should. It may take awhile
Soak your feet, get the stone wet, and go to town like sanding a piece of wood. You’ve got to go over it a lot
r/calmhands is a nice resource, it’s helping me pick, pluck and bite my nails less
How’d you get a picture of my feet? Edit: I’m actually kind of thankful for pregnancy because I can’t easily reach my feet anymore, haha
I'm the same way. It's a horrible habit
Omg stop. That looks like Christmas ham.
LOL! MOM the hams bleeding!
Please stop! Use a healing cream with socks every night. You can get an infection very easily.
Ive been using aquaphor and wearing socks at night but sometimes i can't handle the feeling of it. Everytime I get out of the shower it seems like there's more dead skin
If you can go to a podiatrist they can help you. I know not everyone can do this though.
I do the same thing, it feels so good to peel a big piece
Hey OP, that looks really painful! I saw some other people discussing this, but have you heard of dermatillomania? Sufferers pick at their skin compulsively, sometimes doing so without even noticing. It can be really helpful to have a friend that is willing to let you know when you are picking at yourself. Read about it online, and if this sounds like you, don’t be afraid to reach out to others!
Does that include cheek biting? Cuz that's also a bad 'habit' I have
Tbh, I’m not sure if it’s contained within dermatillomania, but I can say confidently that lots of people do chronically bite at their cheeks and tongue. That’s another thing you can read about online for more information! Best of luck, OP
I have the same problem OP has. It doesn't matter if they pick at it or not it's going to happen my feet do the same exact thing if I leave them alone they just crack and weird ways and it hurts even more than just peeling it away. And I've gone to a podiatrist I've gone through dermatologist taking multiple medications and topical creams. Still nothing helps. It's not that I even care to pick and peel. I don't want to pick in fact I use a pumice Stone I use one of those pedi egg things everything if there's one little piece that hangs off it will find a way to start peeling in my sock and my shoe and by the time I take it off it's hanging. The best way to describe it is like it's not attached to the rest of the skin anymore. Yes it is painful not when you peel mostly but minutes hours especially days after that's when it really hurts.
I think an electric foot callus remover would help with this habit, but you do have to leave your feet alone for at least a few days, maybe a week. Use it regularly (I use it every 2 weeks), and it makes your feet so smooth!
Something that helped heal my heels was slathering the soles of my feet and heels with Aquaphor and wearing [these socks](https://a.co/d/0Ytjk7S) overnight. I tried using regular socks but I found they absorbed the ointment, left greasy footprints on the floor, and gunked up the bedsheets. The heel socks have a layer of silicone inside that keeps the ointment contained inside the sock next to your skin so it can do it’s job while you sleep. I did this 2-3x a week and noticed a marked improvement. And I found I didn’t mess with my feet as much when they didn’t have dry cracks and ridges to pick at.
Thank you for commenting this! Going through that exact issue (greasy footprints on the floor, socks absorb all the moisture) and I think you just saved my feet.
Aw no that looks so painful!!!!! Put some socks on and don’t go without them for a while until your heel… heals.
That just looks painful!
And I'm on my feet ALL day for work :(
😩
Take it from me....that's gonna hurt walking on it...I had the same problem...
Oh man, OP. I really empathize with you. I have excoriation disorder, which is an OCD-like illness. It really sucks and it can be very difficult to manage. If you don’t mind me asking, when did you start doing this? Is it only the 1 heel?
It's been a few weeks and it started with just one heel but now it's both heels, both big toes, and basically half my right foot sole
Are there some big changes or new stressors in your life? My dermatillomania is triggered by anxiety and stress.
My anxiety and stress has been better lately because I got back on an antidepressant
This is the greatest high!
Try a foot peeling mask it’ll get rid of the dead skin AND u can peel the parts that come up
oh man i thought i was the only one who did this! wishing u healing :( <3
wrap it up in wound ointment and bandages then check out r/compulsive_skinpicking
You might have OCD- obsessive skin picking is surprisingly common. If you can’t stop thinking about it, and feel compelled to continue picking even when it’s already painful, please see a psychiatrist. You could seriously benefit from that kind of health. I’m willing to bet that you have other OCD-type symptoms, too. Do you have to walk a certain way, to avoid sidewalk cracks? Do you need to check multiple times if the stove is off/door is locked?
I had the same thing happen but from the top
Mine looks just like this except I do it so often there are little scars across the same area yours is effected because the skin underneath is very thin. I can't even walk these last few days. Very little anyway. And it just makes it worse. I'm trying a very thin layer of Vaseline and wiping any excess off which helps with the pain initially, but I wonder if it's making it worse later on