Extremely Dry Hands (manicure, hand cream, skin, wear)

[younglisa7]

Does anyone have a good solution for really dry hands? My hubby and I do a lot of outdoor work(I wear gloves most of the time) and my hands feel like fine sandpaper.

I've tried all kinds of lotions and moisturizers and nothing works. Help.

Lisa

[MaggieZ]

Have you tried Aveeno intense relief? It works best for me out of all the ones I've tried. I get it at Rite Aid, Walgreens, whatever drugstores you have there should carry it. I ordered it online from a US site because I can't get it here in Europe. Bagbalm(originally meant for cow's utters) is great too and cheap.

[MB2]

My husband and I have (HAD) the same problem.
I was referred (by my friend) to a product made by a big cosmetic company (Mary Kay), especially designed just for the hands.
It consists out of an exfoliating scrub, a hand "mask" and a deep moisturizer.
It helped us out a lot, and works like nothing I've ever tried before. (Trying Jergens, Nivea....etc.)
BTW...my husband uses and abuses his hands a lot in his job (stone, sod etc.) and I abuse my hands just as well (meat cutting, cold, salt solutions and chemicals).
Our hands were to the point of being cracked and bloody.....OUCH!

But, I found out if you do this, it will help as well...(on a "whim" so to speak)
*get a hand scrub (The dry and rough skin needs to be "polished" of....just like every other place (skin cell turnover), hence the term "exfoliating".
* a bath in warm olive oil works wonders as well, and is very good for the nails.
* get a good body moisturizer (look for "dry skin" formulas), which are sometimes a bit greasy...but, in this case it's what we are looking for "stay power".
Put it on your hands, and cover them with cotton gloves (preferably overnight, when you sleep)

Just by doing something simple like that, you will see IMMEDIATE improvement!
Good luck...been there......

[brokendolly]

I would definitely second the use of cotton gloves at night and exfoliating. I've noticed great benefits while using a salt scrub.

I've even lathered up my hands, slipped on plastic bag and then slipped them in oven mitts while watching a DVD. The extra warmth feels really luxurious, just like when I'm at the spa.

I hate greasy feeling things so I've found that Neutragena Norwegian Formula works wonderfully. It seems to penetrate yet leave a protective coating that doesn't feel slick.

[mrschilicook]

I second the bag balm for really cracked dry hands. We get it thru the Vermont Country Store but we've seen it elsewhere...mostly where they sell old time stuff. It's sort of like a firmer vaseline. Put it on at night with cotton gloves for the best results. Wear gloves while gardening, doing the dishes (water really adds to the dryness), etc. Baby 'em...it's the only way to help.

[MaggieZ]

I saw bagbalm at Rite Aid but that was in Pa, I'm not sure about other states.

[hc7612]

Yes, it is that time of year. Mine get so dry in the winter coupled with the fact tht I wash my hands all of the time. I use Neutrogena Norwegian Hand Cream, like BrokenDolly mentioned. A little bit goes a long way. Also, for an exfoliator you can use prior to the hand cream, I use Sally Hansen's Manicure in a Minute. It is in an orange tube. I bought mine at Target. My hands definitely feel softer after using it.

[younglisa7]

Thanks everyone. I have to go and get some cotton gloves today. Where can I get them? Are they just gardening gloves?

I will also try exfoliating, the bag balm, and Neutrogena hand cream.

Lisa

[SXMGirl]

My husband uses the walnut hand wash from Bath & Body Works and then Zim's Crack Creme, which I also use. It is excellent for keeping hands soft.

[brokendolly]

Sometimes it can be hard to find actual cotton gloves. The ones I have are really a microfibre (a fancy word and a few dollars more than saying polyester in my opinion). I actually got them from Origins but any olds simple pair of cotton gloves from a drug or department store will work.