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Foot Skin Care Post-Op

Posted , 8 users are following.

gimpyleg
gimpyleg

Hi All,

Got moved out of cast into a walking boot today. Still non weight bearing. Now that my foot can be out of the cast, I realized I have a TON of dead, dry, crusty skin all over my foot and my leg. My initial instinct was to scratch my leg (and man did it feel good after all these weeks of trying to wiggle my fingers into the cast to get an itch). I want to scrub it off but also don't want to wound it because that can lead to infection. A nurse said to ease back into it and definitely not shave my leg for another 2 weeks or expose it to a lot of sunlight because the skin is very sensitive. 

Any recommendations for how I should treat it? Or start helping my lower leg look less reptile-like?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest gimpyleg

    Posted

    Soaks in the bath and plenty of moisturiser!
  • Jude1959
    Jude1959 gimpyleg

    Posted

    Oh that wonderful feeling of scratching your leg after all that time.. lush haha.

    I use Bio Oil on all my op scars and have used it on my ankle fusion scars and my leg. It is the best for skin.  Baths are good, but showers too will wash it off. You can buy Bio Oil at most pharmacists or supermarkets.

    P.s I love peeling the skin off. But as you say it is not to be recommended ....it will get better very soon

     

  • kim23026
    kim23026 gimpyleg

    Posted

    Mine turned instantly mushy in shower, I then gently rubbed dead skin off with a paper towel when out. My skin totally rebounded in a few weeks, just used normal body lotion, avoiding my scar area for a bit. I didn't shave for a bit either, and when I get to my ankle area, I still go real slow. No special care really needed, water and lotion.

  • cheyenne78245
    cheyenne78245 gimpyleg

    Posted

    I had the same issue and called the nurse for advice—her take: vitamin E oil on the sutures and cocoa butter everywhere else. It’s been a life saver and my leg actually looks like a leg again and not a dead skin farm! 
  • AustinSi
    AustinSi gimpyleg

    Posted

    This is the same situation i am in right now. Even worse im still flaking.. my skin gets dry quite easily. My therapist im seeing says to get a towel damp with warm water and put it over the foot. It should help losen dead skin up. I been picking at my dead skin for almost a few days now (not recommended) .. but i must say it looks better every day. Also use a light if not non scented lotion to apply. And also about the shaving, ive been told to wait at least 2 weeks but i have dark hair so its no problem to me. Wish you best of luck it will get better! 
  • anna62340
    anna62340 gimpyleg

    Posted

    Soak your leg if you are allowed to and when you dry it you will see that the dead skin will start coming off. Use some unscented body lotion. I, too, was taken aback by what it looked like after plaster. It will get back looking normal fairly soon.
  • dawn85884
    dawn85884 gimpyleg

    Posted

    Had my cast removed on Thursday - skin felt itchy. Was put in airboot partially weight bearing 

    Came home and sat in the bath gentle washing my foot and leg bit of picking too - applied LBF did the same on Friday 

    Looking and feeling better today 

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