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Q: Dry skin ( No Answer,   12 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Dry skin
Category: Health
Asked by: chocala-ga
List Price: $2.00
Posted: 14 Nov 2004 20:24 PST
Expires: 14 Dec 2004 20:24 PST
Question ID: 429064
Even though i use hand lotion alot but why do my fingers' skins often
get dry and crack?  Can it be related to the lack of nutritious in my
diets? lack of vitamins?  Is there any advice on how to better my skin
condition?  I do dishwashes twice a day but i wear gloves.
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: tlspiegel-ga on 14 Nov 2004 20:46 PST
 
Many times dry skin can be helped by drinking a lot more water.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: monroe22-ga on 14 Nov 2004 20:56 PST
 
chocala-ga: Yes, I have a comment. You wear gloves while washing
dishes. Excellent. At other times, do you wash your hands in hot water
and take hot showers? The most valuable single advice I ever received,
at age 16, was this:
WASH YOUR HANDS IN COLD WATER! Why? Because our primitive ancestors
were never exposed to hot water or soap...our inherited skin
characteristics do not tolerate hot water. I believe it is obvious to
all that hot water washes away skin oils. Teach yourself to wash your
hands in cold water and take tepid showers. I have seen this cure
chapping and dry skin problems every time. Think about it: our bodies
were not evolved to tolerate hot water. Why fight nature? Your hands
will be every bit as clean if you wash them in cold water. I have been
using this practice for decades and have not yet died because of it.
If this comment is wordy, it is because it is based on fact and
experience.
  Now, if you already use cold or tepid water, then you have a problem
not amenable to my recommendation.
monroe22
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: biophysicist-ga on 15 Nov 2004 05:56 PST
 
Regular lotion may not be strong enough for your hands.  I recommend
Neutrogena hand cream.  It's very effective.  Apply just before you go
to bed.  If that doesn't seem to be helping enough after a couple
weeks, try putting on some light gloves over the hand cream when you
go to bed (so it doesn't rub off or dry).

Also, be sure to wear gloves whenever you go outside in the cold.  The
cold air is very drying to your skin.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: mister2u-ga on 15 Nov 2004 12:11 PST
 
I found lotions useless for my dry skin too,coal tar soap(from a
health food store)works wonders.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: altruix-ga on 15 Nov 2004 17:31 PST
 
Try Eucerin lotion.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: crabcakes-ga on 16 Nov 2004 10:06 PST
 
Many of the comments are good ideas! Another idea is a wonderful hand
creme, by prescription only. Vanamide, 40 percent Urea lotion, made
for Dermik Laboratories by DPT Lakewood Labs. Your dermatologist can
give you several tubes as samples to see how it works for you. It can
heal dry and cracked cuticles in less than a day.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: kriswrite-ga on 16 Nov 2004 10:33 PST
 
I find baby lotion to be the best moisturizer. It's most effective
when you put it on when your skin is damp.

Kriswrite
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: pecospearl-ga on 16 Nov 2004 15:42 PST
 
I used to have a lot of problems with my hands peeling after I washed
dishes.  I found that the dish-washing soap I was using caused it. 
You might try changing your dish washing liquid.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: dubiousmerit-ga on 18 Nov 2004 22:01 PST
 
Hi, I work in the shallow end of  the medical field and wash my hands
several dozen times a day. My hands were hellishly cracking, no matter
what lotion I used, until I tried this:

At night, I cover my hands with about a tablespoon of petroleum jelly,
then put on a pair of those stretch "magic" acrylic gloves.  They're
usually a dollar or so a pair.  Over that I put a pair of large
disposable rubber gloves - your mileage may vary, but I was getting
tired of washing greasy sheets.  I take the whole mess off in the
morning.  As long as I do this, my hands are fine - they look a little
dry, but they're not cracked..

It takes a tiny bit of getting used to the gloves.  The first time I
tried just plain cotton gloves and I kept waking up with them thrown
across the room.  The cheap stretch gloves are more "form-fitting,"
plus the first couple of weeks I used a pair that I'd cut the
fingertips off of, like a cartoon hobo.  They stayed on pretty well,
then I switched to a pair of unaltered stretch gloves.  No problems,
except the aforementioned greasy sheets, so I added the latex gloves. 
I get mine from work, but you can buy rubber gloves by the box of 100
fairly inexpensively.
I actually like the feel of the two layers of gloves now - it keeps my
hands warm at night.

One thing I noticed about lotion: most of them have some kind of acid
or alcohol fairly high up in the ingredients.  That's why I use just
plain ol' Vaseline at night, along with it not running off.  I do use
regular lotion throughout the day - I filled an empty hotel shampoo
bottle with it and keep it in my pocket - to replace lost skin oil on
the fly, especially after washing dishes or washing my hands.

One last thing is to notice <i>where</i> the skin is cracking.  I
couldn't figure out what I was doing to make my left index finger
chap, but then I realized that I continually dragged it against the
lace when tying someone's shoes.  I changed that habit and the skin
healed quickly.
If you have an area of skin that is in danger but not yet broken,
Curad spray bandage seems to help protect it pretty well.  Or, if your
work doesn't preclude it, just a regular bandage
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: jadeaura-ga on 19 Nov 2004 17:40 PST
 
Have you tried using coconut oil? It is a natural remedy for
chapped/cracked skin. You can find it at most health food stores.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: whatsup_342-ga on 30 Dec 2004 16:11 PST
 
I htink cocunut oil is good for skin and hair. Losing your hair? Try
using coconut oil everyday for softer hair and skin. I think it works
better than conditioners and hand lotions.
Subject: Re: Dry skin
From: whatsup_342-ga on 30 Dec 2004 16:29 PST
 
Well..., you can try coconut oil at least indoors for a week.
How to use coconut oil: Apply coconut oil to all hair on the head by
rubbing on the roots and the scalp and leave it on for the day. Wash
the hair at night before sleeping so that the oil doesn't stick in the
pilllows and makes a stain. It amazing to see the results after a
week. Works for skin too. Apply to skin after showering and leave
until it is absorbed. No washing necessary.

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