Cracked hands!

dollymix

dollymix

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Hi all
Hoping someone can come up with some good advice for my poor hands. The skin on the sides of my fingers is getting cracked (like there is cracks between the fine lines - if that makes sense).

It is far worse in the cold weather, though I try to rememebr to put gloves on (not always practical for doing the horses as sometiems I need my fingers to be dexterous!)

I have been using Aqueous Cream BP liberally!! (I have a tube at my office and apply quite a few times a day)

Anyone got any tips for helping with this?

Thanks
 
I got a free sample of Flexitol ointment after a recommendation on here, and it seems to be really good stuff.

Another tip is to go to bed with your hands covered in cream or oil and thin cotton gloves, in the morning they should be muc better.
 
Stop the aqueous cream constant use of it thins the skin.
Before yard work apply sudocrem and work into cracks .
In the evening wash hands well then while you are watching telly put some olive oil in a large freezer bag and put something over it so it warms up hands in work the oil in after rub off with excess with an old towel
Hand creme then cotton gloves to sleep in
Elizabeth Arden eight hour creme is pricey but good .
 
There is a brilliant product called One Minute Manicure that I used to use - it was honestly like a miracle. It is a sort of gritty thing with oils in in that you rub in, then rinse off. Helped the worst of dry, cracked hands, removed grease/paint/permanent marker - the oils kind of keep coating your hands for several days making them really soft but not greasy.

The catch....cannot for the life of me find it anywhere in this country anymore. Used to get it in a wee sachet in a local chemist but haven't seen it for about 6 years now - and my hands could really do with a dose at the minute! So, shopping people - if anybody can turn it up, without having to pay ruinous postage from the USA, I would be most grateful.
 
A friend gave me some stuff called Working Hands. It's in a green tub, got it from the chemist. Very good stuff.
 
Another suggestion is the Neutrogena concentrated hand cream - it comes in a smaller tube than normal hand cream and is a different texture, like a waxy gel rather than a cream, and it is excellent for hands that need a bit more TLC. I also read an article recently that said that the cheaper hand creams i.e. vaseline, neutrogena are better than the expensive ones i.e. clarins and elizabeth arden for extra-dry hands - so you probably don't have to spend a fortune! I agree with the poster who said that foot cream (flexitol) would probably be a good idea as well.
 
When you get home, put a glug of olive oil in your hands and some caster sugar and rub them together, all round your fingers/knuckles and everything in between. Rinse off with warm water, then put tonnes of moisturiser on (Aveeno hand cream, or Burts Bees work particularly well), then put on some rubber gloves, and do some washing up in hot water (as hot as it will go).
The heat will help your hands absorb the moisturiser.

Exfoliation and moisture. And gloves for manual work.
 
Moisturise beforengoing to yard with gardeners hand cream (beeswax based) then wear single use gloves and leave them on all time you are there. Get home and your hands will be fairy soft from the cream and the heat.
 
Speaking as someone one has spent many an hour working with cement, lime and plaster without gloves ( can't abide working in them!) - the "splits" on my hands in winter actually bleed and sting like hell - all the barrier and greasy greases are ...... well.. too greasy - even E45 leaves you slippery enough to be used as a snowboard.

So Vaseline Intensive Care - Lotion is the only one that works well at a reasonable price - small dab worked in before you start and again if it gets washed off. Beware, though - for girlies - it will attract the dirty and make your dannies look like Yeti paws.
 
Sugar beet is my worst culprit for cracked skin at tops of fingers above my nails. Every winter I tell myself I must start wearing marigolds for mixing my horses feeds but never do. Yet again I'm suffering.
 
I try and avoid using too much soap and water to clean my hands. I use unscented baby wipes to clean my hands most of the time. I have had less of a problem of cracked hands with reduced washing of hands, and I wear gloves as much as possible. I try and have both normal and fingerless gloves with me. As soon as I wash my hands too many times they dry and crack again
 
Diprobase. You can get it at your chemist (possibly only over the counter) but my mum gets it free on prescription so I just swipe some of hers. :D It's marvellous stuff - and smells really effective!
 
