Anybody know of some product out there for severely dry, cracked hands?
Here's my dilemma:
I live in a dry climate. It's only October, but as the winter progresses, with the heater, woodstove, etc. things are just going to get worse.
I do try to hydrate from the inside out and get my 8+ glasses a day.
I'm a regular hand-washer---before, during, after cooking, especially if I'm handling things like raw meat, or chicken, etc.
I'm a good girl and I religiously wash after using the bathroom, even if I didn't get "any" on me.
I've got extra hand washing duty since I'm in school, because I've been following recommendations about washing before and after using the toilet. Maybe it's the industrial soap foam thingy.
I'm not OCD, I'm just a damn cold and flu virus magnet. Before, my kids would come home and infect me with germs. Now I'm walking around in a petri dish.
I've used Vasoline Intensive Care, Jergins, Lubriderm, Eucerin, and most recently Neutrogena Norwegian Formula. The Norwegian Formula is ok, but for some reason (I think it's unscented), the unscent drives me nuts. It makes my eyes water and my nose tingle.
Can anybody recommend a really intensive product that I don't have to put on 12 times a day? I'm willing to slather it on and wear gloves overnight.
Thanks!
31 comments:
i use aveeno intense relief hand cream. i have dry hands, probably not as bad as yours. my face is awfully dry and i used this hand cream as face cream a couple times and it works really well.
second choice: vaseline. the con of using it would be the greasiness. however, if you use gloves at night, it should alleviate the dryness during the day (but, you should still use a hand cream in the afternoon).
You should try Udder Balm (gross name, but it really works!) They have a website at originaludderbalm DOT com, but you should be able to find it at any drugstore.
How about goosefat?
Cetaphil is amazing, and I agree the tub not the lotion. also try wrapping your hands in warm towels in the evening with the lotion on, ikt opens the pores of the skin and allows for more moisture to be absorbed. Drip drying hands instead of toweling also helps.
Palmers Cocoa Butter in the tub works wonders. I use it before teaching swim lessons (6 hours in a heavily chlorinated pool) and it actually makes the water bead up on my skin!
There is a theory that we have become too clean for our own good. Basically, by forcing kids to constantly wash their hands and not eat food that they dropped on the floor, their immune systems aren't developing as strongly as they would otherwise.
I'm sure I was going somewhere with this, but I've completely forgotten where...
Hope you find some decent moisturiser anyway
“Corn Huskers Heavy Duty Oil-Free Hand Treatment Lotion” is excellent, inexpensive and readily available at most drug and grocery stores. “Burt’s Bees” Beeswax Hand Crème and their “Hand Salve, a farmer’s friend” are also very good for healing dry, cracked hands, but may be a bit more difficult to find.
I use them both products on a regular basis and my skin no longer resembles the Mohave Desert.
Bag balm is what my mom uses.
I have found that if you use Avon skin softeners overnight with gloves it works WONDERS...they are scented, but nice perfume scents that even my allergies can handle...
GL!
Say hey to little guy for me
I use Vitamin C lotion from Avalon Organics. Even the wife can use it--and he gets the most disgusting hands in the winter. Dry, cracked and kind of... pussy (that's puss for all you pervs). Mucho grosso.
However, I have heard that the udder stuff is really good.
yes...uremol.#8 found in pharmacies.
It is expensive but well worth it. it not only moisturizes but also heals the skin. you do not need to put it on over and over again.
IF your hands are very cracked when you first start to use it ..it will sting actually quite alot but within a day or two it will have you all healed up.
Some people are alergic to it but it is used in all the nursing homes and hospitals here in canada as it is great for healing bed sores.etc.
Let me know if you get a chance to try it. good luck.
Got plug my good ol' fashioned Palmers Cocoa Butter lotion. Really works well. Only problem is that it smells vaguely like cookies, so I personally wind up craving cookies all day. oh well, "to be beautiful one must suffer," No?
Lisa
I have to be honest: my own 2 cents thinks that you are washing your hands too much and might be washing away "stuff" that might keep you rhands from cracking?
With my new job I have to wash my hands like 20 times a day and already they are showing signs of drying out. I will use the uremol#8 that I recommended...
I wash my hands at least 10 times a day.
I use Bath & Body Works Body Cream, NOT lotion! The cream has the consistency of toothpaste. Works for me.
I like Shikai Borage Dry Skin Therapy.
If you would like, I have some pure, natural shea butter--Fair Trade, from Togo. Like, it comes to me 50-100 lbs. at a time, on a BOAT. It's unrefined, so it retains all the natural benefits for skin (in commercial products, shea butter is usually refined and bleached to smithereens). There is a slight, nutty aroma, which I find rather pleasant, or if you like, I can mix in a smidge of fragrance oil or essential oil, if you're not sensitive to fragrances. Me, I like my skin stuff smell-free, but that's just me.
Anyway, I use it for soapmaking and lip balms, body butter, etc...just say the word and I'll pack you up some.
I also have pure cocoa butter and mango butter, if either of those things work for you. OR, I'd be happy to whip up a combo, using avocado oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, etc. etc. etc. You name an oil, liquid or solid, and you can bet I've got some. As long as you mix liquid to solid in the proper ratio, you get a decent body butter. I don't make them to sell because I don't want to worry with preservatives (plus I think your skin is happier without chemicals or petroleum), but as a gift, I can do.
wow lots of great suggestions....just wanted to add that if you can find the thin cotton gloves, usually at a pharmacy, to wear at night with whichever cream you choose....works wonders!!!
Hope you find some relief soon!
I have awful hands too. I used to use Nivea but had to switch to supermarket brand. Make sure you put some on before you have contact with water or the cold, prevention is better than vure!
I second the Udder Balm!!
I've used Aquaphor with the greatest success. It's like Vaseline, actually. (Ew.) Slather it on and wear socks/gloves to bed. It does make a difference.
I hate dry hands and use Vaseline hand lotion several times/day because it's light, absorbs quickly and doesn't leave you with that greasy residue. But if you need something more, Olay has a new Quench Therapy line that works great, too.
"I'm a good girl and I religiously wash after using the bathroom, even if I didn't get "any" on me."
This made me snicker, thanks!
Get yourself one of those hot-wax-hand-dip machines.
Or take Kim's advice and stop washing your hand so much.
Aveeno ROCKS I've used that too...sorry I saw ally's reply first
Swiss formula works well too...anything from any Body shop/bath body and beyond store that has to do with coco-butter is great too..........
If you have The Bodyshop over there, you have to try the 'Almond Oil Hand Rescue Treatment'. Its non greasy as well.
You know Ponds cold crea always works for me :)
I did sculptures in clay - it REALLY dries out your hands. We all would have our can of bag balm... the farmers put it on cows utters so they won't get chapped in the winter. You used to only be able to get it at the feed store but i think Walgreens sells it now....green tin can with the picture of utters on it. Don't usee pretty smelling lotions --they have alcohol in them which can dry the skin even more.
Yep, Udder Balm...definitely Udder Balm. We used to use it in the hospitals. Worked like a charm.
the udder balm is good stuff ... and also i agree with Sven ...the hand waxing thing is supposed to be heavenly :)
After you've used all the recommended stuff and your hands are nice and soft again, buy a couple tubes of Avon's silicon glove hand cream and use it faithfully and it'll keep them from drying out so bad from all the washing.
well any time I have dry skin the only thing that really cures it for a day or two is soy oil. I don't know if you can buy it in a bottle. I have vitamin pills which i will break one open and put it on my face, hands, ect. it totally absorbs into my skin and makes it so smooth, not oily after about 5 minutes. I know you would never think of it but its really great.
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