After reading your blog and looking at your pictures,
My Mom's foot, and calf area look identical.
She has the same dry skin like rash on her foot, area, and at one period in time, her skin would swell so much that it actually gave way, and began weeping for about six months.
We haven't tried any type of lotions on it, because it causes too much pain to touch her skin, but as far as the episom salt, we did the 30 minute soaks and it did seem to help perk her skin up slightly.
I hope this helps, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me. :-)
Thank you!
-MyMomsAdvocate