My hands are all cracked and bleeding in 20 little split-open cuts due to air dryness. I have a bottle of glycerin, wonder if it’s okay to slather my hands in it, then wear gloves to encase it while I sleep, and thus let hands recover and get moisturized for eight hours during sleep?
If not, what other lotions are okay to put on open wounds and let get absorbed into open wounds?
I’ve used Aquaphor on cracked hands and feet, and my mom used to put it on her hands and sleep in gloves. Glycerin is one of the ingredients, but it’s also got petrolatum, which keeps it on longer.
My grandfather, who was a farmer, swore by some product that was originally marketed for hoof maintenance, but I’m afraid I can’t remember the brand.
My father used something when he was working outdoors a lot, I think it was called Bag Balm, made for cows’ udders. He swore by it, but I never tried it.
I agree with the petrolatum (i.e. vaseline) idea over glycerin by itself. But I recommend white cotton gloves instead of nitrile or rubber gloves, if you have any. Wearing non-breathing gloves over all that moisture may cause more skin softening than you really want.
Bag Balm! Which makes sense because he did have milk cows.
I second the suggestion of cotton gloves; I should have been clearer that this are the type my mom wore.
My hands tend to be okay, but I get big cracks in my heels in the winter if I’m not careful. I use a pumice stone in the shower regularly, put ointment and adhesive bandages on any existing cracks, lotion my feet well; and wear cotton socks to bed.
My dermatologist recommended layering products. I’d apply the glycerin first, as it softens skin, and then the product containing petroleum jelly, as it will act as a barrier to keep the glycerin in.
I have struggled since childhood with badly chapped hands - to the point where they crack and bleed. My mother used to joke about my “lobster claws,” but also helped me search for something to treat them with.
Corn Huskers was about the best I tried in childhood, but now I swear by Eucerin cream. Not the lotion in the dispenser, but the stuff in a tub. I’ve recommended it to others, who have reported similar success.
Rub it in multiple times a day, but especially right before bed. I haven’t had to wear gloves over it, but that’s a great idea. If I get any setbacks, I will sure try it.
I really dislike the sensation of lotion on my hands (Ew, cold! Ew, wet! Ew, greasy!) but they need it when the weather gets cold. I’ve gotten into the habit of putting it on right before bed. People have suggested rubber gloves but I haven’t gone that far yet.
Another reason is that I want to make sure my contact lenses are removed before I slather grease all over my fingers.
I like the Bag Balm and O’Keefe’s just fine and am using some Gold Bond Ultimate now.
If you were wondering, you can buy cotton gloves at CVS. If they’re not in stock at your local store and/or you want to buy online, there’s a ton of options on Amazon.
I wear them when I put lotion on my hands at night, because I tend to sleep with my hands on my face and I don’t want to wake up with a zit.
You can also fight the dryness by using a humidifier in your bedroom. Ours uses distilled water, which can cost close to $50 a month — but I’ve spent that much on many less practical things.
I’ve suffered with chronically dry skin, particularly on my hands, for my adult life. And like the OP, I would get splits that would bleed, particularly around my fingernails. I’ve tried everything out there but have found the miracle: CeraVe. I put it on twice a day during the winter when my hands are at their worst, It keeps the dry skins and splits at bay for the most part (if you are washing your hands a lot, you might have to put on more often). It’s nice because you can work in quite a bit and it doesn’t leave that oily feeling like my former “best in class” Neutrogena Norwegian hand creme.
A nice and effective way to moisturize is to take a shower or bath, then apply the lotion etc. I will dab myself with a towel, keeping my skin a bit damp and then moisturize. I use various things, baby oil, coconut oil, etc., but cheaper stuff works too.
I see that you have these cuts, so maybe don’t do this kind of thing until they heal. I also concur with wearing gloves. A dermatologist once told me that it will allow the moisturizer to soak into the skin.
Another thing: try to avoid lotions that contain alcohol. Esp with those cuts, ouch!!
I have. It’s very effective, but also very greasy, and has a medicinal smell. You can get it in small containers more suitable for a single human’s use, though it may still be labeled as not for human use. Many farmers and some others use it on themselves, though.
I can’t guarantee that Bee Balm is fine in open wounds if you’ve got lots of them, and I wouldn’t use it specifically as a wound treatment, but I’ve certainly used it with no problem while I’ve had an occasional scratch or crack; and it’s advertised for use on cracked skin. It’s not quite as effective as Bag Balm for dry skin, but it’s more effective than most things, much less greasy than bag balm, and IMO smells better (smells faintly of honey and that’s all; maybe don’t put it on right before going for a walk right past beehives.)
I’ve had issues with cracked skin around my thumbnails in the winter for many years, and last year, I FINALLY got something that worked. It was a steroid ointment (clobetasol) that I got from a dermatologist that I was seeing for a different skin issue. A little dab of that keeps things at bay.
At one point, I asked my doctor if he could cut out the cracks and sew them back together; I was that desperate. I tried all kinds of creams and ointments, fish oil, even Super Glue (and would manage to get enough INTO the crack to seal it open) and any relief was temporary.
I would chime in to recommend Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream (I prefer the unscented). It has been the only hand cream that has helped my winter ravaged, cracked, dry hands, although I have not tried every option mentioned in this thread. This one works well, and works quickly, and it is cheap. It is glycerin based, and goes on a little greasy/sticky feeling, but that goes away within a few minutes. It is also suitable for overnight use and is approved by the National Eczema Association.