Save My Skin!

suebee · 02-17-2010, 06:14 AM

There were a lot of suggestions on the "Nail Me" thread - all about manicures. Some of note were to use polysporin if the skin is actually cracked, and to use the cream meant for cow's udders (which is what desdansmoncoeur was referring to by "bag balm" I think). Your best price for that would be at a feed store. The other thing that Snowy mentioned for nail and cuticle health was to take vitamin E gel caps, open them and spread it over the nails and cuticles. I wonder if that would help boost your skin health? (after the cracks are healed, of course)

My contribution is a hand cream called "Glysomed" - a German product if you can find it. Thick, absorbs well and not greasy. The best hand cream I've ever had.

Good luck! Cracked skin is SO uncomfortable!

miss entycing · 02-17-2010, 06:22 AM

you can also try a Paraffin (sp) hand treatment- a type of deep penetrating wax.. usually at a nail salon- not only feels wonderful, but it works really well.
best of luck to you sweetie

justkim · 02-17-2010, 08:03 AM

Hello Selenay, you have been given a lot of great suggestions for taking care of you chapped hands. Here are a couple from me...

1. Do go and see a dermatologist.
2. Paraffin is wonderful, but some states don't allow this, because it is not able to be sanitized. They do however sell personal Paraffin machines in Wal-mart or any type of drugstore. A trick I learned about paraffin is to slather your hands with a heavy duty lotion before you dip your hands, once your hands have been emerced into the paraffin cover them again (saran wrap) and wrap them and let the paraffin stay on until cold.
3. Try using aqua fore (sp) It feels kinda like Vaseline and a little goes a very long way. Eucerin makes a great cream but it can seem rather heavy at first.
4. Drink more water!

Good luck!

Apocalipstic · 02-17-2010, 08:49 AM

Don't dry off after you bathe or wash your hands. Put lotion on your damp skin and let air dry or pat dry. Also Burt's Bees apricot baby oil works great slathered on damp skin..or really any oil...I just like the apricot smell.

The oil mixes with the water...emulsifying and soaks into your skin better. At night sometimes maybe slather up all over after a bath, put on PJ's (cotton or flannel) cotton socks and cotton (or bamboo) gloves (or more cotton socks on your hands).

Works great on my ultra dry skin and is not expensive...but you have to be consistent with it.

apretty · 02-17-2010, 09:12 AM

look for 'lanolin creme' --it's what they give breastfeeding mothers in the hospital for their chapped nipples and it works wonders on dry hands.

lanolin is an amazing *glandular secretion* wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin

IrishGrrl · 02-17-2010, 07:53 PM

I know this is going to sound crazy but..apretty made me think of it when she mentioned breastfeeding. When I was breastfeeding, my nipples were SO raw, I could barely feed my daughter. They were cracked and bleeding, and chaffed. SO, someone told me a great trick. I took regular tea bags, soaked them in hot water for a few moments..and layed them on my nipples. NOTHING worked like the tea bags!! I've also used this trick when my skin was cracked and brittle, and it works really well. I usually would do it once a day, sometimes more, depending on how bad they felt. The active ingredient is the tanic acid..it's such a healer!! Try that, then put on some really great cream.

Soon · 02-17-2010, 08:00 PM

Great tips!

What about a small humidifier to add moisture to the air?

I have a pot of water on my steam rads and it is really helping (nasal dryness and itchy skin).

Gemme · 02-17-2010, 08:12 PM

I've had this problem, and in Florida, so it very well may not be related to the weather. All the lotions and slathering and dipping and parafin suggestions have been really good. I employ some of those techniques now with varying success.

I've found, in terms of OTC, that Gold Bond Medicated lotion with Aloe and Neutrogena Norwegian Formula lotions work well for me. The NNF tends to feel and look like Vaseline at first. It gets better when you rub it in.

Whoever mentioned checking the label is a smart cookie. Alcohol is very drying as are some of the acids commonly listed.

Even using lotions and creams, I found that it just wasn't enough. So I went to a dermie and he prescribed Clobetasol Propionate for me. Even when the cracks were really deep and I had layers of them on top of one another (that was NOT fun, I assure you), this stuff worked for me. I haven't really had that issue in WA, which is weird to me (and led to the whole 'weather doesn't matter' line of thinking) because it's very dry up here and cold.

Good luck finding something that works for you, Selly.

blush · 02-17-2010, 08:19 PM

Years ago, a dr. recommended Curel (original) and white Dove soap for my dry skin. I haven't had a problem since.

You might also change your soap to something less drying? Some soaps (Dial, for example) are the worst for stripping your skin of natural oils.

02-17-2010, 06:14 AM	#1
suebee Member How Do You Identify?: TOWANDA! Preferred Pronoun?: Queen Bee Relationship Status: Good 'n married. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eastern Canada. But if I make a wrong turn at the lights I get stopped by a border guard. Posts: 1,499 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,355 Thanked 2,756 Times in 820 Posts Rep Power: 16450093	There were a lot of suggestions on the "Nail Me" thread - all about manicures. Some of note were to use polysporin if the skin is actually cracked, and to use the cream meant for cow's udders (which is what desdansmoncoeur was referring to by "bag balm" I think). Your best price for that would be at a feed store. The other thing that Snowy mentioned for nail and cuticle health was to take vitamin E gel caps, open them and spread it over the nails and cuticles. I wonder if that would help boost your skin health? (after the cracks are healed, of course) My contribution is a hand cream called "Glysomed" - a German product if you can find it. Thick, absorbs well and not greasy. The best hand cream I've ever had. Good luck! Cracked skin is SO uncomfortable! __________________ "Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." -Albert Schweitzer

