This is topic Hands extremely dry, cut, cracked and bleeding... in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
 
For about one week now my hands have been so dry that they have cracks, cuts and scratches on them to the point of bleeding.

My hands look like I've been in a fist fight, even my knuckles and finger tips are red with cuts and bleed too. I've never had such pain in my hands before.

I've used globs of lotion and aloe vera but nothing helps them to heal up. Has anyone had this problem before and what did you do to heal up your dry chaffed hands?

Gary

[ 12-04-2009, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: gwb ]
 

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Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
 
Try some "Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream". It comes in a small bottle. Cost about $4.

I've tried tones of hand creams and salves, expensive stuff too. This is the only thing that works for me. I use a small amount at bed every night. It helps heal my hands while I sleep. It is greasy feeling though so I do not use this often during the day.

During the day I use "Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream" (yes you must buy the Baby version it works the best). It is not greasy, soaks right in. Makes your hands feel great. Use this as often as possible after washing your hands.

Another tip. Try to use a gentle soap when washing hands. And be sure to dry them well. If i'm in a hurry and don't dry my knuckles well they always get chapped, red, and painful.

For the cracks on your hands you can try Liquid Bandaid. It will seal the cracks, help them heal faster so that you don't reopen the wounds every time you wash your hands. Regular bandaids don't stick well on hands so don't even bother.

Try these things and your hands will get better
 

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Posted by Ivy (Member # 18365) on :
 
I use Bag balm which helps a lot. If you don't have that try Crisco -that helps too.
 

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Posted by StopTheItchPlz (Member # 23266) on :
 
Hi Gary.
I use Vanicreme soap and lotions, they are dye and perfume free. There is a light lotion and a heavy duty cream. I get them at Walgreens. I think Walmart sells them at the pharmacy too.

The heavy lotion works great on dry hands. I got cracked, bleeding elbows too and this seems to help a lot. Good luck!
 

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Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
 
I use the Neutrogena hand cream like Sammy. It is truly the best stuff I have ever used. Also, when you wash your hands, only wash the palms and fingers, don't soap the backs of your hands. Then pat them dry don't rub.
 

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Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
 
Thanks to all of you for the great recommendations. I went to the drug store and decided to buy several different lotions and balms that you guys recommended.

I tried the "Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream" and I can tell it's working already. Will try the bag balm later on tonight before I go to bed.

Thanks again for your great suggestions!

Gary
 

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Posted by Parisa (Member # 10526) on :
 
Try treating from the inside with flax seed oil
 

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Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
 
I agree with Carol in PA and Parisa -- the real cause of the problem is a deficiency in good fats. I used to have this problem with dry skin and cracks in the heels of my feet.

Is your gallbladder working ok? Need bile to help absorb fats.

Bea Seibert
 

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Posted by july (Member # 10469) on :
 
NO-CRACK hand cream. My hands crack every winter. Deep cracks, that split wider and wider. It's the only thing that works for me. Great for the heels too.

It's made by Dumont Company from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I get mine at a pharmacy, not prescription. Once you use it, you won't bother trying anything else.

* Be sure to get the night use. The day cream smells like diapers (not dirty diapers - just diapers)
 

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Posted by GLD (Member # 23479) on :
 
I get this deep cracking too for the last year. Is this caused from the disease?
 

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Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
I have gotten this kind of thing.

For me, it seems to be triggered by a sensitivity to certain soaps. It usually only happens in winter though, so it's a combo of a skin sensitivity to certain soaps, combined with the winter air.

I got it really bad one winter, years before I was sick with Lyme. My hands were bright red, and horribly dry and chapped. I showed it to the pharmacist, and he told me to stop using the hand soap at my grade school. He seemed familiar with this happening to people's hands. As far as I remember, that worked.

This year I'm getting it again, and I think it's because I've been using a lot of artificial-type soaps again.

If I were you, I would avoid soaps in public restrooms however you can (not sure if you can bring your own soap or what) and at home, avoid soaps containing sodium laurel (or laureth) sulfate. I would also avoid triclosan, which is in antibacterial soaps like Dial and Softsoap.

I'm not sure exactly what ingredient you may be sensitive to, so I'm just listing a few.
 

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Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
 
My little guy gets this all the time.

The soap in public restrooms fire him up, but only in the winter!

We use this:

http://warmskin.com/warmskin_athletes.html

It is actually really affordable and it is what Anne Bancroft the arctic explorer uses on her treks. It smells funny, but it works.
 

