Dry hands...treatment Needed!

My husband has a similar problem with cracking hands due to washing/antibacterial gel. He uses Corn Huskers Lotion. It is the only thing that works and is not greasy. The smell is pretty nice, too.

I have used any heavy hand cream put food service gloves on then gloves like at a salon and slept as long as I can with them. I've also done that and put a heating pad over them with all those gloves and cream on like at the salon plus oil...it has helped.

We have great luck with Creamy Vaseline. Comes in a tube, usually stocked next to the regular Vaseline. Put it on hands and feet at night, works great!

I have the same problem! A new product I've found that seems to help is Dove Cream Oil Intensive Hand Cream. Good luck!

Gold Bond makes an intensive moisture lotion. It is helpful if you wear it at night. It may burn for a few minutes when you first put it on though.

A friend of mine swears by this for cracked heels and I don't see why it won't work for hands as well. At night before you go to sleep, put on a thin layer of castor oil and then put on cotton socks (or gloves in your case - they sell them for this purpose in the drugstore for a couple dollars).

I would recommend a pair of cotton gloves and a heavy cream like the old fashion Ponds cold cream at night before going to bed. During the day there are some nice hand creams you can use. Burt's Bees has a good one and Sally Hansen does also. Thet are both heavier then most and stay on longer. Another thing you can try is A&D ointment the clear kind not the ointment (that stuff is like zinc oxide!). Put it mostly on the knuckles where your skin cracks you will be amazed at how great it works and it stays on! Hopefully one of those will help.

I have been using UDDERLY SMOOTH UDDER CREAM. It is wonderful and isn't too greasy. I found it at Rite-Aid or CVS. It's a white jar with black spots (to make it look like a cow). Hope it helps!

I have the same hands. Cracking and bleeding and I'm a big hand washer too.

Really, the best thing to do is lather up with vaseline and put your hands in gloves overnight. It will be so much better the next day. I would continue the lotion throughout the day. You can use whatever gloves you want or get some gloves in the beauty section at Wal Mart.

Of course you can use socks too. I had my oldest son (poor thing has his mom's skin) put vaseline on the other night with socks on his hands. It made a world of difference. He can't stand the burning feeling of lotion on his hands when his hands get that bad. Good luck! I know how you feel!

Burt's Bees Coconut Foot stuff -comes in a tube and is also GREAT for hands. I have this same problem. Aquaphor also works wonders -put either one on your hands at night and put fuzzy socks over hands to sleep. During the day keep them covered in Eucerin or Aveeno plain lotion. Scents and alchohol in a lot of lotions can further the drying.

This might sound crazy, but try fish oil! Not on your hands but in the tablet form. My husband used to have really dry hands especially in the winters here. He has been taking fish oil for other things (helps with vision, joints, lots of stuff), and he just noticed that his hands aren't dry and cracking and bleeding like they usually are during the winter months. We take the regular grocery store stuff, 1200mg, 2 tablets in the morning. Good luck!

I have this same problem! I have not tried either of these yet, but two different friends recommended vanicream (you can get it at walgreens or a drugstore...it is a soap/lotion in the facecream section) and renew (this is a lotion you can buy online). I have also been told to buy NATURAL soap that does NOT have Sodium laureth sulfate or Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS or NaDS). If you look up either on wikipedia it states that they are in detergent, hand soap, toothpaste, and shampoo and can cause canker sores, skin problems and dermatitis! I know you can get natural soap that does not contain these at health food stores.

Hi A.,
I used to have the same issues. I have done hair for over 30 years and I can relate!. One of the problems is that what ever you are using to wash your hands is the culprit. You see, our skin has a pH of 5.5-6 and most cleansers are pH balanced or higher and they start at a 7. So unless you use a cleanser that is lower on the pH scale...it doesn't really matter what you do at night, because by the time you wash your hands 4-5 times the next day...you have stripped not only what moisture has been restored, but your own natural defense as well.
I started using Arbonne for this reason. EVERYTHING is ph CORRECT not balanced. If you would like to hear more, feel free to contact me.
D.

Hi A.,
I own a small business called Savannah Gourmet. We have three really great products made by the Savannah Bee Company: Beeswax Hand Cream, Beeswax Hand & Nail Salve, and Magnolia Hand Lotion. For your situation I would recommend either the Beeswax Hand & Nail Salve or the Beeswax Hand Cream (both thicker than he Magnolia Hand Lotion.)
You might want to try both and see what works best for you. The Beeswax Hand and Nail Salve might even repel water - it's a very thick consistency. They are all natural honey-based (which is medicinal!) products. Good luck and feel better! You can buy them at: htttp://www.savannah-gourmet.com
Thanks.
K.

