[backandforth]

I don't know what to do anymore... my hands are severly dry to the point where they have cracked open at some places. they always tend to get dry in the winter and I do have somewhat sensitive skin but they have never been this bad! it hurts to the point where if I bend my fingers (and believe me, you have to do so for virtually any activity/movement) it hurts if there's an open sore... I know that washing your hands a lot can make things worse but I don't think I wash them obsessively... I have never been diagnosed w/ excema but I also tend not to go to the doctor unless it's for a severe flu etc... I've had an eating disorder for many years now, so I'm thinking if maybe that contributes to the dry skin? not just purging but just not getting enough nutrients (ie. vitamins, minerals)... I read somewhere that if you don't get enough fat you can get dry skin...

is this bad or not? I don't feel comfortable telling a doctor about my ed but I know all they'll do is tell me to use lotion.. should I just stick it out? is this normal in any sense??? is it most likely due to the cold weather? or something else? what can I do besides using lotion (which I don't like) to make them not be so sensitive???

[dottie]

Hi! Show your hands to a pharmacist. I'll wager ...he will guide you to a very good cream that burn victims use.Lotions won't help your skin. Too diluted. You need a really thick cream. Sometimes they have the best creams set up by the pharmacist and not displayed with the other creams. Ask! I had to buy this cream for my youngest who suffered terribly from very dry skin. She inherited the dry skin and eczema from her Dad. Good luck!!

[silver_queen]

I get this sometimes in winter. I also get a dry, flakey, itchy rash on the backs of my hands, extending onto my fingers, and I had to get some kind of petroleum cream from the dr for it. It comes back from time to time, always in winter, and I have no idea why.

Do you have E45 cream there? It's found in a pharmacy with all the skincare stuff, usually. I also use a moisturising hand cream daily in winter. I choose a good brand, like Vaseline Intensive Care, but there's also some kind of Danish brand which is supposed to be good too, I think it's called Neutrogena, unless I'm thinking of something else. I think that's wrong lol, that might be some kind of cleaning spray. Ah well.

I think you will have to use a lotion. The only things I can think of which might help are to dry your hands thoroughly when you wash them (also between the fingers); to use waterproof gloves when you put your hands in contact with chemicals eg cleaning products; and to not dry your hands using hot-air dryers because that sucks moisture away. I personally though have found that when I use the protective gloves, even if they are manufactured for sensitive skin, they make my hands sweat and that makes my rash worse and itchier. I'm not sure, but I think my rash might be due to dry skin, or maybe it's some kind of allergy, idk.

You could also look online and see if any other ppl have had similar problems to you, and if so what they did for it. I don't know if your ED is contributing to this or not, but if it were, I should imagine that you'd have dry skin all over your body, though of course it might not work that way. When I went to the dr about my rash he didn't ask me about my lifestyle at all. I can't remember what he said, since it was a while ago, but I think he just looked at it and prescribed the cream.

I think you should get a lotion. Otherwise your hands won't get better. They are causing you pain and discomfort, so you need to do something about it. I know you don't want to use the lotion, but I don't like using them too, but I know that if I don't, my hands won't get any better and will just get worse. If you don't do something, your hands will dry out to the point that the skin cracks and they bleed, and that is painful.

My high school friend was in beauty school and her hands got that way from the handling the chemicals.
She use to rub vaseline-just regular vaseline-all over her hands really good and then she'd put on those doctor gloves on (You know, the ones that look like a balloon with fingers?) and she'd sleep with them on. In the morning she'd rinse off her hands and repeat again the next night if neccessary.
Hope this helps.

[(JD)]

I react the same way to many soaps, and lotions! In fact, I'm allergic to Vaseline intensive care and this is how it treats me! Dishwashing soap has to be extremely mild or my hands dry out. (I'm most allergic to Ivory, btw!!! --that's been touted as the most pure HA!)

[hillbunnyb]

Also, make sure you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
Winter heating dries the air (even if it's raining outside), which dries us out without us noticing. I like Bag Balm (for cows) and Burt's Bees products if I get a crack... I also grease up my whole body with coconut oil. It not only keeps in moisture, it helps keep out cold !

[Maven]

I get dry hands and skin at this time of year. They're dry now, but I've been using lotion. They crack, and yes, hurt when I bend my fingers where those cracks are. I put on lotion during the day, and put extra on before I go to bed. Putting lotion on and then cotton (should be cotton!) gloves is recommended by a lot of beauty specialists, because it leaves your hands all soft. You can do this for your feet, too.

If they're really bad, it may take a few days as they heal. I've found that Gold Bond Extra Strength lotion is really good. It also feels kind of minty (sort of like Icy Hot, but not as intense), cooling, after you put it on.

Oh, yeah, and here's a tip I discovered: If you're out in the cold or dry wind, and your hands are dry and cracking, especially if you don't have gloves, if you have some Chapstick, rub some of that over the cracked areas and sensitive areas. It helps, in a pinch.

[Perzephone]

I'm also a big lotion hater, but I've found one, it's from St. Ives, has very little odor & doesn't leave you feeling greasy - it's something like 'Extreme Moisture Therapy', but the bottle I have is... at work - and here I am at home & on vacation! :O

Try to avoid things w/alcohol in them, like those waterless hand sanitizing gels, skin toners, etc. There are a couple of 'crack cream' lotions where one of the top ingredients is alcohol. Sometimes petroleum products, including mineral oil, can be more detrimental to your skin than helping it - your skin needs a certain amount of oxygen to stay healthy, and petroleum products block your pores.

