Diseases of the autoimmune variety often cause thickening and splitting of the skin. For my hands I have been using Swisse Hand Cream with Vitamin F and Pomegranate. My husband bought it for me and it seems to soak in nicely and doesn't make a mess of my projects. I am going to try some of the suggested lotions and potions for my feet. So many of the heel balms contain Urea....I don't know if it's just me, but I can't stand the smell.....to me it literally smells like pee. I wear footwear all the time and have incredibly thick/cracked heels, toes etc. worse if I go barefoot or wear flip flops. My husband jokes that I need an industrial grinder. My feet literally destroy all the gentle and ladylike footcare products.