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Posted by lymie_in_md (Member # 14197) on :
 
You might consider a humidifier, there might not be enough water in the air and it is drying out your skin. Especially during the heating season when we are in doors more. A good test, did you have this problem during the summer. And if you didn't how long into the heating system had you noticed the issue.

If you can't get a whole house humidifier, at least try to make sure you have one in your room at night while you sleep.
 

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Posted by AnnaL (Member # 18464) on :
 
Intensive lotions, Bag Balm, Crisco, coconut oil...all are great. (My favorites are shea butter, coconut oil, and other vegetable-based fats.)

I find it's especially helpful to put on gobs of some really good moisturizer at night, and then sleep with gloves on. If you don't have gloves to sleep in, you can always just put some socks over your hands.

If you have cracks or bleeding, you can put a little antibiotic cream (like Neosporin) over the cuts and then lather on the oil. This will help the cuts heal and trap in the moisture.
 

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Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
PS--along with changing your hand soap at home, you can try changing your dish soap too, since your hands touch that. I notice a difference by using the Seventh Generation brand (vs. something like Dawn or Pamolive). It's available at health food stores and some grocery stores.

I think it is the artificial sudsing agents that really hurt my hands, but whatever is in "public restroom" soap is the absolute worst. I can use that just once, and my hands will be red and inflamed. When it would get bad, the knuckles would bleed too. And usually just in winter. The summer heat/humidity must be protective.
 

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Posted by AnnaL (Member # 18464) on :
 
A tip about soap--

I totally agree that finding the right soaps (hand, dish, etc.) will help.

If you can, carry a little travel-size bottle of gentle hand soap with you to use when you are in public. I also keep a box of unscented baby wipes in my car.

Also, if you work somewhere with harsh soap in the restroom, you can just bring in your own soap. Keep it in your desk, or (depending on the office) just keep it in the restroom.

My husband's desk at work is stocked with his own soap, lotion, and hand sanitizer (a more gentle version than the Purell kind). It has really helped his hands, which get cracked and dry from riding his bike in to work in the winter.
 

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Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
 
surprisingly vicks vapor rup helps.


great on feet.
 

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Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :
 
I also have constant issues with this in the winter..I think most suggestions sound great..I have also used vicks.It works..I do usually up my Omega oils and that helps some too.

I think this year is worse with using the hand sanitizers everywhere. The alcohol may be making things worse.
 

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Posted by R62 (Member # 18531) on :
 
We have this bad and the absolute best cream we have found is body butter by wilderness Family Naturals. Does not make it go away. Nothing makes ours go away, but it helps the most of all we have tried. I think for us this is due to an essential fat metabolism issue, possibly KPU/HPU where there is loss of aracnid acid.
 

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Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
 
I have been laying on the coconut oil and letting

it sit for @20mins before bathing or shower. Now I

have dead skin peeling off in layers and feeling

better too. I am also taking 1000 E a day after

ramping up from 200. I also take thyroid which can

cause dry skin if you don't have enough.
 

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Posted by Amy C (Member # 19297) on :
 
Both my boys (who have lyme) get this really bad. Just started to be a problem again this year today.

My younger son missed several days of school last year and had to walk around the house with vasoline and gloves on!

They get red and burning on the tops of their hands. Everything I try just burns more. Do any of these above products recommended burn? Maybe I need a natural one without fragrance?

They both have sensitive skin but this never happened until we started treating the lyme. Any ideas why that is? Both take fish oils already.
 

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Posted by chronic77 (Member # 23597) on :
 
Have suffered off & on for years with both dry, cracked hands and feet. Tried lots of stuff most all already mentioned on this thread. Best remedy for me is O'Keeffe's Working Hands lotion or cream. Both produce amazing results overnite.

Coconut oil is great during the day use that too, but the Working Hands really shows results. O'Keefe's works even better for me than Zim's Crack Creme.

Good luck...know this can be very painful.
 

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Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by chronic77:
Have suffered off & on for years with both dry, cracked hands and feet. Tried lots of stuff most all already mentioned on this thread. Best remedy for me is O'Keeffe's Working Hands lotion or cream. Both produce amazing results overnite.

Coconut oil is great during the day use that too, but the Working Hands really shows results. O'Keefe's works even better for me than Zim's Crack Creme.

Good luck...know this can be very painful.

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