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Original poster

Extremely dry hands - pics attached

74 replies

holdolls · 14/06/2022 21:00

My hands have been severely dry for the past 7/8 months. I've been to the gp a few times and have tried multiple creams as well as the strongest steroid available on prescription as well as countless hand creams that you can buy over the counter but absolutely nothing is helping and it might sound silly but it is seriously getting me down and I feel like it's affecting me too much. I feel like the skin is just permanently damaged at this point and I can't feel things very well certainly not in the same way I can on the other hand (which is fine, it's just my right hand). I am now waiting for a dermatology appointment but it's been months and I haven't heard anything so I am a little worried that they haven't accepted the referral or something. Just wondering if anyone has had anything similar or has any advice about it or anything I can try. The amount of cream I'm going through is crazy. I really don't think that it's something I'm allergic to because I am using the same products as I have done for years.

OP posts:
CuteOrangeElephant · 14/06/2022 22:28

Turns out I am allergic to most liquid hand soap.

I only use super mild bars now (werfzeep, not sure if you can get it in the UK).

Oceanus · 14/06/2022 22:31

Thought I'd add your hands look an awful lot like mine when I eat dairy but mine peel on the sides/palms whereas yours it's mostly on the tips. You should figure out what the root of your problem or you'll never get this sorted -which is easier said than done, I know! I wonder whether a dermatologist wouldn't be able to help you?
I don't know if this might help but my problem with dairy was never instant. It's faster now but at first it often took 2 or 3 days (e.g. after adding a bit of milk to a cup of tea) for the skin itch/peel to start, so even though I was writing everything down in terms of what I was eating/drinking, it was only by accident that I found out what the problem was, because I wasn't looking so far back...

LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 22:31

Surely if it was contact dermatitis it would be both hands - unless op is right handed and it’s something like a cleaning product causing the problem.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty General health Skin conditions
MrsDooDaa · 14/06/2022 22:32

Liquid soap wrecks my hand too. Moved to mild bar soap and they are fine now.

Oceanus · 14/06/2022 22:35

Could it be that you're using a metal pen with a metal you're allergic to?

Original poster
holdolls · 14/06/2022 22:38

I have tried aqueous cream aswell as well as using it as a soap substitute. Currently using the o keefes hand cream mentioned but that's not helping either. Go though a tube in less than a week! I am wondering if it is contact dermatitis now then, I just have no idea where to start in figuring out what's causing it. Haven't tried the hemp cream lately so will try and pick some of that up. I'm on maternity leave at the minute so nothing triggered by work. I'm not sure if having a baby can trigger something like this? I have an 8 month old and while my hands were dry before I had him, they certainly where no where near as bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
holdolls · 14/06/2022 22:39

holdolls · 14/06/2022 22:38

I have tried aqueous cream aswell as well as using it as a soap substitute. Currently using the o keefes hand cream mentioned but that's not helping either. Go though a tube in less than a week! I am wondering if it is contact dermatitis now then, I just have no idea where to start in figuring out what's causing it. Haven't tried the hemp cream lately so will try and pick some of that up. I'm on maternity leave at the minute so nothing triggered by work. I'm not sure if having a baby can trigger something like this? I have an 8 month old and while my hands were dry before I had him, they certainly where no where near as bad.

But also as another poster said if it was contact dermatitis wouldn't it be both hands?

OP posts:
Basilbrushgotfat · 14/06/2022 22:43

Bathing with oats in the bath?

LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 22:46

Oceanus · 14/06/2022 22:35

Could it be that you're using a metal pen with a metal you're allergic to?

Ooo that’s a good theory. The one hand, the tips, the pointing finger having the most damage.

That might be quite genius suggestion

MrsDooDaa · 14/06/2022 22:47

My hands got worse after having a baby due the extra hand washing after changing nappies.

cockadooodledoo · 14/06/2022 22:48

Have you tried this one?

It worked miracles for me after I had a bad flare up of eczema and cracked sore skin from cold weather.

I've also used the foot version and it completely healed my cracked broken skin.

Extremely dry hands - pics attached
LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 22:51

OP are you using the jar or the tube of working hands. The tub /jar is the original strong formula - the tube is lesser so.

Original poster
holdolls · 14/06/2022 22:51

cockadooodledoo · 14/06/2022 22:48

Have you tried this one?

