Cream for cracked elbows. I need a holy grail to heal them in just over a week!

[PinkNailPolish2026]

First world problem…

My elbows are really cracked and sore. I’ve never had cracked elbows before but they’re seriously painful. I’ve tried Vaseline, urea cream and O’Keefs working hands cream. I put some savlon on them tonight but couldn’t stand the nipping pain and had to wash it off. Does anyone have any recommendations of what might heal them and not nip? Ideally I need them healed asap as I’m going on holiday abroad in a couple of weeks and really don’t want scabby elbows 😭

Any idea why they've cracked? Do you suffer from eczema? Changed washing powder or something? Is your skin normally dry?

If all the things you've suggested haven't helped maybe try a natural oil like olive oil r something like nipple cream with calendula rather than a synthetic oil.

Or could it actually be something fungal?

Maybe see a pharmacist or send a photo online to your gp if you are able to.

My go to wonder cream is

La Roche Posay cicaplast baume b5

Sorry I should have said, no I don’t have eczema etc. I’ve been out in the cold from early January as it’s been lambing season and my sleeves were often above my elbows. I’ve never had this before, it’s like getting hacks on your fingers but they’re on my elbows and I can’t get them to heal. I’ve never thought of nipple cream, thank you for that I think I’ll give that a try.

Body shop hemp hand rescue

Lansinoh, the nipple cream, works wonders. Slather it on at night before sleep.

I use Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream for almost all skin problems. It's never let me down

Have you tried an emollient? You can get cream or ointment based ones and they create a barrier whilst moisturising the skin.

Zerobase and hydromol work well for me but there are lots of different ones. Pharmacist or GP can help.

Just read your update. Maybe O'Keefes handcream would help instead of emollient.

Weleda skin food

You need a cream with a high urea content, 20% or more. I use this one from Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/05pUDi7J

Lotil is your friend. Especially for cracked skin.

https://lotil.co.uk/product/lotil-30ml/

Working hands cream is great.

Cracked and painful needs more than moisturiser. I'd be wondering about a pps suggestion of a fungal issue seeing as the cracks arent healing. Do you have any hydrocortisone? I'd try slathering on some anti-fungal cream in the morning then covering it with Vaseline. In the afternoon, moisterise with a good non-scented emollient. At bed, hydrocortisone with Vaseline over top once it's soaked in. Do that for a few days to really hit it hard.

Lanisoh nipple cream. We use it for cracked feet, lip balm, everything. Better than all the others mentioned put together (and I’ve tried them all)

I second the nipple cream suggestion that stuff seems to be a universal healer.
Barrier cream like sudocrem may be good for instances like this in future to prevent

This
https://amzn.eu/d/04ja4S8u

while you’re at it, buy the body cream version as that’s also brilliant!

This definitely. I used to get keens(deep splits in fingers) and this sorted it out like a miracle. Also have you considered flexitol? When my hands get dry i put it on at night.

I’d maybe go to the pharmacy or see if I could get a nurse practitioner appointment for some advice, if there’s an infection that might need dealing with first.

Zerobase is really good

You could try a cracked heel cream like Flexitol or Dr Scholl.

I got this advice from a pharmacist once and swear by it - epiderm ointment, the one in the tub, use it instead of soap in the shower

What's worked for me is using O'Keefe's working hands cream and sudocrem alternatively.

I cut the toes off two cotton socks, slather my elbows in whichever cream I'm using then slip the socks over to keep the cream on and not rubbing off. Not very pretty but it seemed to work.

👊🏽

Some good suggestions here. I’d also recommend ointment over cream - eucerin aquafor balm is good. Or 50/50 ointment which you buy in a big tub over the counter (and is a cost effective option).

Battle's Udder Cream, amazing stuff. £10 for a massive tub on Amazon. Or you might even have some knocking about if you're a farmer.