Chapped Hands! (bloody, remove, better, bite)

[golfgal]

I agree--slather them with whatever and light, cotton gloves to bed. Crisco actually works really well too. Make sure you cover them when you go outside and wear rubber gloves for washing dishes or cleaning house. Stop using any "antibacterial" anything on them--plain old Dove or Ivory soap to wash.

Drink more water too. That will probably help the most.

[lubby]

I have this exact problem, and since dry cracked hands runs in the family I was told by mom to do the following:
Buy cotton gloves at CVS, every night apply a good cream that is specifically for severe dry skin. I used aquaphor, and gold bond ultimate intensive healing hand cream. It has hydrolast in it so it lasts through hand washing. I used the gloves and aquaphor at night and I cream my hands with the gold bond in the morning and in the afternoon. It's working very well.

[Hopes]

Thanks for the ideas.

I have Eucerin and Cetaphil at home. I've been using Cetaphil and it hasn't helped. I'll try Eucerin tonight.

I'll buy some of the things mentioned tomorrow.

I think the problem with the bag balm is I didn't try to use it until after the damage was done. If I had been using it all along, I probably would haven't gotten into this mess.

I have been washing my hands more often because I'm cooking and baking more (since it's too darn cold to go anywhere and the oven helps keep the house warm lol). I'll wash them a few times while cooking one meal. I'll get some surgery gloves and just change those as often as I would normally wash while cooking a meal.

[mbradleyc]

Lanolin. There's nothing better.

[old_cold]

I'd bet that what you use is not as important as how you use it and how often.
Protecting your hands in the first place, staying well hydrated and applying any good lotion frequently, overnight "oiling" with gloves to heal existing damage and you won't be spending hundreds of dollars on 40 different lotions.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by old_cold

I'd bet that what you use is not as important as how you use it and how often.
Protecting your hands in the first place, staying well hydrated and applying any good lotion frequently, overnight "oiling" with gloves to heal existing damage and you won't be spending hundreds of dollars on 40 different lotions.

I know. It's just a PITA to have constantly greasy hands. Last night, I started using the Eucerin Aquafore or whatever it's called because I already owned it. It seems to be slowly improving but it feels so gross.

[Hopes]

I'm heading in the right direction. I have some relief in pain. I have been using the apricot scrub when I wash my hands (it has oils in it and sloths off dry skin) and finish off with olive oil. I put the Eucerin Aquaphor on a couple times per day and after bathing.

[PAhippo]

I used Aladerm when I worked at the hospital.

I wonder if a face moisturizing soap would be good to wash your hands with since you wash them so often. Might be worth a try. Preventive not curative.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I'm heading in the right direction. I have some relief in pain. I have been using the apricot scrub when I wash my hands (it has oils in it and sloths off dry skin) and finish off with olive oil. I put the Eucerin Aquaphor on a couple times per day and after bathing.

I'd stop with the scrub...that is probably making it worse

[Natsku]

I find the only thing that helps for my hands is palmers cocoa butter formula. The important thing to remember though, is not to use any cream containing any water moisture before going outside in freezing temperatures as it then freezes and cracks the skin more - use something like lanolin when going outside, and a moisturising cream like cocoa butter when inside.