Peeling hands? - YouLookFab Forum

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Peeling hands?

Elly

Veteran

After digging in the dirt and being in the harsh weather for 5 weeks at field school, my hands seem to be freaking out. My finger tips are rough and peeling.

Any ideas?

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21 replies

Latest reply was from JG

Diana

Veteran

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lo.....am/2885807

This is the best hand cream ever. It is expensive but totally worth it. Super moisturizing but not greasy (one of my pet peeves is people who use really greasy hand cream and then get it all over door handles, the toilet flusher, etc, especially at work). I use it before bed, and sometimes in the morning if my hands are particularly dry.

Kristin L

Veteran

When I worked in a soil lab one winter, my hands were so dry that my fingers started cracking. I started using store brand Eucerin (the one sold in the tub, not the bottle) and rubbed it into my fingers every night and wore gloves to bed. It took about a week to completely heal, but they felt a lot better the next day.

deb

Veteran

I have eczema and my hands crack and bleed and this stuff is the best I have found at helping with cracking and peeling. I also use it on my legs after I shower and I no longer have lizard skin. I get it at Rite Aid.

http://www.amazon.com/Heel-Res.....&sr=8

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Ignore the "anti aging" part - this is the hand cream I use. It's cheap when you use a coupon, fast absorbing, and you can put it in your purse without it exploding all over the place.

I use it at night or when my hands feel particularly yucky; it absorbs so fast I can use it during the day! And my hands smell pretty!

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/b.....pf-15.aspx

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I had a strange episode of annoying peeling and bleeding fingertips earlier this year, and I used some Compeed brand cream meant for healing cracked heels, which helped a lot. You might also try a bit of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for a few days. I also slathered my hands in coconut oil and wore cotton gloves to bed for a couple of weeks, much my husband's amusement.

Glory

Veteran

I can recommend Calendula cream made by Weleda

Anonymous

I lightly tape my worst finger tips when out in the field. I don't lose any dexterity but it helps with the deep cracks along the nail that once established are a misery!

And nth the advice to get a good night cream and slather it on overnight and as often as you can. I like the Working Hands salve in the green tin.

Parsley

Veteran

Cetaphil moisturinzing cream (in a jar) is great. It's non-greasy, unscented, and great for sensitive skin. My dermatologist recommends it. She also recommends Aquaphor healing ointment, but it's greasier.

Elly

Veteran

Ooo-- lots of good things to try. Weirdly enough, my hands were good in the field until we had the really cold week and the cold and wind chapped them-- the dirt itself was fine. I don't know much about hand cream-- I generally have oily skin, so it is a non-issue. Now that I am back indoors, my hands rawness has mostly healed, but I have peeling and tightness and some dry skin. I love the recs for non-greasy stuff, esp. since with the museum work 2 days a week and artifact handling in the lab 2 other days a week I can't have anything greasy that doesn't sink in and can transfer to things.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

My hands crack and bleed in the winter. I bought a heated muff like the one the esthetician uses. I slather on any rich cream and put thin mitts on and then watch TV with my hands in the heat. It helps the cream to absorb and does a great job.

When they are painfully bad, I use a steroid cream.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Seconding the L'occitane. When I worked food service and was always washing my hands it saved the day.

catgirl

Veteran

Rock climbing is deadly on hands - I use Vaseline at night and sometimes wear cotton gloves (like on feet!).

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I second trying the inexpensive, non-fancy creams first. Those are usually not taking prominent spots but are sold at the pharmacies (here in Europe at least) with simple ingredients like paraffin or glycerin and no perfumes.

Anonymous

Have you tried Aquaphor by Eucerin? It's like a thicker, more moisturizing version of Vaseline. Mix a blob in with your regular lotion a few times a day. The only downside is it's easiest to apply before bed or when you're watching TV (basically, not touching much) because it is greasy. But it's effective, and cheap!

Von

Veteran

Giving a third to the L'occitane! I put the mega-size on my Christmas list every year, and since I only use it in the fall and winter, I actually still have a half tube left from last year. The big metal key helps squeeze every last drop from the tube. I also buy little tubes for the car and bedside. I have sensitive hands, and if I touch cleaning products bare handed, I get peeling fingertips and scales on the outside of my hands. This stuff is moisturizing with no greasy feel, so I can use it at work and not worry about my computer keys.

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Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Also take a look at the soap you are using to wash your hands with - and see if you can substitute something gentler, like Dr. Bronner's. My fingers sometimes peel and crack from certain dish detergents or antibacterial soaps.

JAileen

Veteran

Second for Aquaphor. I use it at bed time for lips, hands, and heels. I used to get cracked fingers and don't anymore, and also my heels are as soft as a baby's bottom. It's like Vaseline but doesn't smell bad.

Elly

Veteran

Thanks guys! There are some great cream reccomendations here, and if nothing else I might have some Christmas gift ideas for the ladies in my life off of this thread!

After a week of moisturizing it hasn't improved, so I am going to the derm tommorow because I'm afraid it might be something immune system related (I get exczema on occasion in areas were I have had broken skin and my hands got pretty beat up in the field) or perhaps a systemic fungal infection like candida. The rest of my hands have returned to their normal moisture, but I am still having peeling cracking fingertips. Unfortunately, I can't wear hand cream to school or work because of what I touch there, and I have to use potent soap because of spending most of my time traveling between various institutions and because of my immune issues and all of the germs that college campuses bring.

I will let you know what the derm recommends!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Hope you get sorted soon, Elly!

I have had eczema issues for years and they are a right pain. Oddly, my flaking knuckles just improved from applying the Aveeno Eczema Therapy stuff on my infant's eczematous patches! Duh, I know, but after all the steroids and things I hadn't expected luck. The other time they improved unexpectedly I was baking lots of bread... with buttermilk.

Elly

Veteran

Sure enough-- exczema! A new kind compared to what I have had in the past. The derm gave me a steroid cream and a hand cream to try out-- the hand cream could be better, so I am going to try out some suggestions when I can next get to a good drugstore/sephora.

Thanks ladies!

JG

FYI Elly, a doctor once advised my mom to increase her intake of B vitamins to help with her similar type of eczema. Decades later I developed the same symptoms and healed after upping my vitamins, especially the B's. You might want to look into it.