Tips for chronically dry hands caused by cold weather

[Sendmetobarbados]

It's started already now the temperature's dropped below ten degrees. My hands are raw, cracked and starting to bleed. Happens every year, and I'm worried that if it's this bad now, it'll be ten times worse come December.

Can anyone share any tips? Feels odd wearing gloves so early in the year but maybe that's the answer. I've started applying thick hand cream (E45, emollient from chemist) but so far to no avail.

I'm also now wondering whether I should have posted this on the Health board but hopefully someone on S&B can help 😊

I would use a moisturiser that has a bit of barrier action morning and night.

Rubber gloves for housework etc involving water etc the cotton lined ones.

And yes gloves outside. Get yourself some nice ones. Leather tight sort with all soft inside is nice.

Have you tried Udderly Smooth? I used to get cracked and bleeding hands too then I found this and it completely healed them. At first I'd apply every night, then a bit less often and now I just apply as and when I remember. Seriously amazing stuff.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000AS54S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_4S0KQM837YPA7CAEM4Z5?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Hemp body shop hand cream is brilliant

Definitely wear gloves. If it gets colder you can always put mittens over the top or wrist warmers, there’s no style law against wearing two pairs.
I find the L’Occitane Shea hand cream really moisturising. They also do an extra one for overnight, a bit too much for daytime.
Shea hand cream
Shea balm night cream
Put some good hand cream on overnight with cotton gloves over the top to stop it rubbing off on the bedding instead of soaking into your hands. And yes, definitely wear rubber gloves for any job involving water.
Good luck, it’s a miserable problem to have.

Thanks, @NiceGerbil Good idea about washing up gloves. Due to house renovation we currently have no kitchen so I'm doing daily washing up. Can't believe I didn't think of that as an exacerbating factor.

Will look into outdoor gloves too. Might have to look into fingerless Fagin styles for practicality as I always seem to be wrangling children, dog leads and poo bags 😷

As an eczema sufferer I really recommend cetraben for your hands. It's a bit thicker than the others buy dries in quickly. I also wear gloves to wash up,etc and that really helps stop them drying out too much

And yes, udder cream, but I used to milk by hand & the udder cream, large tub cheap from farm supplies, used to make my hands SO smooth after rubbing it on their udders ( which they loved)

[quote FreshFaceTime]Have you tried Udderly Smooth? I used to get cracked and bleeding hands too then I found this and it completely healed them. At first I'd apply every night, then a bit less often and now I just apply as and when I remember. Seriously amazing stuff.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000AS54S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_4S0KQM837YPA7CAEM4Z5?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21[/quote]
This looks amazing, thanks so much. It actually rings a bell now you mention it. A nurse friend said it was great for healing hands damaged by harsh hospital hand wash. Off to order...

@Audreyhelp

Hemp body shop hand cream is brilliant

Thanks, I tried that one a few years ago but I think it stung a bit. It's awful, anything with a hint of perfume or essential oil seems to irritate. I reckon it'd be perfect for normal dry hands, though.

@Darklane

Definitely wear gloves. If it gets colder you can always put mittens over the top or wrist warmers, there’s no style law against wearing two pairs. I find the L’Occitane Shea hand cream really moisturising. They also do an extra one for overnight, a bit too much for daytime. Shea hand cream Shea balm night cream Put some good hand cream on overnight with cotton gloves over the top to stop it rubbing off on the bedding instead of soaking into your hands. And yes, definitely wear rubber gloves for any job involving water. Good luck, it’s a miserable problem to have.

Thank you. I definitely need to be better at protecting my hands from the elements. Going to invest in a pair or two before it gets too cold. Yes, it really is miserable. So painful!

Gloves for when outside but put lots of aveeno skin relief on first. At night use something like Epaderm ointment or zerodem from the GP and sleep in cotton eczema gloves. Always use gloves for household tasks. Mine crack and itch in winter too and I struggle with gloves due to sensory issues but I persevere because dry skin and sensory issues are a match made in hell. Don't use hand wash-try proper soap or an emollient instead and moisturise after every wash. It took my feet a couple of weeks to heal after they got so dry and cracked and itchy but the thick prescribed cream did the trick. You might be able to buy it otc but I'm not sure.

