Dry hands - HELP!

[jellop]

My hands are so dry, they literally feel like sandpaper. My youngest actually asked me today to not touch him because my fingers hurt him. I've upped my intake of water, tried different lotions and such, even bagbalm and rubber gloves (can only handle for about an hour before it makes me crazy), and I don't know what else to do. My knuckles are getting super-dry and starting to crack and bleed - very painful. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciate - I'll try anything. Thanks in advance!!

[mykdsmomy]

I have the SAME problem. I've used coconut oil which seemed to help some but then tonight I bought some Burt's Bees almond milk Beeswax Hand Creme and it made my hands softer instantly. (They are still dry but I can tell that if I used this stuff a few times a day, I could heal them)

If you dont want to spend the money then I would recommend coconut oil and then if you have some cotton gloves, put those on overnight.....good luck, mama....It can be painful

[justmama]

I have the exact same problem. It's winter and dry out and I am a vet tech and wash my hands a MILLION times at work between patients. I have to grease up with Burt's Bee's Coconut Foot Cream at night and use a very thick heavy moisturizer several times during the day to keep the cracks at bay. Those tiny little cracks are so amazingly painful!!!!!! I have no miracle cure but that at least is a start!

Meg

[Spastica]

Sometimes, cracks like that signify a fungal infection. I had some of that on my hands. I get contact dermatitis from using conventional cleaners and cleaning with my bare hands. If you have small kids, constantly handling dirty diapers and whatever does that too from the bacteria that is introduced. Once I switched to homemade cleaners, I don't get as many problems. I also usually wear rubber gloves. Also make sure your rubber gloves aren't too old and have moisture trapped in them. The yeast overgrowth from gloves that have moisture in them make your hands worst - it's where you get the yeast infection on your hands to start with.

You can try putting some Lamisil, some sort of antifungal cream or over the counter cream that is made for foot fungus or jock itch (mixed in with some thick hand lotion or oil -- you can try olive oil and/or cocoa butter too). Coconut oil soaks in quickly but it's not moisturizing enough for issues like this. However, it is good for eczema and psoriasis, so if you want to mix the coconut oil with the olive oil and cocoa butter, great.

Anyway see if that helps clear it up. My hands have been dry anyway this winter and the cocoa butter helps lots for cracked heels, rough elbows, itchy hips/nips, and hands For simplicity's sake, I buy the Palmer's Cocoa butter in the huge jar/tub (NOT the lotion kind). It's made for super dry skin and pregnant women. Eucerin is also a good product that is hypoallergenic.

[Tilia]

I like to use sweet almond oil on my hands and elbows. It starts out greasy but soaks in quickly. I use it as DDs lotion too.

[amcal]

I would start by exfoliating - put some olive oil (you can use another oil) and sugar in your hands and gently rub them and then rise with water but don't soap off the oil. Next, while they're damp, put a heavy duty cream on them and then put gloves on.

[FluffiB]

I have the same problem! What soap do you use on your hands? For the last several years, I've been using Dove's sensitivie skin body wash to wash my hands. I'm finding that to be even drying lately, so I'm thinking about adding jojoba oil to it. You can also try diluted Dr Bronner's castile soap (unscented).

I also moisturize with Eucerin, but I'm trying to find a natural alternative. I'll have to try some of the suggestions.

I used Burt's Bee's almond milk cream. That works great too.

There's a homeopathic eczema cream called Florasone. Use as directed, and your knuckes will heal. It's so hard to apply 4-5 times a day when you're constantly washing your hands. That's my problem.

Spastica, you are AWESOME! Recently, all of the sudden, my hands started cracking and itching badly. I use rubber gloves to do dishes. I remember that I had a hole in it but didn't replace it for a few days. I had no idea that it could cause fungal infections!

[jellop]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I was very surprised (not sure why) that so many of us are having the same problem! I'm thinking that it has to do with washing my hands so much - my MIL is going through chemo, and comes over here a lot, so I've been beating the hand washing drum excessively here to help keep the germs at bay. Now that I look at it, the kids' hands are getting pretty dry, too. So, now I'm off to the store to buy some supplies!!

Thanks again so much!!!! MDC ladies are the best!!!