My hands are raw and peeling

[MissMillie]

I worked in a kitchen for a few years and did dishes everyday and my hands never looked like this.

I use lotion (Eucerin) and yet they are itchy and peeling and nasty.

I'm about to cover my hands in petroleum jelly every night and covering them w/ gloves.

[hlthe2b]

1. that should help... though I find petroleum jelly so messy

this is my go to: (i use a bit every time I wash my hands)


It hangs around and is thick like petroleum jelly but is easy to get it to absorb enough that it isn't constantly sticky.

In between, my go Colorado moisturizing cream (for everything) because it does absorb quickly but holds the moisture is Cerave moisturizing cream... economical too. I keep a pump jar of this or a tube of the Neutrogena cream near every sink.

[TEB]

2. I hear you miss millie

I work out in cold and winter time I use Vaseline cover my lips. Hands with gloves get cracked I found well my wife found udder balm a jar at Walmart is like I think 9$. But it works well and I use it I’ll cover my lips and hands and put on my work gloves.

[Ohiogal]

3. I always wear rubber gloves

any time I do dishes or other household cleaning.

Cotton lined ones are harder to find but if you look hard enough some stores carry them, if the rubber gloves bother you.

It's bad when the itch keeps you awake at night, isn't it? I'm sorry.

[hedda_foil]

4. Are you using a new or reformulated soap or dishwashing liquid? It sounds like an allergy.

[MissMillie]

14. not using anything different

except maybe shampoo, but it is a brand I am familiar with.

I wonder if I don't have a Vit E deficiency... but I don't want or expect anyone to diagnose that

[hedda_foil]

21. I hope you'll take your poor hands to the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

There are blood tests for vitamin deficiencies if the doc thinks that might be it, but whatever your skin condition is, it sounds like what you've been doing hasn't worked.

[democratisphere]

5. Try Nivea Creme in the Dark Cobalt colored jar.

It works like a miracle on hands. Walmart has a 13.5 oz. jar for about $7.00. Little bit goes a long way. Also Jergens Ultra Healing works pretty well!

[CanonRay]

6. Be aware of this

any muscle weakness? Cough?

http://www.rheumatologynetwork.com/arthritis/mechanics-hands-patient-antisynthetase-syndrome

I got it in 2007. It's nasty.

[handmade34]

7. I make and use

a salve of olive oil, beeswax, comfrey, calendula and vitamin E... this is great... or use coconut oil

[left-of-center2012]

8. Have you seen a dermatologist?

Years ago I had a different skin problem from yours.
My regular doctor was of no help.

I went to a dermatologist and she knew exactly what it was, and how to quickly help me.

[rgbecker]

9. I was about to kill myself several years ago because my hands hurt so much.

Every winter they would crack open...couldn't do anything, so painful. Tried many different lotions etc. Nothing worked.

I took to wearing nitrile gloves from the car parts store. Wore them during the day and at night. They hold the natural moisture to the skin. Now don't need them all the time, but when my hands start showing signs of drying out again, I put them on for a few days and, viola, everything is good.

Try it. The lotions are a scam as far as I'm concerned.

[procon]

10. Treatment depends on what is causing the symptoms.

If OTC creams and moisturizers aren't working then the condition is likely something other than just a case of wintery dry skin. Yeast infections on the skin can be treated with OTC antifungal products like Lotrimin. Contact dermatitis can be soothed by OTC hydrocortisone anti-itch cream. There are many other skin possible conditions, and your symptoms could also be a red flag to indicate other more serious diseases or internal physical problems than need medical treatment. See your doctor to be find out what's going on.

If your skin is already broken, raw, wet or oozing then you should see a doctor because the risk of developing a secondary skin infection will make things even worse and take longer to heal.

[tableturner]

11. Agree....Use OTC hydrocortisone anti-itch cream!

[ms liberty]

12. Working Hands. It really works, amazing stuff and not greasy. n/t

[Canoe52]

13. I used to work outside in winter, tried everything, every lotion, bag balm, etc.

The only thing that worked was covering my hands with Vaseline at night then putting a sock over them to keep the Vaseline on my hands and not smearing it all over everything.

Wish I had known about the nitrile glove trick, but then I’m not sure they had them yet.

[Laffy Kat]

15. Been on antibiotics lately?

Sometimes a combination of abx and sunshine can cause red, blistering hands. Just checking.

[crazycatlady]

16. There's something called "Gardener's Hands" that my parents swear by

[csziggy]

17. My hands do this if I wash with anything other than real soap

Basis brand, now off the market.

If I am traveling and use the "soaps" provided in public restrooms, my hands crack and bleed.

I use Eucerin daily but I am thinking of going back to what I used to use when I was working outside on a regular basis - Bag Balm.

Simple Ingredients

Four simple ingredients are uniquely combined to create a mighty skin salve with no added colors or fragrances:

Petrolatum moisturizes.
Lanolin soothes and softens.
8-Hydroxyquinoline Sulfate preservative.
Paraffin wax helps bind the ingredients together.
http://www.bagbalm.com/shop/simple-ingredients

Bag Balm is kind of heavy and I cannot use it when I am doing needlework but it is great to sooth your hands when they are in really rough condition. When I was running my farm on cold winter mornings, I would use Bag Balm before going out to feed in the mornings.

Back then I would buy it at the feed store in their square tins. Now they have it in tubes and other convenient containers and it is sold at drugstore chains.

[pnwest]

18. Right idea, wrong goo - use Neosporin instead

of Vaseline.

[blaze]

19. Corn Huskers

I was introduced to this in the early 80s when I was delivering newspapers and that paper just sucked the moisture out of my hands and my fingertips started cracking... another carrier recommended it and I was stunned at how quickly it healed up my hands. Been my go to lotion ever since.

https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Huskers-Oil-Free-Hand-Lotion/dp/B000RO3EMA?th=1

[mahina]

20. Sorrry MissMillie. Most responses here are assuming uts dry skin but its

Possible it’s not.

A friend had that once and it was related to stress.

Hoping you can see a dermatologist as another said above. Best luck MM, hoping you feel better soon.

[WhiteTara]

22. I have some sort of skin ailment and my hands also peel and have

sores...I use antibiotic cream...like neosporin. My dermatolgist actually prescribes an antibiotic ointment that really helps. Mine problem is some sort of eczhema and psoriasis combination. He thinks its from touching something like the steering wheel or paper. I have always just called it being uncomfortable in my skin as my entire body itches.

But try the triple antibiotic ointment, it will be better than petroleum jelly. Gloves might be good, they're not for me.