Hands literally falling off-anyone else have this probs?

[mummyvontummy]

I wash my hands, a lot! It's not OCD or anything, I just wash them when I've brushed my teeth, then help dd with her teeth so have to wash them again, then when I go to the loo, then again when I help dd go to the loo, then when I've put the liquid in the washing machine when I've spilt it on my hands-you're all parents, you get the picture. Anyway-every winter my hands literally fall apart-great splits appear all over them and the splits turn into massive v-shapes that are too deep to heal, to the point where my hands are so sore that I can't bend my hands or fingers in any way and blood runs down my hands and I don't notice, which can be a bit embarrassing in public-it's a bit like chillblanes I suppose. The doctor prescribed something a while back but I'm meant to put it on 20 times a day and at £10 a tub that's no joke so gave up on it-what does anyone on here use?

I wash my hands in baby soap, I find it much less drying than handwashes etc. Make sure you dry hands thoroughly with a dry towel, rather than something like a piece of kitchen roll or a damp towel. Also, try and minimise the amount of water that gets on the back of your hands - just get fingers, palms washed.

Thank you all so much-will let you know when my hands turn into that of a godess! The small one has just woken up from her lounge camping experiment so I'd better get her off to bed and get this tent down-I can move in my lounge at last! xx

I get this a bit, mostly on my thumbs, then the hairbrush bristles get in the cracks when I'm doing dd's hair OUCH! When it's bad, I get thin non-latex gloves, put loads of handcream on, then wear the gloves all day, washing them instead of my hands IYSWIM. We've got a silly puppy who puts her front paws on the paper and thinks that's good enough, so lots of hand washing there too.

I can't imagine how sore yours must be. It's not OCD, just hygene (sp)!

That is such a good idea rachaelsara-where can I get some? xx

Since I had kids my hands have been TERRIBLE - we don't have a dishwasher so am always washing up plus all the other things you mention. Aveeno hand cream (bought mine in Boots) is not too expensive and helps a LOT!

I got mine in Poundstretcher. My Dad gets really awful skin, and I copied him. It helps break the cycle and protects the sore open wounds. Cracked hands hurt an unreasonable amount I think! DH thinks I'm lazy when I ask him to do all the dirty jobs, but it's only so I don't have to wash my hands even more!

I always wear washing up gloves when washing up (no dishwasher) and use the bog standard Avon glycerine hand cream. Very cheap too so I have tubes of the stuff everywhere!

I get this. Had it really bad just before Xmas - like having lots of painful papercuts. It occurs on the knuckles on my hands. My Dad used to get it and he passed onto me his 'cure' which is a weird balm called 'Snowfire'. It is hard to find in shops but you can get it on the internet. It is green and contains herbs and you rub it into the cuts. I usually do this and then cover with a plaster and it clears up within a couple of days.

And wash your hands less. And take Omega 3 oil capsules to increase the suppleness of your skin.

I'm putting sudocream on mine every time I change ds2 at the moment since they're so sore. It's really thick and quite soothing I've found. Means they get a coating about 8 times a day which has really helped.

when you go out doors be religious about wearing gloves or putting hands in pockets. It makes such a difference for my poor hands.

literally??????

do your hands tend to turn blue/white in the cold? if so, be really careful about wrapping up warm (including hat and coat), and using hand warmers if necessary.

also sounds obvious and probably doesn't apply to you, but if you smoke, stopping smoking will really help.

Yes, literally was the word that got me too!

I get very sore hands too. Someone on here recommended Flexitol the other day - it was a thread about feet, but I see that Flexitol do a handcream also. Meant to be very good.

Can someone on this thread suggest a good place to get cotton gloves? My DD2 suffers badly from sore skin on her hands (she has very sensitive skin in general) and although I put cream on her hands every night, the cotton glove idea sounds like it might really help.

Body Shop do plain cotton gloves - not sure about children's sized gloves though - maybe try a large pharmacy like Boots?

Another vote for Body shop hemp hand cream!! Fab.

Are you sure you don't have an allergic reaction? I used to wear latex gloves for work and I was reacting. Now I don't need to wear gloves, so they don't crack and bleed any more, but they are still dry and sore in winter.

Herp hand cream is fab.

Have you tried smothering the worst bit with honey and covering with a plaster ? I had a few cracks that would open up frequently but putting this on last thing at night sorted them.