Using Vaseline instead of hand cream?

[ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself]

My hands are very dry atm and I have a very painful crack on my thumb. I have put some Vaseline on it but scooped up too much from the tub and am massaging it into both hands. They now feel lovely. Is this in fact a trick everyone knew about? I’m not fussed about scented products, I just want something that works. Can I just use Vaseline all the time?

Vaseline acts as a barrier so would really only beneficial immediately after you have washed your hands/got them wet and then dried them.

best off putting the vaseline on at night and wearing gloves for bed

Is the crack on your thumb at the nail edge? I get this in winter and wrap that bit of my thumb with micropore tape for a day or two.

I use CeraVe then layer Vaseline on top at night.

Same as a PP I use vaseline on my hands at night, with cotton gloves over the top. It really helps to moisturise them overnight. I also use a Snowfire ointment stick on chapped, cracked and cut skin on my hands, it's absolutely brilliant. It's like a big lip balm stick for hands but whatever's in it is so soothing and healing

Used it like this for years (eczema sufferer). Sometimes it is the best thing.

No, it’s in the crease when you bend your thumb. So painful and difficult to avoid. But so much nicer with Vaseline!

I put Vaseline on my lips with nothing else, I just don’t understand the science between that being okay, and Vaseline straight on hands not being okay.

I use vaseline on my feet as they crack. It has to be when they are damp - towel dried slightly. I put a layer of the white tub nivea first. Vaseline needs some moisture to be effective it doesn't work on dry skin.

I used to do this but then the gloves mysteriously vanished one day 👀.

It's actually Petroleum jelly,"vaseline is a manufacturer of same. You can get a generic one much cheaper in your local pharmacy. You can apply to your hands at bedtime put on some cotton gloves,it's messy. I use it to remove waterproof eye makeup and a plastic surgeon I worked with said use it around the eye area,as a moisturizer.

So why is it good to moisturise your eyes but not good to moisturise your hands? This is what I’m trying to understand.

Or is it simply personal preference?

It's absolutely fine to use on your hands,thin layer, that's why I said bedtime and gloves.. if it's good enough for a plastic surgeon!!

I had some cancerous lesions removed and my plastic surgeon also told me to use Vaseline on the area to prevent scarring, a way cheaper option than scar treatment.

And my dd uses it directly on her skin as an excema treatment.

DM was a hairdresser and regularly had these cuts - she used Vaseline to heal them. I now get them, as I have dermatitis, and I started using Vaseline after every handwash - I have tubs at each sink and on my bedside table; I use the Aldi one as it is so cheap.

Weirdly I was going to post this as an amazing breakthrough- my hands are softer, my cuticles are soft and I have no more cuts on my thumbs!!!

It's not a moisturiser. It's an occlusive barrier. It doesn't add moisture. It prevents moisture from being lost from your skin.

If you keep hydrated and use hand cream and then at night use a think layer of Vaseline it can help. Sanity under eyes

Same as some PP, regular moisturiser then a nice layer of vaseline on top for overnight, and then use vaseline to protect and soothe during the day.