Vaseline is great. I constantly wash dishes/bottles, etc. I keep a bottle of lotion by the sink. I am with a company by the name of Melaleuca. It's a wellness company. There's a lotion, Renew that is great. It's not greasy and I apply a little several times a day...that's how often I'm sticking my hands in some water. Avon and Mary Kay both have great hand lotions. I sell both. The Satin Hands treatment is great. I use it on my feet too. If you are interested after checking out the site, send me a message. I hope you find something you like. I hate having dry hands as well.

Try Mary Kay's extra emollient night cream. It works wonders for me.

Shea butter,from west africa, will protect your skin through multiple washings. Apply it when your hands are still wet and then blot dry with a paper towel. You can get pure and simple shea butter at african and other ethnic stores or you can get the fancy stuff with fragrance and dye at high end cosmetic stores or online.

Mine are the same way. Mary Kay's new Satin Hands set is a lifesaver. It's only 3 steps now. At bedtime if you put the extra emollient night cream on your hands and put on a pair of gloves, the difference in the morning is amazing. Then you will follow with the peach scrub and lotion and you are ready to conquer the day! Do this several times a week until you get the results you want. You can also do this on your feet...fabulous!

Let me know if I can help! www.marykay.com/ccantrell72

C.

My hand gets dry and chapped also in the winter. MaryKay Extra Emollient Night Cream is great. It is a great emollient. Cover your hands/fingers (generously) at night before going to bed. Put cotton night gloves or a pair of socks on . You can also use during the day, just in smaller "doses". It is a great treatment. Good luck!

C. T.
www.marykay.com/carolltaylor

I would recommend the Mary Kay Satin Hands set. It is a 3 step process that moisturizes, exfoliates and cleanses your hands. The lotion will last for several washes so you do not have to reapply after every wash. A set will last for 3-6 months also!

If you are interested in trying it, I would be more than happy to send you one to try! My dad has very dry hands and he LOVES it! I actually use it on my hands and feet. Let me know!

My husband had a problem with his fingertips cracking and bleeding for months. He was seen by our family practice MD and then later a dermatologist. Three different topical stereoid prescriptions were given. Nothing helped long term.
After using a clinical proven dry skin relief a couple times a day, his fingers began to heal within a week. He is very happy with the results and happy not to use the steroid foam that was prescribed as it would burn terribly.
P. S

Hey A.,

Check out my organic salves! I have been using my 'Happy Tush Treatment' on my hands b/c it stays on so well and smells like vanilla and oranges! http://lostrivernaturals.com/lip_balms_and_salves

C.

I found this awesome stuff by Nivea, its called Nivea Creme. It comes in a little blue tub. It's amazing! You can put it on after every wash and it stays on pretty good. It doesn't smell and is really good at bedtime.

If you do find something that works, please let me know! I'm constantly "purell"ing and washing my hands too that they are so dry and I already have dry hands to begin with. I use Aveeno (oatmeal) lotion right after I purell, and at night time, I've been using the Olay Quench. I switch lotions from time-to-time as I think my skin gets too used to a lotion. I used to do the Paraffin wax dips, aside from feeling good for the arthritis relief, I don't think my skin benefitted at all.

My mom swears by putting vaseline on your hands and wearing socks/gloves on them overnight. I've recently been using Burt's Bee's Hand Salve and it has done wonders for my hands and dry elbows. I can also reccomend St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter lotion. It's the only one I use because it's thick, not alcohol based, and has almost no odor. Good Luck and if you find a sure winner be sure to let us know!!

T.

Avon makes a great hand cream called Moisture Therapy. My husband does a lot of outside work and this is the only thing that helps. Glob it on at night and put on a pair of gloves. It is also not very expensive, around 3 or 4 dollars a tube and sometimes you can get it a lot cheaper when Avon is having specials.

I love my Shaklee Enfuselle lotion but when the severe winter hands and diaper hands hit I use the Shea Cream (also Shaklee) I use these as I know they do not contain any chemicals that will harm me and with as much as I use them in the winter that is important to me. I tend to smother them in the shea cream and just rub longer to try and make up for the days washing of all the moisture.
Good luch finding what works for you!

K. B
www.shaklee.net/takecontrol

Neutragena makes a really great thick lotion called Fisherman's friend. You only use a little but that is what I used when i was pumping and feeding my son. I seemed to always be washing my hands after diaper changes and with the pumping and bottles was constantly sterilizing something, my hands got wrecked. Try the fisherman's friends. It is not super cheap, but not crazy expensive, tube is not that big, but you don't use much. Try always putting it on right after you wash and dry (as in within a minute) to help trap the moisture in back in. I learned that with both my eczema kids, you have to lube them up from the bath within 3 minutes to trap the moisture...now I do it for myself and can feel the difference. Best of luck. C.

Hi A.,

Have you tried Extra Emollient Night Cream ?
For extremely dry skin. Helps maintain the natural moisture of the face and replenishes hydration in especially dry areas such as hands, elbows and feet. Contains petrolatum, beeswax and mineral oil to help protect, condition and seal in moisture. Cost is $11.00.

Check out my website at www.marykay.com/amons

A.,
mother of Isabelle