It worked miracles for me after I had a bad flare up of eczema and cracked sore skin from cold weather.

I've also used the foot version and it completely healed my cracked broken skin.

Yep that was last weeks hand cream which I stole off DP but again, no change!

I rarely use a pen at the moment to be honest and if I so it's just those cheap plastic ones!

OP posts:
Original poster
holdolls · 14/06/2022 22:52

LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 22:51

OP are you using the jar or the tube of working hands. The tub /jar is the original strong formula - the tube is lesser so.

I've tried both quite a few times. Using the tube at the minute.

OP posts:
goldfinchonthelawn · 14/06/2022 22:52

Palmer's cocoa butter hand cream, applied about 10 times a day is the ^only`6 things that stops my hands and DH's from being like that.
Never use anti-bc soap either. That is so aggravating to the skin.

goldfinchonthelawn · 14/06/2022 22:54

gamerchick · 14/06/2022 22:24

It's contact dermatitis imo. Something you're are using, even if you have used it for years is making your fingers stroppy.

Only bentovate (?) Worked for me and using disposable gloves for general day to day stuff to help them heal worked.

I also wondered if it was contact dermatitis. It does look a bit different from normal dry skin. If it is, hydocortisone cream will cure it quickly.

LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 23:07

So not the pen. This is like an Agatha Christie mystery 😂

If it was me because it’s been soooo long, been to GP and everything. I would say to DP you are not touching anything for a week. No cleaning, no cooking, don’t wash your hair, absolutely nothing. Minimise hand washing to a couple of times a day - get a hydrocolloid plaster for the exposed pointer finger.

It’s got to be something your touching with the right hand, or you previously touched and it never had a chance to recover.

Now I think of the hydrcolloid plaster that might be a really good idea. Because it is fingers it could work.

LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 23:09

Other emollient ideas - Savlon, Lanollin Nipple Barrier

ticktickticktickBOOM · 14/06/2022 23:12

This is a wild card but my dad had this kind of dry skin on his right hand for over a year and in the end, after trying every cream and wracking his brains, it turned out he was allergic to the mouse he used for his laptop. He bought a hypoallergenic one (yes they do exist!) and it cleared up within a week.

HRHBreathMints · 14/06/2022 23:13

I had this for ages. I spent so much money on hand creams and turned out it was due to y very high blood sugar levels so I would also say get bloods done for diabetes.

the cera ve hand cream is now the only thing that works for me. Tried the body shop hemp cream, L’occataine and even o’keefes.

TickyBooo · 14/06/2022 23:15

I haven't read the full thread so apologies if this repeats or is useless info. I had similar and dove hand cream was the only thing that helped, think it's because it's quite a natural product. Hope it clears Up soon for you.

Magicmagician · 14/06/2022 23:17

I find creams with urea help with my sore hands. And this might be left field but going along the lines of the suggestion of the computer mouse - if you’re on maternity leave it might be more likely to be your phone?! A Google suggests allergy to the metals in phones could be a thing… who knew! Good luck working it out and hope your hand heals soon

LemonSwan · 14/06/2022 23:21

ticktickticktickBOOM · 14/06/2022 23:12

This is a wild card but my dad had this kind of dry skin on his right hand for over a year and in the end, after trying every cream and wracking his brains, it turned out he was allergic to the mouse he used for his laptop. He bought a hypoallergenic one (yes they do exist!) and it cleared up within a week.

Omg genius! I just went over to my mouse and it is those fingers you use with only occasional light contact of the little finger - fits the pattern.

Please try it and report back OP. We might need to crown tick tick with a medal!

Oceanus · 14/06/2022 23:25

OP, just read about your 8 m.o. baby and it reminded me of sth I heard my DM speak about... She had a problem like you, only in one hand, as she was allergic to the rash cream she used to put on my DB's bum when he was a baby, apparently her allergy was only on the two fingers she used to spread the cream! Given your baby's age, could it be that you're allergic to sth you're using on him? Sth really simple and that flies under the radar e.g. baby wipes, rash cream, baby shampoo/soap etc.
You've been like this for 7/8 months and your baby is 8 months old...!

MsOllie · 14/06/2022 23:32

Have you tried the neutrogena one? When my hands were split with cracks, slathering that on with gloves is the only thing that worked

O'keefes did nothing but I actually find their body lotion (yellow tube) loads better than the hand cream