My hands are awful at the moment, very dry and the sore bits inbetween and along the sides of fingers start off as itchy blister/spots. It wakes me up in the night itching and I could scratch until they bled. E45 type creams make it worse, really red and stingy. I have been sokaing them in dermol (supposed to be used in a bath) and then using Eumovate which stops the itching. The Eumovate is my sons as he had eczema a few yrs back ( I just asked the Dr for some more for him!!). I also have a Cetreben pump dispenser which helps too. Today they are particulary bad, think its just too cold at the moment.
 
Stop using soap - anything that bubbles dries the skin and exacerbates

Use Dermol 500 lotion as a soap substitute instead - this is antibacterial and moisturising. Have seen use of this alone help with troublesome eczema etc. this can be bought over the counter in boots etc

Speak to your GP - try to get a really greasy moisturiser like Epaderm (tub of ointment) it's super greasy but if you use at night (maybe with cotton gloves) it will help.

Use a bland less greasy moisturiser during the rest of the day regularly.

My first point about soap v important. I used to work in dermatology.

Hope that helps.
 
I apply barrier cream before going to bed then put nitrile gloves over the top. Helps loads. I apply barrier cream a couple of times during the day too.
 
The Body Shop Hemp handcream is very good,highly recommend-I wash my hands umpteen times a day (radiographer)plus gardening & horses. This stuff works wonders.
 
If they have cracked enough to bleed, Germoline New Skin (or superglue) are good for stopping them from popping open every time you bend your finger. But only use if the split is clean, otherwise you risk it getting infected.

It does sting like a bar-steward though!
 
Snowfire ... Its difficult to get hold of - small chemists usually stock it.

Applied each evening and by morning skin softer and cracks gone. Also avoid washing your hands with soap or liquid soap - this can make the cracking worse. Use single use latex gloves for all outdoor work.

Xxxx
 
Another vote for neutrogena. Otherwise, udder cream- does just as good a job and works out cheaper. Doesn't fit in the handbag though which is where the neutrogena comes in :)
 
Get a pair of Le Mieux gloves (I bought mine from Horse Health about £7). They're thin enough to allow dexterity doing up straps etc, also a bit rubbery, so keep water out. I wear them whilst getting ready to ride, then swap to either Sealskins or Killy ski gloves to ride. Cold and wind can affect skin as much as water and soap.
I get Raynauds in fingers. If I don't do this glove swap palava, I end up with blue/black fingers that are incredibly painful.
As for hand creams, you can pay a fortune, but the important thing is to apply frequently, especially after washing. I buy Sainsbury's Basics hand cream that's about 80p. Main difference between that and an expensive cream is that it takes longer to absorb. So maybe have a pricier one when you need a quick fix and a cheap one when you're relaxing.
Olive oil is also an excellent moisturiser, but again takes a while to absorb. I find leaving gloves on overnight actually aggravates my skin. No idea why. But I do have useless, sensitive skin.
 
The best thing I have done was to apply the bodyshop hand cream under a pair of cotton gloves and wear them overnight, if you do this for a while you will really notice the difference to your hands. I also ware the disposable gloves that hospitals use for when I need to use my hands but gloves are too bulky.
 
nosenseofdirection said:
Another vote for neutrogena. Otherwise, udder cream- does just as good a job and works out cheaper. Doesn't fit in the handbag though which is where the neutrogena comes in :)
Click to expand...

I was just thinking this :D
My dad was a farmer and had really bad cracked hands and the only thing he found any good was udder cream but at the mo I use Neutrogena .
 
Get some Handmax gloves http://www.serracon.co.uk/handmax-gloves/handmax-atlanta-black-pu-glove.html

I hate wearing gloves but these are thi so you do not even know you have them on and they are hard wearing and cheap!
Aqueous cream is not a barrier or hand cream but for using when washing.

I vote for Neutrogena all the way. Brilliant stuff.
Another thing, if you get bad chaps use super glue on the cracks it seals them and stops them splitting further.
 
Wow thanks for all the hints and tips!! Incidentally I do try to minimise cleaning hands with soap and water. I think at the moment they are so bad due to cold. I also get Raynauds so maybe this makes the issue worse?

I have tried many many hand creams, cheap and expensive but have never tried wearing gloves at night so will try that next!
 
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