OT - Help - cracked skin on fingers

[funnybone]

I have dry skin, and at times my a finger or two will crack and actually bleed slightly. This has happened in the winter before, but it happened again yesterday. At first I thought I had a paper cut, but it's not. It's on my left thumb, and it hurts and throbs.

Has anyone had this happen before, and if so, why, and what can you do for it? My son gets this on his toes - but only if he wears rubber sandels (which he doesn't now that the problems is known).

[Vanessa]

Sounds like contact dermatitis. My hands get dry and at times specially in winter bleed like little paper cuts on knockles etc. You could be allergic to your soap or dish soap. When I wear gloves it improves (of course I hate wearing rubber gloves). Check with your dermatologist. I used to use moisture lotions and when hands were very bad sleep with cotton gloves. When I was growing up even chalk would trigger my hands to get dry and bleed. Luckily as time went on it got better and I try to use lubriderm etc on my hands after showering, dishes etc.

Your son seems to have a reaction to rubber sandals, so he could try another type of shoe

[funnybone]

Thanks for your input Vanessa. I really should see a Dr. for it, I guess. I do use Lubriderm religiously (I have some in my car, in every bathroom, in the kitchen), but am thinking I need something stronger. I used to use a cream "Glysomed" that is German, and I used to buy it in Canada, but have never seen it in the US, and it works wonderfully on dry skin.

I always use "Dawn" for dishes, and I use "Soft Soap" liquid hand soap, but the problem is not constant, so I don't think it is soap. I wear rubber gloves whenever using a cleanser of any kind.

As for my son, as long as he has sandels with a leather insole, he is fine (I can usually find them at Bass. It's a weird reaction because he can't even wear rubber sandels to a pool - his feet get cracked that quickly.

[Ralph]

It sounds more like a chronic dry skin problem or type of eczema than a contact dermatitis. It is akin to winter itch as you mention. Unfortuately, there are no great cures!

Keeping your hands moisturized with lotion is the best bet. Washing your hands and/or keeping them wet actually makes it worse. Cortisone-type creams DO provide some relief.

For the cracks themselves, I often recommend Krazy Glue, yes Krazy Glue. It is non-toxic (as long as it's not swallowed or put in your eye). It alleviates the pain almost immediately, then provides a water-tight, air-tight cover to the crack while the crack heals, usually 2-3 days.

This may also be a manifestation of dyshidrosis, especially if you get minute blisters on the sides of your fingers. I had a hard time finding a lot of information about this on the medical sites, but here's a link to an information page: http://www.caminomedicalgroup.com/PatientED/PE-0008-DM.html

[Tiger]

I have the same problem and have tried everything. The thing that works best for me is to take a Vitimin E caplet and break it open. Squeeze it onto the area before you go to bed. This has really helped me.

[BlueMoose]

To add to Ralph's idea about the krazy glue...my mom has used a product that is like a liquid band-aid. It sounds like it would work in the same manner as the glue. I think it is called Nu-Skin, although I'm not sure about the spelling.

[funnybone]

Thanks everyone for your input.

This happens about 2 times a year and usually in the winter (or it has happened then in the past). It's only on the fingers, and not the rest of the hands. To be more specific, its either on the side of the tip of the finger, or on the "fingerprint" part. It never blisters, but becomes cracked before I realize that there even is a problem.

I will try the crazy glue idea - I had heard that it was actually invented for one of the wars (Korean, Vietnamese?? not sure) to close any wounds.

I have used Vitamin E in the past for scars, but never considered using it for this.

Thanks again.

[Ralph]

Originally posted by BlueMoose:
To add to Ralph's idea about the krazy glue...my mom has used a product that is like a liquid band-aid. It sounds like it would work in the same manner as the glue. I think it is called Nu-Skin, although I'm not sure about the spelling.

To be honest, my wife likes the Nu-Skin stuff better than Krazy Glue!

And, Funnybone, I don't know about war use for Krazy Glue, but it has been taken a step further, medically, and made into a product called Dermabond. It's used in surgery for better cosmetic results and in the emergency room for simple lacerations that don't necessarily need stitches, but really should be closed.

[Peeps]

Sounds like you've gotten some good suggestions but I just have to throw in that I swear by rubber gloves and wearing them EVERY time I wash even a single dish. Getting your hands wet really does dry them out (and is tough on your nails too which is why I started doing it). Even Dawn or any dish soap I think can be pretty drying. I've gotten in the habit and always have the gloves by the sink. I also do the lotion and cotton gloves to bed thing several times a week and these 2 things have really helped with dry skin - I never have any dry skin on my hands at all anymore.

[JLS]

Try "Corn Huskers Lotion" sold in drugstores around the other lotions. It is a clear gel.
It is supposed to work wonders on cracked skin. (Ask a pharmacist if you can't find it.)

[patrice]

I have difficulty with dry heels and I have success with using bag balm. It is available at Walmart in the pet department. It used to be in the pharmacy. Yes, it is the ointment used on cow udders. But it has many other uses. It is great.

[clairea]

I have the same problem with my hands. All of the suggestions that have been posted are good. Definitely wear rubber gloves whenever you use dish soap, cleaning products, etc. Also, I have recently switched to using the Softsoap 2 in 1 which has lotion in it and I really think it is less drying than other soaps (and I have 2 small children, so I was my hands a lot). Another good soap (but expensive) is Mustela (they have a nice cream soap and also a "non-soap cleanser") -- I discovered these when my son had terrible eczema and they helped a lot. I keep lotion by every sink so I can use it after I wash my hands, and also everywhere else I can think of (my purse, the living room, the car, etc.) The best lotion I have found is the Aveda hand cream, but this is incredibly expensive (I think $20/tube) so I only buy it for myself if my hands get really bad (I'm lucky -- my mom usually brings me some when she comes to visit). The neutrogena hand cream is also good.

[Laura Wick]

I frequently have problems with my feet and thumbs cracking open when the weather is dry. I use bag balm, as one reader mentioned, or open a vitamin E tablet, as another person mentioned. The bag balm helps with the dryness, and the vitamin E is very healing.

Sorry you have to contend with this. It is very inconvenient and sometimes painful. Does anyone have any problems with their nails shredding?

[funnybone]

I jsut wanted to let you know I tried the Crazy Glue (I already had some at home) and it worked great! It really helped for the localized pain, thats for sure!

Laura, let's not even discuss nails - lol!