Chapped hands

[bookwormbeagle]

Well you can tell the colder weather is here as my hands are already chapped, tiny cracks appearing which bleed and are sore. I had my youngest daughter last November and all throughout last winter/spring they were in a dreadful state as I had to wash them so much (nappy changes, wash bottles etc.). I asked my gp and she prescribed some cream as they looked a bit infected, but didn't really tell me what was causing it.

I can't bear them getting so bad again (as they hurt apart from just look awful ) so want to hear your recommendations for best hand cream/hand wash?

I've tried all sorts but Aveeno hand cream was probably the best and even that only softened them and didn't clear the little cuts up. Any kind of hand wash of the anti-bacterial variety makes them bad so i avoid that, and always wear gloves for washing up.

Help me have beautiful hands please!

I use Lansinoh (pure, 100% lanolin in the winter). Yes, it's for sore/cracked nipples but it does a great job on my hands! You can buy it from baby counters for about a tenner a tube which might sound expensive but a tiny bit goes a long way. You've reminded me to get some in so thanks!

Lol, you're welcome Flo! I think I've got a tube still kicking around in the drawer somewhere from when I was breast feeding last time. It helped a bit as formed a barrier over the skin but didn't sink in to make them feel moisturised IYKWIM.
I think I might try and book in with the gp again, as a chemist thought it might be dermatitis.

Have you tried Norwegian Formula from Neutrogena? Only need a tiny drop, and you can get unscented if you have sensitive skin.

Sorry, I should have realised that most posters on a a parenting forum would know where to buy the stuff! Yes, it does take ages to sink in - I forgot to say that I usually mix it with a tiny bit of almond oil (well I think any oil would do) to make it more spreadable. Your condition does sound worse than mine though so you're probably right to go back to the gp.

Okay have rooted through drawers and have tried the following:
Atrixo - yellow tub
Neutrogena - concentrated Norwegian formula
Clarins - hand & nail treatment cream
Aveeno
L'occitane (lovely in the summer but makes my skin sting now they're chapped again)
Various other ones too.
It's not too bad just now, but when the weather gets colder the skin starts to split over all the knuckles and down the fingers too
I've tried to attach a picture.

Gah, killed my own thread with my picture
They must look awful! [runs off sobbing]

ouch they look painful, how about smothering with cream at night and wearing cotton gloves overnight? Does sound like gp may need to prescribe something as it's only Oct, mine tend to get red and sore in the cold weeks after Xmas!

I has this. It was due to using antibacterial soap (ie from dispenser). Switched to using non-antibacterial stuff (still from dispenser) and I rarely get any cuts. They are absolutely agony (especially ones on fingertips) and I m so glad I worked out what was causing them! Hope this may work for you....?

My hands used to be like that years ago, starting around September. They're much better now, although I repeatedly put handcream on them throughout the day, and always wear rubber gloves for housework etc - anything to reduce the amount of handwashing I do.

This stuff is brilliant and very soothing.

This, under any handcream.

Avene Cold Cream hand cream. My dad has psoriasis and gets really dry hands that crack and bleed, and this cream helps him loads.
Boots and pharmacies usually sell it.

I really like it too, but I prefer Dermophil Indien hand cream - but I don't think it's sold in UK shops. There's some on Amazon though.

Mine get really really dry and split, my nails split too.
I have to wash my hands 40+ times a day at work (in nasty NHS soap) and wear vinyl gloves.
That doesn't include everything I do at home.

I love L'Occitane but only the Verbena Hand Cream. The much applauded shea butter just goes 'dry' on my hands.

At night, I sometimes do a thick layer of Vaseline then gloves (cotton gloves, £Shop bargains)

Agree with Flo. Nipple ointment !

And also my friend had this too and found great success with palmers cocoa butter that was solid in a tub but melted on contact.

I used to have hands like yours, I would reccomend this stuff.

Bodyshop Hemp has been the best for my poor mitts. Other creams (eg Norwegiam, Clarins, Neutrogena) used to have me stuck to the ceiling with stinging pain It is a bit smelly but is so good. I used to put lots on at night and allow it to soak in.

Also the handwash I used had a big impact. Now I only use glycerine based handwash. All the brands claiming to be '1/4 moisturiser' or 'nourishing' used to wreck the skin on my hands as well.

You can buy 1% strenghth steroid hand cream over the counter without a prescription now (not sure about UK) which is what my doc used to prescribe to me. Used sparingly for a short period of time it can really help with the healing process. Sorry I can't get the name at the mo, baby asleep on my arm. Will try later.

I hope you get sorted soon before it gets really cold. You have my sympathy as I know the vicious, sore cycle you can become trapped in. Good luck!

I get the same too - absolute best thing to do is start wearing disposable gloves for nappy changes so you don't have to wash your hands so often. I also got something called gloves in a bottle - it's a hand cream that doesn't wash away.

I get this too - sometimes my hands are so painful with little cuts I can't straighten them, and walk around with withered claw hand pose.

The Dermaguard SauvignonBlanche linked to is good as a preventative. The last couple of days I've been slathering with Sudocrem just before I sleep; not sure how much good it's doing. I think Lansinoh is definitely worth a shot.

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is very good. Worth every penny. I had (and still get) what you have, so I did a week of intense Kiehl's hand cream (basically slather it on after every hand wash), which worked really well. After that I used it 2-3 times a day.

I also started wearing rubber gloves for household jobs, such as the bins, etc, so I wasn't washing my hands all the time.

I hope it gets better for you. It really is quite unpleasant and makes life difficult at times.

When mine get bad I order a tube of Aloe Propolis Creme from Forever Living, and some of their soap. Neither are cheap (about £14 and £6 respectively I think), but it is the only thing that seems to work, and I swear I went through a year where I tried EVERYTHING.

I used to suffer with dreadful chapped hands until I changed from Fairy liquid to Surcare .

Nowadays I only get a relapse whenever I visit my friend's house as she uses Fairy. ( she cooks so of course I wash up)

This may sound nuts but when I had this problem all I had in the house was asdas little angels stretch mark cream. It was amazing. Instant relief. And it smells lish too.

*lush

Body Shop Hemp handcream here too.

I was extremely sceptical,and bought it out of duty at a charity shopping night thingy, but it is truly fabulous.

My children were previously embarrassed by my crone like hands, never mind the sore hacks for me, and this stuff really works.

Thank you so much for all the suggestions - I'm going to have a good read through after dinner.

I'm hoping to get them sorted before they get too bad then religiously use a good hand cream as a preventative, disposable gloves for nappy changes (genius idea Lizziemint) and be extra careful with what hand soap I use. I hate anti-bac stuff as it stings so much, so will try and find a glycerine based one.

bragadocia I had to smile at this - you've described it exactly

Vaseline.

Trust me!

I had hands much much worse than yours for years and tried everything. Hours of standing on the school playground made me look like I had the hands of a 90 year old. They were sore, itchy and covered in blood. A poster on MN said try plain Vaseline so I did and my hands are now like a baby's arse! It's great for your nails too, makes them stronger and grow quicker.