@FlatteredFool

Gloves for when outside but put lots of aveeno skin relief on first. At night use something like Epaderm ointment or zerodem from the GP and sleep in cotton eczema gloves. Always use gloves for household tasks. Mine crack and itch in winter too and I struggle with gloves due to sensory issues but I persevere because dry skin and sensory issues are a match made in hell. Don't use hand wash-try proper soap or an emollient instead and moisturise after every wash. It took my feet a couple of weeks to heal after they got so dry and cracked and itchy but the thick prescribed cream did the trick. You might be able to buy it otc but I'm not sure.

Thanks, good tips. Sorry you've suffered too. It really is miserable, isn't it?

Good luck OP- I’m getting good results with Cerave reparative hand cream. I also re-buy Lakeland moisturising washing up gloves, not sure if they actually moisturise but very comfortable on sensitive hands

I have the same problem OP, I've never found a decent hand cream that truly helps though. Can't wear gloves at night the heat brings out my eczema. One thing I do though, when my hands are suuper dry, is use a hand scrub (or a face scrub) on my hands like once a week and then use a hand cream, it helps it sink in better. I use Nivea Soft, which is really nice but not really thick so I have to reapply often. But it sinks in better than some other more expensive HCs I've tried.

Don't use the hand scrub on already cracked skin though!

Gloves. Always. Whatever you’re doing.

I use Aveeno CREAM (not Lotion) The one with Colloidal Oats excellent. Slather it on before bed.

I find the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream to be the best thing for my cracked hands. Mine can get really bad in winter but I use this before bed each night and it really softens them.
I agree with gloves for everything - especially dish washing and going outside in wind/cold.

@MsSquishy

Good luck OP- I’m getting good results with Cerave reparative hand cream. I also re-buy Lakeland moisturising washing up gloves, not sure if they actually moisturise but very comfortable on sensitive hands

Thanks. A good excuse to visit Lakeland again. Can't get enough of that place these days!

@HeraInTheHereAndNow

Gloves. Always. Whatever you’re doing.

I use Aveeno CREAM (not Lotion) The one with Colloidal Oats excellent. Slather it on before bed.

Thanks, I'll try that Aveeno.

@Takingabreakagain

I find the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream to be the best thing for my cracked hands. Mine can get really bad in winter but I use this before bed each night and it really softens them. I agree with gloves for everything - especially dish washing and going outside in wind/cold.

Another good tip, thanks

@adrianmolesmole

I have the same problem OP, I've never found a decent hand cream that truly helps though. Can't wear gloves at night the heat brings out my eczema. One thing I do though, when my hands are suuper dry, is use a hand scrub (or a face scrub) on my hands like once a week and then use a hand cream, it helps it sink in better. I use Nivea Soft, which is really nice but not really thick so I have to reapply often. But it sinks in better than some other more expensive HCs I've tried.

Thanks - I'd never think to use a scrub. Yes, would have to avoid when they're really bad.

A dermatologist recommends epaderm cream for my DS. It's thick and not nice though!
My tips are to get on top of it using gloves for washing up and cleaning and hydrocortisone cream. Then when a little better use Aveeno for very dry skin which is lovely as much as possible and at night cover the aveeno with the epaderm (barrier) cream on top. Some nights try to wear gloves over this in bed too.

Ok m another one who uses Aveeno at night. Also hydrocortisone ointment work on really sore red cracked hands.
Also ditch the antibac. hand washes as they are very harsh, ditto fairy liquid & the like. I'm also allergic to rubber gloves.

I'm the same OP, I dread it and it can get so sore if not kept on top of.

A few things that help me:

As others have said, wear gloves whenever you can outside or when coming into contact with things like cleaning products.

Anytime hands get wet moisturise immediately with something decent and u fragranced. After lots of experimenting I use the Eucerin urea 10% cream or their aquaphor soothing skin balm. Eucerin is often 3 for 2 somewhere so not as pricey as on first glance.

Sounds excessive but I occasionally carry a very small bottle of hand wash that works for me when I'm out and about and my hand cream, if I know I'm going to be subject to public toilets harsh offerings away in a hotel etc.

Lastly if things are very sore I find brilliant relief in pouring some olive oil (or any oil, vegetable is fine) on my hands with some warm water, massage in , rinse a bit and then pat it dry. So soothing, costs next to nothing and really helps.

I discovered this fragrance free balm this year, it's really soothing and moisturising, and not irritating at all
www.gingerlyeco.com/our-tiny-bees-uber-balm

The only anti bac I use is Carex with aloe vera.
So far (I know, I know, barely winter weather) hands are looking especially good.