Fissures! Damn fissures!
 

I've got a fissure on the index finger of my right hand which is making fingerstyle playing painful. Luckily, I play with a pick when playing with my band, but I like to play fingerstyle as well, mostly at home. I know only time can heal it, but what can I do to prevent them in the first place? I've tried lotions, but I still get them.

Go to a dermatologist. They should be able to determine exactly what it is.

Superglue the crack for the short term. The glue will break, but it helps.

Also do see a dermatologist. I've found that the older I get, the more prone my fingers are to this - and winter is a dry season when it gets worst.

Do you have this problem year round or just in the dry winter months? Just on your cuticles or do you have other skin issues too? If yes to year round and other skin problems then best to consult a dermatologist. But cracked cuticles and fissures in your fingers are not uncommon during the winter. Strong soaps and washing your hands a lot make it worse as do exposure to any kinds of chemicals including rubbing alcohol. Try to use minimal amounts of mild soaps when washing, you only need a little, and rinse very well. Use cool to warm water, never hot. If you must use solvents, or alcohol, or have your hands exposed to water a lot then always wear gloves for protection. Lotions can help too.

And to fix the cracked cuticles and skin, Dermabond (2-octyl cyanoacrylate, which is the medical grade of super glue) is great. A little dab on the crack and you are good to go. Regular super glue ( methyl 2-cyanoacrylate) works fine too but can be irritating to the skin, though I have never had a problem with it and have been using it on my fingers for years. Just be sure to not touch anything after applying the glue to your finger until it is completely dry! Seems obvious but I could tell you some pretty good ER stories.

I get fissures on my fingertips in the area adjacent to my fingernails, especially in winter. After using the wife's hand lotion regularly, they've gone away and I have not gotten any new ones since. Plus my hands are so soft and young-looking...;)

Ive been dealing with Eczemsa since HS and im in my 30's, def see a Dermo, they will give you the oitments to kill the bacteria (most likely) causing the cracking.

In the mean time get Neosporing Eczema cream or somethign that is fragrance FREE! apply regularly and try to use mild hand soap (Soap free) sounds funny but soap free is a lot easier on your skin, Aveeno also makes a bunch of stuff catered to sensitive skin.

Out of curiosity, have you tried Trixera? My son has Eczema and although it gets bad for him sometimes, that lotion tends to take away the dry roughness of the skin.

Cetaphil is the lotion my doc recommended. He also recommended using the Cetaphil soap. I do like the lotion, and it's not greasy like so much of the stuff out there.

Thanks God you are talking about an ailment on your finger and not your back side. I hesitantly opening this thread half expecting to read about the woes of sitting too much.

BTW, if it's on your frettin' hand, using flats helps tremendously

I have not, WOW thats pricey, i will give it a shot though, ive been through them all and the Neosporin works best for me and its no greasy, i though it was pricey at $15 a tube, Trixera is $30!

Search the 'net for "cure fingertip cracks" for a bunch of advice.

No....see a doc. Could be dishydrotic eczema. If not curable, at least controllable. But get a proper diagnosis first.

Jeez, if I had a dime for every dumbass well-intentioned patient who tried to cure themselves via internet first........

BUM FINGER..
 

Eczema-type reaction occurs on my first finger of my fingering hand every once in a while.. Could the strings be causing this issue? Will try wiping strings w/alcohol after playing.. Anyone have this issue?

I get little cracks in the corners of my thumbs, right were the nail meets the skin. I think it's from the dry weather here in Michigan. But it only seems to happen on my thumbs; not any other fingers. Hurts too.

Others already suggested that, just giving an alternative. IME, it can take weeks to get an appointment with a dermatologist around here. No need to resort to childish namecalling.

My doc recommended the Cetaphil soap to help with how much my skin dries out from my acne medication. It really does help a lot. Little to no dead skin falling off my face throughout the day. My hands also don't get dried out anymore during the cold months because my hands get washed with the soap whenever I wash my face.

Keep up with the Cetaphil stuff, and see a dermatologist.