equestrian finger syndrome

[muffy32]

every winter I get a patch of thickened, cracked ( but not sore) skin along the outside edge of my index fingers, it gets ingrained with mud that is impossible to get out and looks awful. I put vasaline on my hands a few times a day and I also use hand creams but to no avail.
Does anyone else suffer with equestrian finger syndrome?
Any ideas how to get rid of it?

 

[starsky]

Yes me. Have started applying umpteen layers of hand cream now to combat it early! Soaking my hands for hours in water and then scrubbing with a nail brush. It's the only way

 

[ExRacers]

Ah the perils of equines in the winter!!! I get the same on my fingers & find that scrubbing with a good pumice stone or equivalent every few days followed by a good hand cream does the job lovely!!! Try it!

 

[filly190]

Yes, I get the mucking out hand grubby look. I tend to get the foot file to my skin and rub it off. I have worn rubber gloves one winter, my hands stayed lovely and warm and my hands stayed clean.

It gets engrained in your skin and the only way is to scrub it off.

 

[Vix1978]

I try and wear gloves for most jobs (where possible). Also, invest in a good barrier cream - Neutrogena (Norwegian formula) is good

 

[Chumsmum]

I get it too - a nail brush helps. However, even after scrubbing away I still can smell 'pony' on my hands...

 

[polaris]

Snowfire from the chemist brilliant stuff.

 

[Tangaroo]

wash your hands in hand wash soap suds, that will keep them clean!

 

[spannahw]

Love it! 'Equestrian Finger Syndrome'!!!

Have discussed this with many horsey friends over the years but we'd never given the condition a name!

Its a real sign of winter when that bit of skin starts getting engrained - I've tried rubbing lemon peel on it but that's not worked either. Am gonna give some of these suggestions a go though!

 

[hairycob]

You don't even need to muck out. Mine both live out & my hands still get really dry & mud stains the nail edges & the cuticles.

 

[barkinghorse]

Before you go to bed, put on a good greasy handcream and then put surgical gloves on.
In the morning, wash it off and hey presto!! nice soft hands and ingrained muck free!!
OH was a bit worried the first time i got in bed like that, but he's not scared anymore...!!!

Jo xxx

 

[sorona]

The stuff used on cracked heels is good fir getting rid of the cracked skin and lathering your hands in hand cream and wearing cotton gloves works and perhaps not as scary as surgical ones, lol!!

 

[Chex]

lol, I was just noticing today that I'm getting that!

 

[Ferdinase514]

I get this too! Drives me mad in the winter when I'm trying to look like a very manicure Sales Lady Type!

I was told that lemon juice worked quite well...not sure it would do much for the cracked skin though.

I find it absoultely impossible to get the dirt out of the sides of my finger nails. Perhaps I should just try and remember to wear gloves

 

[burtie]

Yep get it every year, I use my moisterising cream (aqueous cream) as soap and find if I use enough it really helps, also try to wear gloves as much as possible.

Love the fact it now has an official name!!

 

[Tinkerbee]

yup...tis icky when trying to look glamourous at parties!

 

[PapaFrita]

Pumice stones work well.

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

ah yes, I remember it well! I make up a scrub of sugar and liquid soap (1 teaspoon sugar and a squirt of soap/washing up liquid) rub that into your dry hands, add a little water and lather up, and wash your hands vigorously for several seconds, then rinse off. When your hands are dry rub in hand cream and put a pair of rubber gloves on (the washing up type) and steep your gloved hands in hot water for 5 minutes - or you can just do the washing up!

works for me.

 

[dieseldog]

It's the smell - especially when your in the office and you get paranoid everyone else cah smell it as well.