Today I noticed that my knuckles were totally dry and need skin softening, what works for that?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 07, 2002

Answers

Vaseline or even a coating of shortening, then wear gloves or socks over it when you go to bed at night.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 07, 2002.

I used to use a product called "No Crack". It worked well for me when I was doing concrete and masonry work and my hands were wet more than they were dry. All my knuckles would crack and bleed, but this stuff got rid of the problem in a few days. To me it was a miracle. It was hard for us burly construction guys to use a flowery smelling cream, but when you are in pain you will try anything. It worked well for everybody I knew that used it.

I know this product is made locally, but I don't know if it is distributed beyond this region. Hope it is. Let me know.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

I use Dr Naylors Udder balm when my hands get really bad. It's just a bag balm that I buy in the livestock supply section of Fleet Farm. It is kind of stinky but it works well. Put it on at night and wear a pair of thin cotton gloves while you sleep.

-- Colleen (bean@northwoods.net), January 07, 2002.

Lotil is great too, and no flowery smell. Whatever you use, try to make sure it has no alcohol in it (stings too much). Other thing to remember is whenever you wash your hands, be sure to put something on right after, because hot water and soap can dry the skin out as well. I like the creams with stearic acid (waxy substance found in the candle-making supply area), because they seem to put a nice coating on the hands.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 07, 2002.

I use "Udder Butter" I rub a layer on my hands at night and let it sit for about 30 minutes and then wipe off any excess with a soft rag. It works great. As a nurse my hands often get cracked and dry from all the frequent washing at work, then coming home and doing the outside chores my hands were a mess. This has worked well for me over several years. You can get it at most farm supply stores a 7 ounce tube was $ 4.39 3 or 4 years ago(still using it). A little goes a long ways! Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), January 07, 2002.

Castor oil. Available at health food stores. Topically, not internally. It's the main ingredient in many lotions. VERY much cheaper when bought 'straight.'

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

My Dad had severely calloused hands which would dry in winter to the point where they would literally crack and bleed. The only thing he found that worked for him was a product called 'Corn Husker's Lotion.' It was a gooey, sticky mess until it was absorbed but did the job. I used it when I worked out in the weather and it really was a good product. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

When I lived "Up North" and had chapped hands all winter, I discovered plain old Bag balm..cheapest brand, doesn't matter...it is great stuff and lasts for a long time...some folks do not like the smell but it never bothered me..God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 07, 2002.

Zim's Crack Cream is the best for winter dry skin, if a less greasy version is desired, they make a daytime formula as well, available at all drug stores and the big discount chains too. As a farmer that spends hours outside everyday, I swear by it.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 08, 2002.

Try pure lanolin. --Happy trails, Cabin Fever

-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_mn@yahoo.com), January 08, 2002.

Generally guys tend to pay less attention to hand and skin care. I work with office paper 40 hours a week, and my hands suffer . I kept corn huskers at my desk (I need to re-suply). I think the best bet is to apply lotion several times a day (after washing hands), and weekly to the whole body at bath time :)

I usually play "catch up", but when it get s bad, I do the vaseline and socks at night when the skin starts to crack.

-- Rick (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 08, 2002.

To make hands (or feet) nice and smooth pour a little oil (any cooking oil will do the size of a quarter) on to one hand. Add a spoon of sugar (granulated). Mix with your finger and start rubbing around both hands (or feet). Massage each finger separately, and go around the nails. Finally wash off with a little soap.

At this stage your hands will feel fantastic.

If they are already dry rub vaseline in the hands well. Put on some rubber gloves and do a big bowel of washing up, in hot water. By the time you have finished the vaseline will have been absorbed and your hands will be a lot better.

Hope this helps

Alison

-- Alison Homa (alisonhoma@hotmail.com), January 08, 2002.

I use only one product, and it is good for face, body. It's called Aquaphor, and you have to ask your pharmacist if they have it. They don't keep it on the open shelf. I get mine at WalMart. They can order it too. It sort of looks like Vaseline, but it thicker. It isn't anything like Vaseline though, and it can be used on wounds too as it can breathe, it lets air through. Ladies - I use this on my face as moisturizer. It is just a bit greasy feeling at first, but then, a few minutes later, it isn't greasy feeling at all. A tub of it runs about 13.99 and will last you at least a year. The other product that I swear by for really dry skin I find only at health food places and it comes in a spray bottle and is called NaPCA. It is made from a natural substance found in human skin. It's by TwinLab. About 7 dollar a bottle. What it does that's so great is it literally "pulls" moisture from the air and keeps it on your skin. I live in the desert and swear by this stuff. Good luck.

-- Katie (homesteader@accessnevada.com), January 09, 2002.

Another product that may help is Eucerin or the store brand of same (one brand I've seen is called Moisturin). It is a thick white substance, kind of like a cross between shortening and noczema cream (but no smell) in consistency. Best for overnight use, or when you can put thin cotton gloves on under your work gloves.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 09, 2002.

I agree that Aquaphor works great! That's what I use on my knuckles in the winter - every night before bed!

-- hmm (h.m.metheny@att.net), January 13, 2002.

I've made a nice handcream out of borax, beeswax, mineral oil and distilled water. It's a little greasy going on, but if I use it on my hands just before bed, they don't crack. Otherwise the cold, dry weather makes my hands just fall apart...they crack and bleed and it's NASTY! I've never found anything that works this well. You can frequently find this type of handcream at apiaries or places that sell bee products. (It's a very common recipe.)

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 13, 2002.

As a young mother and housekeeper using cleaning products for the first time, I developed a dry , cracking, peeling condition on my hands and feet that has been unaffected by ANY treatment I have tried in 23 years. The doctors told me it was Contact Dermatitis and I would have it for the rest of my life! I have tried an unbelievable amount of ointments. Bag Balm,(the best temporary help), creams, aloes, vitamins, oils. Herbs, gloves, all with temporary or NO relief… Cold weather is always the worst. Sometimes I couldn’t close my hands them from the pain of the splits and cracks. Shaking hands with people was an embarrassment and often painful. Sometimes my cracked feet hurt to walk.

I found Zim’s Crack Cream at Walmart. Sounded funny. (Under 5 bucks.) Thought I’d give it a try. (Hope springs eternal). I was sure I had wasted my money again the first night I applied it… such simple stuff.…But, the next morning, for the first time it 23 years, something was different…My hands felt supple and smooth on the palms. A rosy pink color instead of the pale sandpaper look… I have been using it on my feet and hands for two weeks now, and I feel like weeping with gratitude everyday. My hands and feet are becoming as soft and smooth and supple and as NORMAL as they were when I was a kid. NO more dryness!. I would not have believed there was anything short of a miracle that would ever give me back the gift of my hands again. My family is amazed. I am amazed! And it is such a simple treatment! Zim’s C.C. is a wonderful product. Words cannot express my gratitude to the inventors of this stuff!

-- Rebecca Reynolds (reynoldsdesigns@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Rebecca, isn't contact dermatitis something that will go away if you find the item causing it and avoid it? I know that a lot of people are allergic (contact dermatitis response) to nickel, for example.

The same with cleaning agents, makeup, etc. It can be hard to pin down the exact item, but it might be worth your while to go to someone specializing in allergies. Hope this helps.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), April 15, 2002.

I have very dry cracked skin on my hands, worse in the winter. I have found that Avon's Moisture Therapy Hand Cream is the best! It heals the cracks and softens well. It's a little thick and is best to use at bedtime.

-- Christa Williams (christa44@hotmail.com), October 18, 2002.