Hand washing issue

[Thismummyruns]

I have open splits on my hands where they are literally cracking and bleeding- they've been like this for months. I normally get bad hands in winter but coupled with cleaning, sterilising baby bottles and bathing children etc my hands are in bits. I've recently started wearing gloves for cleaning which has helped but I have 2 pretty deep splits that will not heal, bleed and are constantly throbbing.

So, I'm washing hands as normal albeit painful but increasing washing is going to be rough.

Normal hand cream is not helping. Any helpful ideas on A) Healing B) Hygiene going forward?

Lotil cream. It’s the only thing that saved my hands from keens in my fingers.

DonPablo
Ditto for okeefes
I sometimes smother my hands with it overnight then put gloves on to give them a deep moisture treatment whilst I am sleeping,it has worked wonders.

You can use Dermol 500 as handwash.

I am putting Vaseline on my son’s hands at night. They are very sore but not actually cracked. He finds creams sting but Vaseline seems to be ok.

Me too and for exactly the same reasons, OP.

Germoline New Skin paint over the top, stings like SHIT, seriously, worse pain than contractions, but if you can keep it on for a couple of days, topping it up and keeping it dry, it’ll heal in days.

Stings like SHIT. I warned you, lol.

I had this and the pharmacist said to wash hands in aqueous cream. It worked. You don't get much lather but it helped.

O'Keefes is your friend. You can get it in Sainsburys as a hand cream and also in big pots in Wickes (my builder ex-h used to get through loads). Their lip balm is miraculous too. Give that a try.

Another vote for hydrocolloid plasters over the splits. Superdrug faster healing ones are on offer just now.

Very very old remedies. Fill the cracks with Snowfire cream, or any lip balm. It def helps.

In a similar boat to you OP but cracks/cuts have managed to heal. The skin on my hands splits and bleeds and I use Lansinoh now as I had some spare. I put it on after washing my hands and before bed and it's helped so much. Took a few days but gave my hands chance to heal a bit. I keep on using it as I can feel my hands drying out if I stop.

Savlon works wonders for me. I have OCD and over washing leaves my hands a total mess, even chemical burns from neat bleach. Apply a little every few hours takes the sting right away and heals faster.

Try Eucerin cream with 5 or 10% Urea. Only thing that quickly heals my horribly dry, cracked hands. Regular creams do nothing for me.

If the cracks won't heal you might need to see your GP for an antibiotic cream / fusidic acid

Cetraben lotion and if that’s not enough, the ointment. They have it in boots. Lanisoh helped me too, but not as much.

You can get cetraben bath additive too. Helps if you have dry skin generally. Careful getting out of the tub though!

Doctor should be able to prescribe Dermol 500 which is a soap substitute. I have it on repeat prescription. They can also give creams which are way better than normal hand creams (and come in huge bottles which last for ages). Steroid cream if necessary too. It all will make a huge difference.

I have extreme OCD and often get deep cuts on my hands from handwashing and sanitiser use. Most hand creams don't work but Neutrogena Norwegian formula does- I leave it in overnight because that's the only time I'm not handwashing.

My hands are dreadful most of the year but worse in winter. I put Norwegian formula nutrogena on my hands with gloves over the top while I do the housework. I have also found lanolin cream good. I do sometimes have to resort to plasters on the splits, with cream underneath

Another vote for Germolene New Skin. Oh my it stings.

Also I try to use gloves as much as possible when working in water and I slather hand cream, Neutrogena, on before putting the gloves on.

One other thing is I make a simple hand scrub by mixing a little olive oil or similar with sugar and rubbing in to the skin then rinse off. Then loads more hand cream on top.

Of the above, it’s using rubber gloves that makes the biggest difference in prevention.

This works wonders...

This stuff is amazing - my deep splits heal overnight mainly, or sometimes it takes two nights. You will be amazed.

I use dermalex overnight with gloves and other hand creams during the day . It is extremely pricey but it works a treat.

when my eczema is bad I layer creams mornings and night.
aveno oats lotion first and when that has sunk in a layer of weleda skin food.

during daytime aveeno lotion after hand washing.

agree with seeing a go though, extremely dry skin can be due to deficiencies (usually b12 or iron)

I'm a nurse and always get very sore hands this time of year.

I avoid using liquid soap as it just makes it worse. Carex is evil stuff and I can't even use dermol. I find plain bar soap the best and it's very effective at killing bugs too.

I've tried so many moisturisers and I find the best to be doublebase, you find it in pharmacies.

Buy some low percentage Hydrocortisone it's the only thing that helps when my hands are a state. Not for long time use age though.

I thought it would helpful to flag up a special offer I'm taking advantage of from www.skinsalve.co.uk Their fantastic non-sensitising Dermasalve Hand cream is free with larger orders.
We have been using their skin care products for years for all the family and the hand cream is perfect for moisturizing when we are cleaning hands so frequently now
I don't know if there is a time limit on offer so I've bought extra this month.
Jane
Kingston on Thames

My OH swears by Body Shop’s Hemp handcream every night. He used to suffer from split skin around finger nails and knuckles throughout winter (outdoors job) but rarely now.

Blimey, zambuk and snowfire! My mum used these on chilblains when she was a kid.
My hands have been like sandpaper (and looking like old leather gloves), my local supadrug had bugger all in, so I got Palmers intensive cocoa butter, which is making a huge difference.