Chapped hands - suggestions for relief?

[BubsMaw]

Hi, not really a health problem as such, but didn't know where to post...

I've got badly chapped hands, started just in the last few days prob with the change in weather, they are dry, cracked and bleeding. DH has the same problem. I had dry hands for the first time last winter but only for the very worst part of winter.

I've tried hand cream, L'Occitane cooling hand gel, as it's all that I have, it smells nice but isn't really helping. Last year I got some Nutrogena which was a bit better. I just bought some gloves on-line so will start wearing those when out.

Could anyone recommend something, cream etc. that is moisturising and healing? Ideally something natural, preferably no petroleum products. Also I hate greasy feeling, so would prefer something readily absorbed.

Many thanks!

i have the same problem - i use nutrogena at night, too greasy for during the day. i find it works incredibly well, healing the skin after a couple of nights.

in terms of prevention, i try to remember to wear gloves when out and dry my hands thoroughly after washing.

Norwegian Formula hand cream, from Nutrogena, as already posted. Fantastic stuff; but use sparingly. (Lots of glycerine.)

Do Body Shop still do that Hemp Hand cream? That was always really good.

Or I had a really good one from partyLite (the candle parties) Wellbeing range.

do you keep washing up, cleaning, washing your hands with no gloves on?

if so, start using gloves. the blue neoprene (?) gloves are very strong and comfortable, and as thin as surgical gloves.

dry your hands on a soft towel after they have got wet.

you may find a handwash suits you better than soao, especially if you have hard water

soap, not soao

I have terrible chaps in winter (have started already). I find clarins hand and nail cream is the best (am allergic to neutrogena which loads of my friends swear by)

body shop Hemp hand cream is really good. smells horrid though (patchouli-ish)

Dr Hauschka stops my winter eczema in its tracks every year. That and cashmere wristwarmers - decadent but effective.

The best thing is to soak your hands in warm water, with natural bath oil if poss, then, while they are wet really slather on aqueous cream (ask the pharmacist, its 4 quid for a huge tub), then pull on cotton gloves and sleep in them. Then in the day use the neutrogena.

It makes a huge difference as you really lock in the moisture

New research out today saying that aqeueous cream increases water loss from your skin and plus it contains petroleum products which you want to avoid. Diprobase cream is very good but may only be prescription and not sure of the content. It is used in the neonatal unit to moisturise staff hands as a result of continuous handwashing.

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to look up Bodyshop hemp cream, also barrier cream sounds like a good idea. Annoyingly I was given some Clarins hand and nail cream recently which I passed on to my MIL as then I thought I didn't need it! (serves me right for being so mean as to regift something!)

I've also got diprobase at home, got it for DS's eczema, it didn't help for that. Will try it on my hands though.

Carrie06 - I'd heard the same about aqueous cream, when DS was prescribed some I didn't even collect the prescription, as we'd already tried using it on DD and had found it made her eczema worse. I know it works for some people though, I have a friend who found it resolved both her DC's eczema.

Thanks again!

this stuff is fab and cheap

I use Neutrogena Hand cream. It's concentrated and I wear sometimes with special overnight gloves when my hands are really bad.

I found this to be the best one I've ever used and my hands are instantly releived by this stuff. I've used it for years now! [hwink]

www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/neutrogena-hand-cream-unscented-p3761.html?affiliateid=81866680101062&gclid=CMrErpfc3qQCFUM24wodHVQ1Mg

Also the Aveeno hand great is great and stays in the skin for ages.

Aveeno - only thing that works for me.

I think you can get it on prescription (free for kids!!)

Flexitol works for me, but it is almost pure lanolin, so make sure you are not allergic.

Tried and tested:
Lather on any old hand cream, pop on some washing up gloves and do some dishes in really hot water. It makes your hands lovely and soft. Otherwise, wear gloves outside and keep slapping on the Nutrogena.

Aveeno cream (not the lotion) is brilliant.

So now the newspapers are reporting that they are all horrible and thin the skin after prolonged use!

I use E45 or Sudocrem....seems to help.

My daughter has this problem - tried everything on the market. Recently bought "gloves in a bottle" a cream that is really popular in America. It acts as a layer over your skin but wears off over the course of about 4 hours like skin. It has started to have real results and is non greasy. You can also wash your hands with it on. My daughter's fingers (she is 18) while not completely healed are so much less painful and better looking than before. The bottle costs around £6 for a small and £ 8 for a large from alot of chemist sites online in the UK and also palces like Amazon. It contains no petrochemicals. We have also had some success with L'occitane handcream at night - it is very rich.
Best of luck

Weleda Skin Food - miracle product and no chemical nasties

This stuff is truly fab. Thoroughly recommend it!

www.starkiesbeeswaxcreams.com

if chapped with the cold weather try Balmosa cream,works for chapped skin and chilblains,a bigt like a mild deep heat so suggest wear cotton gloves after applyiong