02-17-2010, 06:22 AM	#2
miss entycing Senior Member How Do You Identify?: dangerous, but worth the risk. Preferred Pronoun?: just be nice.. it's that easy. Relationship Status: CapitalM's carved upon my skin. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: on the southern edge of sanity, under a carolina moon. Posts: 3,276 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 8,341 Thanked 8,262 Times in 2,254 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	you can also try a Paraffin (sp) hand treatment- a type of deep penetrating wax.. usually at a nail salon- not only feels wonderful, but it works really well. best of luck to you sweetie __________________ True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate their life, through devotion, to something beyond themselves. Whenever someone awakens fully, it affects human consciousness at a collective level. It is like dropping a stone into a dark murky pond. Ripples of light... Not one word need be spoken.

02-17-2010, 08:49 AM	#4
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,362 Times in 2,838 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	Don't dry off after you bathe or wash your hands. Put lotion on your damp skin and let air dry or pat dry. Also Burt's Bees apricot baby oil works great slathered on damp skin..or really any oil...I just like the apricot smell. The oil mixes with the water...emulsifying and soaks into your skin better. At night sometimes maybe slather up all over after a bath, put on PJ's (cotton or flannel) cotton socks and cotton (or bamboo) gloves (or more cotton socks on your hands). Works great on my ultra dry skin and is not expensive...but you have to be consistent with it. __________________

02-17-2010, 08:12 PM	#8
Gemme Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Queer Stone Femme Girl of the Unicorn Variety Preferred Pronoun?: She, as in 'She's a GEM' Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The roads are narrow here Posts: 36,631 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 182,498 Thanked 107,907 Times in 25,665 Posts Rep Power: 21474889	I've had this problem, and in Florida, so it very well may not be related to the weather. All the lotions and slathering and dipping and parafin suggestions have been really good. I employ some of those techniques now with varying success. I've found, in terms of OTC, that Gold Bond Medicated lotion with Aloe and Neutrogena Norwegian Formula lotions work well for me. The NNF tends to feel and look like Vaseline at first. It gets better when you rub it in. Whoever mentioned checking the label is a smart cookie. Alcohol is very drying as are some of the acids commonly listed. Even using lotions and creams, I found that it just wasn't enough. So I went to a dermie and he prescribed Clobetasol Propionate for me. Even when the cracks were really deep and I had layers of them on top of one another (that was NOT fun, I assure you), this stuff worked for me. I haven't really had that issue in WA, which is weird to me (and led to the whole 'weather doesn't matter' line of thinking) because it's very dry up here and cold. Good luck finding something that works for you, Selly. __________________ Gemme's Journal I'm misunderestimated.

02-17-2010, 08:19 PM	#9
blush Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: I'm with goofy. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 911 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 962 Thanked 2,375 Times in 616 Posts Rep Power: 15632318	Years ago, a dr. recommended Curel (original) and white Dove soap for my dry skin. I haven't had a problem since. You might also change your soap to something less drying? Some soaps (Dial, for example) are the worst for stripping your skin of natural oils. __________________ "We never forget those who make us blush." Jean-Francois de la Harpe

02-17-2010, 08:03 AM	#3
justkim Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Me... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Relationship Status: <3 myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 2,023 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,062 Thanked 6,799 Times in 1,553 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	Hello Selenay, you have been given a lot of great suggestions for taking care of you chapped hands. Here are a couple from me... 1. Do go and see a dermatologist. 2. Paraffin is wonderful, but some states don't allow this, because it is not able to be sanitized. They do however sell personal Paraffin machines in Wal-mart or any type of drugstore. A trick I learned about paraffin is to slather your hands with a heavy duty lotion before you dip your hands, once your hands have been emerced into the paraffin cover them again (saran wrap) and wrap them and let the paraffin stay on until cold. 3. Try using aqua fore (sp) It feels kinda like Vaseline and a little goes a very long way. Eucerin makes a great cream but it can seem rather heavy at first. 4. Drink more water! Good luck!

02-17-2010, 09:12 AM	#5
apretty Senior Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: sea shell Relationship Status: married Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: san diego Posts: 1,687 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,927 Thanked 4,373 Times in 1,012 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	look for 'lanolin creme' --it's what they give breastfeeding mothers in the hospital for their chapped nipples and it works wonders on dry hands. lanolin is an amazing glandular secretion wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin

02-17-2010, 07:53 PM	#6
IrishGrrl Member How Do You Identify?: Queer Femme Leatherdyke Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Relationship Status: In a relationship/non-monogamous Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 877 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 276 Thanked 1,209 Times in 366 Posts Rep Power: 2427289	I know this is going to sound crazy but..apretty made me think of it when she mentioned breastfeeding. When I was breastfeeding, my nipples were SO raw, I could barely feed my daughter. They were cracked and bleeding, and chaffed. SO, someone told me a great trick. I took regular tea bags, soaked them in hot water for a few moments..and layed them on my nipples. NOTHING worked like the tea bags!! I've also used this trick when my skin was cracked and brittle, and it works really well. I usually would do it once a day, sometimes more, depending on how bad they felt. The active ingredient is the tanic acid..it's such a healer!! Try that, then put on some really great cream.

02-17-2010, 08:00 PM	#7
Soon Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Relationship Status: attached Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,896 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,046 Thanked 13,093 Times in 3,386 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	Great tips! What about a small humidifier to add moisture to the air? I have a pot of water on my steam rads and it is really helping (nasal dryness and itchy skin).