Many degreasing dish soaps can also contribute to dry, flaky, itchy hands, as can other household cleaners. I hate the feeling of rubber gloves more than dry skin, so it's hard for me to find a balance.

If you have an aversion to adding healthy fats, like avocados, nuts or olives/olive oil to your diet, Vitamin E & Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help your skin out tremendously. Or you can mash up some avocados w/a little warmed olive oil or organic nut butter & soak your hands in it - do the at-home spa thing. There's also a cholesterol hair treatment you can use on your hands, too.

Good luck - hope your hands get to feeling better!

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

If can use all the lotions in the world but as long as you do not eat right and take in good fats it will not do you any good..I do not know if you still have the ED but this is the source of your issues with skin..Many people do not know that skin is the largest ORGAN of the body and it reflects your general health..please eat better and add some good fats into your diet..a doc visit would not hurt either

Best wishes

[backandforth]

thanks everyone soso much for the great advice and tons of ideas & suggestions. I know I'm going to have to make more of an effort to put (the right) lotion on and do the glove thing at night (my mom has said that b/f but I do it once and then I usually forget...). so yes, it's all about being consistent. I'll try!!!! I've heard of some of those creams and you're right they're all really good. btw, neutrogena does have a hand cream, but it could still be some random cleaning product, lol....

I think the fact that my hands are dry is due to a variety of issues named above but I mean they do get reasonably worse in the winter, so the cold does have something to do w/ it.... SWBF- I know that taking in good fats would be a good idea, in theory, but that's easier said than done... I know, and I'm trying (ie. the nuts, olive oil suggestions are good) but I can't change the fact that I have an ed (yes, still have) until tomorrow, but I guess I can go and put some cream on etc.... I'm generally bad at taking care of myself. I know you're right though. thanks for caring (everyone).

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

Hon, I know its NOT easy but it is a truth...though I did remember something odd BAG BALM they use it on cows utters and it helps the MOST dried and cracked skin...eat some nuts and do flaxseed please but bag balm is the best you are gonna get for breaking skin

[backandforth]

thanks I know you meant well. and I know that there's probably some truth to that.... but where do you get that bag balm? I've never heard of that..... I have been putting cream on my hands since a couple of days now and they're already a lot better...I guess I just have to keep that up and not let them get that bad again....sigh.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

Theres lot of truth to what I say

bag balm ..I dont know where you live but here they sell it at like WALGREENS and WALMART....RITE AID , KMART its now used for humans hands and dogs paws and very bad skin issues....its in a green kinda can small .....the crap really IS good I have all kinda fancy GOOD STUFF FROM like Origins but all in all the few times I have had bad issues...when I used that it fixed it....feels odd buying it..ask anyone that works in the store they will know

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

oh and I should add the farmers found it helped their hands and thats what made it go to human use...the stuff is good

[Perzephone]

I don't know if they've changed the formula any or not, but the brand-name 'Bag Balm' used to have lanolin in it - some people can have nasty reactions to it.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

yes some people can have bad reactions just like some do to meds and food and pets...even dust..I am allergic to dust and cats...though I have cats and mold....but unless this poster knows she had an allergy to lanolin and I too am not sure if its still in there.....why not give it a try? Most people are not allergic to these things...but some are

[hillbunnyb]

Don't forget to drink plenty of water. You can't seal in what's not there.......

[jennie]

I found antibacterial soaps dry out my skin. I have a lot of allergies to chemicals and perfumes which also irritate my skin. ALSO, hot water or long baths dry out my skin.

The best products seem to be the natural products. (coco butter, shea butter, aloe vera, etc.)

[backandforth]

hey sleeps.. remember the bag balm you told me about? lol, I had forgotten about it b/c I had used cream that I had at my place and my hands ended up getting A LOT better w/ some time, lots of cream & warmer temps... so I was shopping the other day at a drug store and guess what ???? I found the bag balm!! It's so funny, it comes in this white container w/ black patches on it and when you read the instructions it ACTUALLY says how to put it on a cow and why etc... I guess someone figured out that it works for humans too and started selling it in places but noone ever bothered to write up seperate directions for "human use"... now just imagine, someone finds that in the middle of regular lotions and hairspray and thinks they lost it to have found something for a cow. just had to post this.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

LMAO I had to come see this..yes I can imagine I know I would have been WTF if a dude I know who grew up on a farm had not bought it for me to use ....Moooooooooooo hahaha

It IS good

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backandforth said:
hey sleeps.. remember the bag balm you told me about? lol, I had forgotten about it b/c I had used cream that I had at my place and my hands ended up getting A LOT better w/ some time, lots of cream & warmer temps... so I was shopping the other day at a drug store and guess what ???? I found the bag balm!! It's so funny, it comes in this white container w/ black patches on it and when you read the instructions it ACTUALLY says how to put it on a cow and why etc... I guess someone figured out that it works for humans too and started selling it in places but noone ever bothered to write up seperate directions for "human use"... now just imagine, someone finds that in the middle of regular lotions and hairspray and thinks they lost it to have found something for a cow. just had to post this.

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