Fingertips constantly splitting - any suggestions?

[MachineBee]

For the last few months the skin of my fingertips - on the pads and near the nails - has tended to split, sometimes even bleeding. It’s very painful and despite using unperfumed hand cream and being careful how much soap I use, it really getting to me. Any suggestions?

Vitamin deficiency maybe?

I take vitamin D supplements and I’m on HRT and biologics for rheumatoid arthritis.

I used to get this and do still sometimes, particularly if I don't wear rubber gloves when cleaning.
The only cream that works for me is cream with urea in it, like Flexitol hand cream. It's the same kind of cream that works on cracked heels and it works very quickly if using it during the day and just before you go to bed.

Yes eucerin with urea, worked to heal my cracked thumbs.

Thank you. I’ll try that. I do use rubber gloves but they can still split if I pick up anything with a firm grip.

Haelen tape works wonders, but would need to be prescribed.

I have been using a moisturiser like dermol cream but also neutrogena concentrated hand cream which has helped my dry patches also. I layer both on at night before bed and use the neutrogena in the day and they haven't split like they had been in January.

Epaderm ointment, a thick layer of it at night and cotton gloves on to protect your sheets, its quite greasy but really helps dry skin.

Are you putting plasters on them? I have had similar and once the cracked skin thickens it can be really hard to get them to heal. I use super thick greasy cream and plasters to really soften the skin and avoid any chance of them drying out for a good few days.

Stay the hell away from hand sanitiser. Vaseline at night or cracked heel cream £1 in Morrisons helps. I have this problem too and it's really flared with bloody hand sanitiser. I can't use it at all

I’ve stopped using hand sanitizer and bought nice soap. I knew the MN massive would have some answers - and good to know I’m not alone.

lloydspharmacy.com/products/germolene-new-skin-20ml to stop the cuts stinging whilst they heal, and www.neutrogena.co.uk/hand-and-body/hand-creams/norwegian-formula-concentrated-unscented-hand-cream as often as possible to prevent. Also take a multivitamin like Wellwoman as it makes a big difference to skin & nail condition. I had terrible cracks on my finger tips when my DC were little, mainly during winter months. I think it was all the hand washing from changing nappies.

I put a blob of Savlon on, making sure it goes right into the crack, then a fabric plaster. Keep it on as long as possible (so wear gloves for washing up etc) and it is generally most of the way to being healed by the time the plaster won’t stay on any longer. This works for deep eczema cracks in knuckles where they bend.

I have the same problem. Used loads of different moisturisers and wore cotton gloves overnight. Nothing really helped then I read on mumsnet someone recommended the nipple cream, lansinoh for cracked nippples. It really cleared up the cracked skin on my thumb.

Germolene liquid skin. Stings when going on, but a bloody lifesaver when it dries. It's great for my split skin.

Stop using detergent, fairy liquid etc
Terrible for skin.
Wear gloves.

Flexitol heel balm.

Slather on hands literally just before going to sleep.

I had the same issue - it really does work.

Oh and if it’s really bad you can get a skin glue that seals a crack, so washing hands doesn’t hurt

Eight hour cream; will need to work it in well and also do this maybe just before bedtime so you’re not touching things. Kiehls hand cream has also helped my tattered hands

Lansinoh recommend from me too.

I used to get those - no idea why (or why I stopped getting them ) but I found calendula cream overnight, with a plaster on top, healed them like magic.
It’s great for loads of skin things, I always have some in.