Painful cracking dry skin on hands

[AcornsFalling]

My hands are taking a beating from all the hand washing and dish washing I do.

Can anyone recommend a good hand cream? I have been using Glysomed but it doesn't help anymore.

I almost always use gloves when washing dishes.

Anyone have any other tips for keeping nice hands?

[cfred]

I have eczema and my hands can be terribly dry this time of year. The most recommended moisturizer - Vaseline. It feels a bit odd at first, but it's the only thing I've found that keeps my hands supple while not causing irritation. Also, wear dish gloves for washing up. In fact, with eczema, I wear cotton gloves inside my dish gloves because hands sweat inside them, further irritating already sensitive skin. I've also started buying bars of glycerin soap (available at Bulk Barn) and it seems to be helping too.

I know all too well about having sore hands. Hope this helps!

[jodaycare]

Mine are awful too. I have tried almost every cream out there, including prescription cream. they help for a while but then it is almost as though my skin becomes immune to them. I have been using Gold Bond medicated to help with the pain and itching.

[cfred]

Is your problem eczema Jodaycare? If so, try Elidel. It's prescription and insanely expensive, but NOT cortisone, so doesn't thin the skin. It's the only thing I've found that's effective. I found it while researching eczema as I was soooo frustrated with cortisone creams not working. I even ordered some cortisone that was 3x the legal amount here. Nada.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have been really dry this year but my hands are one place that never seem to get dry, it's odd but I'm not complaining!

Have you tried lathering up at night with cream and than putting mini mitts on? I do this with my feet and socks but I'm not sure if I could sleep with mitts on! It's worth a try maybe?

[Daisy123]

I hear you! I also deal with eczema and finding something that actually works is awful! Castille soap helps- it's only natural oils. The fewer ingredients the better. Something else that I've discovered that I LOVE is emu oil. Seriously! You have to massage it in really well but it helps! It's also an anti-inflamatory and it takes out the itch. It's described for extra dry skin and eczema. I get mine at the grocery store.

[gravy_train]

I have the same problem - not eczema but my hands crack ad bleed from wahing them so often. I talked to my pharmacist who suggested a Glycerine based soap and hand cream. I use Spectro Kids E-Care Moisturizing Body Wash for sensitive skin and follow up with Glycomed handcream and it helps a lot.

[cfred]

For eczema, when it gets bad....hands red, sore, swollen and secondary infections....I'll wrap freezer packs in dish towels and just hold on to them for 30 mins at a time a couple times/day. I've found that to really help with the discomfort. They just get so hot and sore. I hate my stupid eczema.....put a very big damper on my recent vacation. I hadn't had it in years so I forgot how much it affects everything I do.

[AmandaKDT]

We use Eucerin original Creme, the kind that comes in a small tub. It it is really heavy duty and is a water-in-oil formula, It also has Vaseline and mineral oil in it. It was the only thing that cures my daughters' excema when even prescription medication didn't work. I also use it on my feet and for the first time ever my heels haven't gotten cracks in them this winter.

[FunnyFarm]

Try buying some Organic Shea Butter. Put it on at night and place gloves on your hands (only because it is very greasy). It is Marvelous stuff! it has natural properties that relieve itching/irritation and soaks deep into the skin. I have used it on my feet with amazing success. I'm sure prescription creams would likely work too, but I prefer a natural approach first :)

[bright sparks]

I have contact dermatitis and am sensitive to even hypoallergenic things. I tried everything when I was younger and now when it gets really bad I just use Vaseline but even the petroleum in that can irritate me if my hands are inflamed and that's when I just apply cold packs to them. I remember having to wear cotton gloves to sleep in and waking up in the morning and they would be nowhere to be found lol Reminds me of my husband and is gumguard. Wake up in the morning and it would be the other side of the room, under the pillow or even on my pillow waiting to greet me as I open my eyes...sounds gross but I just find it hilarious, just like the gloves that they can go walk about while we are sleeping. What the heck goes on when we are sleeping lolol

[nschildcare]

Ouch, I get this, too. I often get cracks on my fingertips which kill! I make sure my hands are always moisturized, starting in early fall, and through the winter. I used to use a eucerin/glycerin cream to help moisturize, and used to use a steroid cream to help the cracks heal. Now I just use polysporin when they get really bad and I have a gluten free cream I use (green beaver).

[godsgirl]

I use a hemp one from The Body Shop. It's for very dry hands and it has a something in it so that it doesn't completely come off the next time you wash your hands. I use it probably 2-3x a day and it works pretty good. It's not greasy either.

[mickyc]

One of my dcmom's told me this, apparently her dermatologist told her to use KY personal lubricant on her hands. She said her daughter's hands was dry and itchy too and she used it and it cleared up immediately. I haven't tried it as I don't have any KY in my house (LOL) but will have to buy some and see if it helps.

[bright sparks]

One of my dcmom's told me this, apparently her dermatologist told her to use KY personal lubricant on her hands. She said her daughter's hands was dry and itchy too and she used it and it cleared up immediately. I haven't tried it as I don't have any KY in my house (LOL) but will have to buy some and see if it helps.

Yeah Yeah...lmao I believe you ;)

[mickyc]

Yeah Yeah...lmao I believe you ;)

LOL - no need for it until now I suppose!! LOL

[busydaycarelady]

I have this issue too! Mine crack and bleed from so much dish/hand washing. Ising gloves while washing dishes helps. I've been using a parafin wax hand spa weekly, Vichy Nutriextra for hands(every morning, it forms a protective layer for a while) and then hemp hand cream from The Body Shop throughout the day. Sometimes I put on the hemp lotion real thick and then put some medical gloves over top for half an hour or so. It's helped quite a bit.

[Spixie33]

I have suffered through this ever since I started doing daycare 4 years ago. My hands would end up bloody by February and washing my hands would be agony because water would get in the cracks.

I have tried everything from Glysomed to Moroccan oil to Udderly Smooth.

THis year I bought a container of Goldbond SOS hand lotion and also Goldbond Ultimate Restoring and a big club size container of Vaseline.

So far my system seems to work relatively well. Here is how I use them -->

I lather up at bedtime (really well) with Vaseline and leave it on all night (without gloves).

When I wake up in the morning, I get ready and then rub on some Goldbond SOS cream.

Then I go about my day.

When all the kids are sleeping at nap time I put on Goldbond again

Then once they go home I put on Goldbond again.

And then comes bedtime again with the Vaseline.

So far it has worked - barely any skin tears/cracks/blood this winter even though it has been colder than ever.

I find some lotions really hurt to put on when your hands are irritated/cracked so be weary of that.

[fireflies]

I gave up on creams long time ago, it seems all they do is just smelling good

[beacon]

That's true about cheap creams, expensive ones really help but why on earth should you waste $200 for a small jar of cream when you can buy vaseline or some oil or butter. I use Kokum Butter (https://oilscenter.com/kokum-butter) and it costs, attention, $5. So nah, creams are overrated.