[ghostrider]

My hands have gotten totally raw over these last few days. Skin is cracking on my thumbs & it's gotten really painful.

This seems to be a more annoying problem every year so I thought I'd inquire how other folks deal.

I've found the Neutragena Norwegian Formula stuff to be pretty effective but this year it doesn't seem to quite be doing the job. Maybe I just haven't been using it enough. I didn't get into the habit of slapping it on constantly till yesterday, maybe that was my mistake.

Suggestions welcome.

[Evelyn]

I'd suggest, at night, slathering your hands with Aquafor. And, if so inclined, slipping on gloves (I don't bother). A plastic surgeon friend recommended this to me a number of years ago when I was still in the kitchen. I've not had a problem since. During the day, I use Lubriderm extra strength.

[GG Mora]

When my hands get really bad, I slather them with Bag Balm at bedtime and slip on a pair of latex exam gloves. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and take the gloves off, but even just a few hours of this treatment makes a huge difference. You could do it during the day, I guess, if you didn't have anything pressing.

[Lippy]

I have found Jergens Ultra Healing to be very effective.

[Daisy]

I like Aquaphor, but it's so sticky and greasy that I find a couple of good alternatives for 'day' creams are the Neutrogena Norwegian formula and the L'Occitane cream that has shea butter in it.

[Cathy]

Vaseline Deep Moisture petroleum jelly cream - non-greasy, very effective.

[flyfish]

If you find Bag Balm a bit strong in the scent department, you might try Badger Balm.

[Suzanne F]

I got a bunch of samples when I went to that Martha bitch's lady's show. So far, my favorites are the Jergen's mentioned above, Lubriderm Intense Skin Repair, and Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. All have minimal odor.

And while I've never tried that Badger stuff Fly mentioned, I'll bet it's good. Their bug repellent is terrific.

[backstory]

My hands have gotten totally raw over these last few days. Skin is cracking on my thumbs & it's gotten really painful.

This seems to be a more annoying problem every year so I thought I'd inquire how other folks deal.

I've found the Neutragena Norwegian Formula stuff to be pretty effective but this year it doesn't seem to quite be doing the job. Maybe I just haven't been using it enough. I didn't get into the habit of slapping it on constantly till yesterday, maybe that was my mistake.

Suggestions welcome.

i use aveeno daily moisturizing lotion after my bath and that is all i seem to need all day. i do use gloves religiously when i go out.
but i had severe problems before - hang nails, peeling finger tips, splitting nails. i was diagnosed for thyroid deficiency and my hands and skin are 100% better now that i take supplement.

[StephanieL]

Aveda Hand Relief (has a nice citrus scent).

[The Scream]

I've tried Aquaphor, vaseline, Neutrogena Norwegian formula, bag balm, Jergens, L'Occitane cream with shea butter ($$$ but the "protective" barrier seems to really last), Gold Bond concentrated therapy, etc.. mostly I just buy what's on sale or use what I get as samples or gifts.

Whatever brand I use, the surefire way to get it to work fast is to wear gloves like GG suggests. If you don't have gloves, cover your hands with socks. The cotton will absorb some of the lotion, but it's still pretty effective.

My son has a problem with dry patches of skin. I rub jojoba oil (Trader Joe's or health food stores) gold bond concentrated and gold bond medicated cream on his skin. This seems to work the fastest. For regular maintenance I put a cocoa butter and jojoba oil cream on him, which seems to work a little better than the other stuff I mentioned above.

[ghostrider]

Well, I've been slathering the Neutragena on every couple of hours today & the skin finally seems to be improving. Can't slack off prematurely now.

I think the problem was mostly the industrial-strength soaps found in airport facilities, coupled with the intense cold up here in Maine.

[prasantrin]

A bit late, but Glaxal Base is the cream often used as a base for prescription creams. Excellent stuff. With any cream, try to apply it when your skin is a little moist (not wet), and then cover your hands with cotton gloves or socks (if applying before going to bed; skip the cotton gloves or socks if doing daytime application). The way you use the cream is just as if not more important than the cream you use.

Oops. Just noticed GG and Scream said the same thing about cotton. I triple their suggestion!

[porkwah]

does nobody here pee on their hands when their skin is dry?

[flyfish]

does nobody here pee on their hands when their skin is dry?

Just you and a few superstitious baseball players, and I sure will be thinking of that when I get to meet you in person!