Best hand cream

[SMBC2020]

Can anyone recommend a hand cream for really dry hands? The skin around my ring and pinky fingers on both hands is so dry it cracks in big crevices and bleeds frequently. I feel like I've tried everything! It's so sore and can be quite itchy at times.
I've tried to attach photos to show how awful it is.

Aveeno is great. But you also need to try and avoid scented soaps, washing up liquid etc. Get marigolds on before doing any cleaning. Gloves on when you go outside in the cold. Sanitising hand gel is also really drying, so only use it when you can't use ordinary mild soap or unscented handwash.

I've suffered from cracked skin on my hands for years, OP, just like yours. It's so painful and itchy, I hated it - and my hands looked like a 90-year-olds, they were so dry and wrinkly.

This winter, I've been using The Body Shop's Hemp Hand Cream. What a difference! I haven't had a single crack since I started using it, and my hands no longer look as if I've swapped them with my granny. It does smell quite distinctive, so I just put it on at night, but it's absolutely worth it.

Since I've kept a tube of Lidl hand cream (yellow lid) or atrixo next to my bed and in the living room I apply it more often and my hands are in better condition.

Don't use an expensive one during the day if you're constantly washing your hands but keep a tube or pot of hand cream next to every sink you use and apply straight after. You can use up body moisturiser or (face cream that you don't like on your face) anything moisturising.

I do have a small l'occitane hand cream to use last thing at night but I'm also happy with the basic ones

Thanks everyone. I spoke to a pharmacist about 20 years ago and was told that there was nothing that I could do but I'll try again. And I'll work my way through the list of hand creams.

@Tillytess

Honestly the best hand cream I've ever tried is Aldis Lacura Intensive, unfragranced. Wee drop every night before bed, best thing ever!

Agree! It's very good and you only need a small amount.

I currently have the moisturising handcream with oatmeal & glycerin, green lid.

Also use bar soap to wash your hands, not liquid soap. Game changer.

@luckylavender

Also use bar soap to wash your hands, not liquid soap. Game changer.

Avoid antibacterial soap too, even the "gentle" stuff

I'll also just say that Lakelands moisturising washing up gloves are amazing! Stops them getting unnecessarily wet and also moisturises them... obviously you need to treat your hands first but alongside a good cream they helped wonders!

McKeefes working hands. In fact all of their products are superb, the foot cream is amazing.

@SMBC2020

Thanks everyone. I spoke to a pharmacist about 20 years ago and was told that there was nothing that I could do but I'll try again. And I'll work my way through the list of hand creams.

You can buy 1% hydrocortisone from a pharmacist.

McKeefe's working hands and Aveeno have made a big difference to my hands.

Also speak to your GP there are things they can prescribe to help

I alternate between the la Roche posay and eucerin, the la Roche posay forms a bit of a barrier so is good during the day, the eucerin I use as more of a treatment.
Your hands look so sore, I might send a pic to the gp if I were you.

I developed something similar to this at the start of the pandemic. It's almost (touch wood!) cleared up now.

I use two different hand creams: Allergenics ointment www.nutrisun.co.uk/product-allergies-allergenics-steroid-free-intensive-care-ointment-50ml-~5322.aspx
And Balmonds balmonds.co.uk/products/skin-salvation

I tend to use the thicker Balmonds one at night with cotton gloves over. I also make sure if I'm washing up or cleaning that I use rubber gloves - I put on some cream then cotton gloves, then rubber gloves. It's a bit of a faff but my hands feel very soft after and I think protecting them from harsh chemicals has made all the difference (I suspect the problem was triggered by all the antibacterial gel). I have resorted to 1% hydrocortisone cream at times, but I think it's the creams above along with the cotton gloves that have made the difference. Oh, and I've switched to unscented bar soap at home too and I've bought some alcohol free hand sanitiser for if I ever have to use it.