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Dry cracked fingers in the winter
- Thread starter BlackburstJBP
- Start date
i just found this thread and have been going through the same problem. I had a gig last night, and i have one tomorrow, and both my plucking fingers are cracked and hurt like hell.
You can thank me later. This stuff is the best!
I discovered this stuff in my early teens. Works wonderfully, but the smell will give you away. It can be embarrassing
. Best thing I've found is a little olive oil on my hands. It soaks in after awhile, and it works very well. No scent either!
1. Wear gloves always outside
and then:
http://www.amazon.com/Naylor-UB-9-9OZ-Udder-Balm/dp/B001CCLK3G
and then:
http://www.amazon.com/Naylor-UB-9-9OZ-Udder-Balm/dp/B001CCLK3G
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
MAN! Yeah, I know. I have to wash dishes in hot degreaser water and clean the ovens all day. I just use a HELL OF A LOT of lotion before bed and put on a glove so it stays moisturized all night. I was thinking about going to the doctor.
I do have a bunch of experience with this. I work outside in the winter, (29yrs.) which usually lasts in upstate NY from Nov. to late April. To compound that, I handle tons of paper which also robs the skin of it's natural moisture and elasticity. I have tried just about everything, and have settled into a routine that while far from a cure, seems to help a great deal. To start with I use only high quality skin cream lotion. There are several good brands out there and they all seem to do a pretty decent job. I also use a paraffin bath, like those used in a nail salon.
eg. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...0000007346330&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10262863
I first coat my hands with lotion, and then dip them 4 or 5 times into the hot wax allowing it to slightly harden between coats. Put on a pair of very loose plastic gloves or better yet, some plastic bags and let it sit on the skin for 20 min. Remove the bags, peel off the wax, and put it back in the bath for reuse.
You will be amazed at how much moisture this puts back into the skin.
Another great tip is get into the habit of wearing disposable plastic gloves around the hose when doing everyday chores. Dish washing is extremely tough on the hands. And again, put on lotion before putting on the gloves.
With all the flu and such going around, people often get in the habit of using hand sanitizers like Purell. While sometimes necessary in a pinch, the alcohol in that stuff helps them to crack by taking moisture out of the skin. Instead I found using a soap designed for dentists works best. We all know how many times a day they wash their hands, but next time take a look, they are always soft. You can find them online. Septoderm, Lysol IC, and DermaRite/DermaRich are a few of the choices.
Lastly, when all else fails and a crack does occur, I use a product called Robby's skin protector. http://www.robbys.com/skin_protector.php It a basically a glue, that unlike NuSkin, dries quickly, and unlike superglue comes with a brush applicator. I've used this stuff between songs and it's dry and ready to go within a very shot time. two coats work great. You can find it at practically any bowling center in the bowlers aids vending machines. Hope this helps....
eg. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...0000007346330&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10262863
I first coat my hands with lotion, and then dip them 4 or 5 times into the hot wax allowing it to slightly harden between coats. Put on a pair of very loose plastic gloves or better yet, some plastic bags and let it sit on the skin for 20 min. Remove the bags, peel off the wax, and put it back in the bath for reuse.
You will be amazed at how much moisture this puts back into the skin.
Another great tip is get into the habit of wearing disposable plastic gloves around the hose when doing everyday chores. Dish washing is extremely tough on the hands. And again, put on lotion before putting on the gloves.
With all the flu and such going around, people often get in the habit of using hand sanitizers like Purell. While sometimes necessary in a pinch, the alcohol in that stuff helps them to crack by taking moisture out of the skin. Instead I found using a soap designed for dentists works best. We all know how many times a day they wash their hands, but next time take a look, they are always soft. You can find them online. Septoderm, Lysol IC, and DermaRite/DermaRich are a few of the choices.
Lastly, when all else fails and a crack does occur, I use a product called Robby's skin protector. http://www.robbys.com/skin_protector.php It a basically a glue, that unlike NuSkin, dries quickly, and unlike superglue comes with a brush applicator. I've used this stuff between songs and it's dry and ready to go within a very shot time. two coats work great. You can find it at practically any bowling center in the bowlers aids vending machines. Hope this helps....
