dry cracking hands

If you are experiencing it on your hands only, you probably don't have eczema, but a fungal infection and/or contact dermatitis.

My hands used to do that a little, and it's because I had fungal/yeast infections and contact dermatitis on my hands from harsh cleaners and perhaps, old rubber gloves that harbored some mildew (from water getting into it). It doesn't help if you are allergic to certain chemicals or molds either. Contact dermatitis can look like little blisters that pop and ooze watery fluids. The blisters can be tiny like pin-heads, or large.

PREVENTION
You may try wearing new, dry gloves without latex when you clean, and switching to vinegar and baking soda. Try remembering to wear gloves when you dust, and do the dishes or put away dishes in the dishwasher. You may even need to wear gloves when chopping veggies and fruits, especially acidic ones like tomatoes, oranges, peaches, etc.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap if you're poking around in areas that haven't been touched lately - like old boxes, dusty cabinets, or the like. They may have some mold spores or dust on them that you're allergic to. If you use baby wipes on your child, try switching to an alcohol and scent-free type and wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning your baby.

If you can switch to perfume-free, dye-free products, start doing so.

TO HELP CURE THE CURRENT SYMPTOMS
Purchasing some anti-fungal creams used for jock-itch or other fungal infections can help a lot. Try Lotrimin or Tinactin.

Also, fungal infections can be cured using tea tree oil and/or apple cider vinegar. It'll probably sting because you have open wounds, but perhaps you can dilute the oils in a lot of water at first and soak your hands in them a little bit at a time or dab the oils diluted on a cotton ball and apply it to your hands until the open sores heal.

To keep your hands moisturized, buy some Palmer's Cocoa butter (in a jar), or Shea Butter. It'll form a breathable barrier on your hands that will seal in some moisture, but will shield it from everyday hand washing.

Cracked hands hurt like a bitch, I know - I hope it gets better.

You can try these remedies before going to your doctor. You may not only need to go to a dermatologist, but you may need to see an allergy specialist as well.

It sounds like contact dermatitis to me. I've had it forever. It actually can come on and be made worse by too much water. I used to be a pastry chef and it was just horrible because I had to wash my hand so much. I didn't wear rings for several years because my hands were so bad. You really need a prescription for it. It is pretty much the only thing I go to the doctor for. I also use a good lotion like Eucerin at the same time. (natural oils or moisurizers don't work) If I see a small patch coming on I go like crazy with lotion before the bumps form and start to ooze or the skin cracks. It sounds like yours is out of control and you need medication. I tried the other options that have been reccomended thinking it was fungus, nope, tea tree oil, nope, (although I do use this on my feet and it's great) I did all kinds of stuff in nutritional healing but the prescription is all that works. You can take benedryl if you have the opportunity to help manage the itch and discomfort(kind of hard with kids to take care of). You really don't need to see a dermatologist, any doctor can write a script. It's betamethasone dipropionate cream. One tube lasts forever. If it comes with re-fills you only have to go the the doctors every year or two.

Basically, when you start the treatment you need to soak your hands, dry them very well, put the cream on your areas - just a very little bit goes a long way- and moisturize like crazy. It takes a while for the treatment to work because it takes the outbreak through it's paces so it get's worse first and then it get's better. This is why I moisturize like crazy to avoid having a full blown outbreak - it's a pain in the rear. You have to be very diligent. It can help to wear cotton gloves if you can find them. Always wear latex or other kind of rubber gloves to clean and wash dishes. (wear them OVER the cotton gloves if you can.) If anyone ever watched me they would think I were the most disgusting person in the world but once I'm moisturized I will not wash my hands unless I have to. Personally I think all the hand washing that goes on is out of control to begin with and we are more than capable of dealing with germs! (obviously I couldn't do that when I was a professional chef)

My hands get super dry, they have never actually bled but it looked like they would any second. My last 3 fingers on my right hand get so wrinkly that you can't even see my finger print (they couldn't get my print at the last job I had ). I also get cracks in my thumbs, actually, they are there right now errrr. I have never been to a dermatologist, I hate dr's and they will just give me some chemical to put on my skin, ick Lately i've been putting lanolin on my skin to soften it up a bit. I'll be peeking in to read others responses!

Sorry to hear about your hands. Mine are pretty dry too, and I have a couple patches of itchy, angry skin that develop when I don't dry my hands well enough. They seem to be particularly itchy as an allergic response to something environmental (exactly what I'm not sure, but I'm allergic to trees, mold, dust, pollen, etc....). One has since healed (for the most part), but seems to have left almost a scar behind. Now I have one on my other hand. :

I've tried taking homeopathic sulphur in pellet form and also slathering some Burt's Bees Hand Salve on the patchy parts. These things have helped somewhat. They're not cures, but they do help alleviate some of the discomfort. HTH!