Footcare Tips for Cracked Heels, Smelly Feet, Toenail Fungus & More | Dermatologist Dr. Sam Ellis

If you liked this video, check out my video about hand care too! Here's the link: https://youtu.be/IkDBmLkz9HY

I only had fungus on my right large toenail. It was yellow and would grow out split. I cut it back as far as I could and put a few drops of tea tree oil all around the nail twice a day. It only took just over a month to clear up. I still do it every day, as a precaution. The toenail has grown back normal and clear. Tea tree oil is cheap.

I'm a Canadian retailer who has sold footwear and socks for hiking, walking and everyday wear for 26+ years. Stinky feet are common problems most everyone has had from one time to another. I've had great success tackling the problem by washing socks inside-out. Just think about it. If you don't turn your socks inside-out when washing, the dead skin can't get out of your socks. Your socks therefore become great breeding grounds for bacteria. I also recommend removing your insoles from your shoes or boots at the end of the day, so they can dry out. Wicking, moisture -moving socks also make a difference. Polyester and acrylic are great choices. Sheep's wool or alpaca or goat hair are also amazing, since they have naturally antibacterial properties. These no or low cost suggestions are simple things you can do, and are certainly worth a try. Good luck everyone. I'd also love you to check out my YouTube channel. I do weekly shopping shows and try to offer great tips every episode. Thank you Dr. Ellis for your great advice.

Wow this is such an informative video. I feel like foot care is a forgotten topic. Almost everyone I know deals with some sort of foot problem, yet we rarely see such an in depth video that addresses so many concerns. Thank you!!

This was an AMAZING IN DEPTH breakdown of a myriad foot/ nail fungal concerns. Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together.

Nice smelling talc is what I put in my shoes and they’re never stinky. Also you’re probably the first dr. (Dermatologist) who gave an OK for baby feet peel. Usually it’s a big no no

I discovered that leaving on the raised blister skin formed by rubbing helps heal the blister with much less scarring than removing the loose skin on top of a blister and then letting it heal. I tried both techniques at the same time on two blisters I got from a pair of shoes on roughly the same part of my feet. Leaving the blistered skin to do its thing healed much faster and better, by literally months.

For shoe/foot odor, I sprinkle a small amount of baking soda in each shoe, tapping it around to cover the entire footbed, then dumping any excess. Not sure why it works, but it's been my go-to for years now.

After losing 50+ pounds, I noticed my heel cracking has disappeared. I have diabetes so that’s quite significant. Also, the weight loss has improved my diabetes symptoms.

My large toe nail was infected with fungus and had thickened. I cured it completely with thyme oil (extracted from the herb thyme) which I purchased at the health food store. I applied 2 or 3 drops of the oil to the tip of my nail, where it could slip under between my nail and my toe bed, and I also rubbed some all over the top of the nail all the way down to my cuticle. I did this every night for 1 year because that is how long it took for the ugly thickened nail to grow out completely. A while ago, I noticed my middle toe nail was beginning to thicken. I applied the thyme oil and it was cured within a few weeks. Dr. Ellis recommends using products with thymol which is a constituent of oil of thyme, and that is the reason why this method works.

I came for the cracked heels and stinky feet. So helpful! I have a former infantry soldier I'm my family and we had to nurture boots. Replace the insole and thoroughly soak the rest of the interior with Lysol and then either dry it on a boot dryer or put it next to a dehumidifier or air vent.

So glad to hear you recommend Vicks. Last year I was horrified to discover some pale discoloration on my left big toe. I had heard of using Vicks, but all I had was generic vapor rub. I started applying it morning and night. Within a few weeks it was clear that the treatment was working. My toenail was growing in pink! I also decided to try the vapor rub product on my dry, cracked heels. They look better than ever now. No more deep cracks that can’t even be smoothed with a pumice stone, no more rough skin snagging my stockings. I “grease” my heels and toes at least once daily, and exfoliate my heels weekly. It’s great to have healthy looking feet.

As a Floridian, I am in sandals/Birkenstocks year round…. Kerasol intensive foot treatment is my best friend! I pair that with a pair of heel-only socks at night before bed almost every night. It has helped repair and save my chronic rough heels 🥳

I am barefoot or in sandals from April to November and callouses and dry cracked feet are often a problem, no matter how much I moisturize. My cracked heel fix: if painful... use the pain relief Neosporin + band aid for a day or two... once it's grown out I trim off the callous, use a file with salt scrub and then coconut oil. Can't wait to try the Kerasol. Thx!

What a terrific video! I always wondered why my heels looked so bad as the summer went on - flip flops!! I never would have known that. Thank you for the information. Now I know what to do and what products to try. Your patients are very lucky to have such a knowledgeable doctor.

I also had a problem with a fungal nail and thanks to your advice it’s all gone !! I’ve had that problem for a year and a half - I just added one drop of thymol thym essential oil into the scholl mycose product and within 2 months it was gone. Thank you again for your help !

Great video. I would love to see a video on how to tell the difference between bunions, callouses, corns and blisters and where on the feet they can occur.

I sprayed colloidal silver into an old stinky pair of sneakers and it took out the stinginess. I continue to do this along with wearing only x-static socks (silver threaded into socks) when wearing sneakers. Works amazingly well!

My favorite fastest remedy for athletes foot and small patches of itchy fungus on my foot is to simply dab straight Apply Cider Vingegar in the affected area with a cotton pad before bed, let it dry and leave it there. It usually only takes a couple of applications to dry out and eliminate the yucky fungus! I love it. I’ll have to try the benzoyl peroxide wash.

I had heard soaking your feet black tea for a few minutes how ever often needed reduces the stink! This worked for my daughter's feet.