1. Wear gloves always outside
and then:
http://www.amazon.com/Naylor-UB-9-9OZ-Udder-Balm/dp/B001CCLK3G
+1, also found as "Bag Balm" in a green tin. Wonder stuff.
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
^ Similar to above post is Udderly Smooth http://www.uddercream.com/.
It works incredibly, has no awful smell, and is really cheap.
It works incredibly, has no awful smell, and is really cheap.
Ive been in healthcare over 20 years, and as you can imagine, I must wash my hands at least 30 times an hour! Over a winter that really adds up dry, chapped, cracked skin in the worst way and have used many, many different hand cremes (I even tried the nurses girly Avon stuff) but what works best for me is the Eucerin creme that was already mentioned. Ive had relief with other brands, as you probaably will too, but Eucerin just works better for me. Funny enough, TB"rs may already know this but Avon's "skin so soft" works quite well too and doesnt smell too feminine. Good luck and can you possibly wear light material gloves at work? That will help immensely.
My fingers and hands tend to do the same thing every Winter. This year I've been using some Invalid Link Removed lotion right before I go to bed. It seems to work very well. The reason I don't use it during the day is because it tends to feel far too oily.
i have excema on my hands and have the same problem. i say go to your doctor and make sure this is or isnt the problem excema will get worse if left untreated. i use triamcinalone (prescription, as mentioned before). over the counter stuff that works ffor me (some have been mentioned): udder balm or bag balm, corn huskers lotion,hydrocortizone cream, vaseline intensive care lotion, super glue when youre desperate, and for goodness sakes put gloves on whenever youre out in the cold!
also get used to putting lotion or balm on your hands 3-4 times per day whether you think you need it or not. i keep lotion in my car for this.
also get used to putting lotion or balm on your hands 3-4 times per day whether you think you need it or not. i keep lotion in my car for this.
I have much the same problem. I use these things that I found on the web called Finger Gloves. They are form fitting , and you can work while wearing them. I put a little Neosporin on my tips and then put one of these on. I trim them to the desired length etc., and I can do my job without constantly bumping the crack. www.fingergloves.com is the website. Pretty inexpensive, and while not allowing your fingers to crack is the best, once they are cracked, they have to heal, and you still have to work.......Good luck.
We get a little winter up here in Vermont as well. Here's another vote for gloves when possible outside, even to the point of fanaticism. But I also learned about a preventive & cure from traveler kids that seems to work wonders: Nature's Gate Tea Tree Oil Moisturizing Lotion, for irritated, distressed skin. They tell me it works wonders and so fa they're right. I've kept the problem at bay with regular use... no cracks so far this year.
Zombie thread reopened just in time for Halloween.
Now's the time to start working on your hands to prevent all the problems noted in the posts above. Lots of great suggestions there.
I'm using Cetaphil as recommended by my dermatologist. Seems to also help keep callouses from drying out/tearing.
Note: no affiliation with the product other than as a satisfied customer.
Happy Halloween!
Now's the time to start working on your hands to prevent all the problems noted in the posts above. Lots of great suggestions there.
I'm using Cetaphil as recommended by my dermatologist. Seems to also help keep callouses from drying out/tearing.
Note: no affiliation with the product other than as a satisfied customer.
Happy Halloween!
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Zombie thread reopened just in time for Halloween.
Now's the time to start working on your hands to prevent all the problems noted in the posts above. Lots of great suggestions there.
I'm using Cetaphil as recommended by my dermatologist. Seems to also help keep callouses from drying out/tearing.
Note: no affiliation with the product other than as a satisfied customer.
Happy Halloween!
Cetaphil didn't work for me. Actually, even prescription steroid ointment didn't work. These days, I use a combination of the steroid, Kiehl's ultimate strength hand salve...and the new thing is I use a humidifier in my bedroom at night, cranked up to about 70-80% humidity. THAT seems to be working.
Awhile back I had to have corticosteroid Clobetasol Proprionate prescibed for a crack on the back of my index finger that wouldn't close. It worked well.
