Wounds on dry skin - how to make them heal?

So, about two weeks ago, I got in something of a scuffle with the keyboard tray on my desk. One of the screws bit me and scraped a nice layer of skin off my knuckle, right between my index and middle finger on my right hand. Fine, washed it and slapped some Neosporine on it.

Only the skin on the back of my hands is extremely dry, to the point where I’ve got little tiny cracks all over (note to self: take notice of this before using antibacterial hand gel). So the scrape on my hand is not healing. It seems that it’ll scab up, but then I’ll do something with my hand (playing badmitton in PE, sparring in TKD, writing in class), and it’ll crack again. Little bit of bleeding, just enough to be a real nuisance.

Any suggestions (other than further upping my 3-times daily moisturizing) to get my skin to regrow?

It’s tough having a hand or finger wound, the hands being constantly in use. If you can, try not to get the wound wet, at least for plolonged periods. The scab forming is protecting the new skin underneath (from making a premature debut) and should be preserved, not removed.

Moisturizer on a wound? I would say that is a bad idea. Try to moisturize around the wound, not directly on it and keep the scab dry. There may be a small scar, (try and keep the healing wound out of UV light) but it should heal soon.

At this point, I think the anti bacterials are serving as an irritant and not good for the healing process.

I’d try a small bandage - put Neosporin/antibacterial ointment on the scrape, then a small band-aid type bandage on it and let it heal that way. Moisturize the rest of your hands, sure, but the ointment should help keep the scrape moist, but still let it heal.

IANAD though.

Lsura gave good advice. If you’re active with your hands, I’d suggest a flexible fabric bandage as opposed to the standard-issue plastic strips. The bandage will help keep the wound moist and medicated. After a day or so, if the site is showing redness, swelling, or local heat-you have an infection which should be attended to by a MD. Good luck.

It’s best if fresh air can get at this type of wound, for the quickest healing. Bandages will perhaps protect from abrasional situations but moisture will occur under a bandage, creating high humidity in the least. Has anyone noticed that bandages stink? It’s because they don’t allow air circulation. What is the smell? Gasses given off by anaerobic bacteria and fungus. Moisture provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

Try to go without a bandage. Just keep the wound out of the sun if possible.

This is wrong on almost every point. Wounds heal faster if kept moist. A thin coating of bacitracin or Vaseline and a bandage work best.

The odor beneath bandages is more likely from serum (it oozes into the wound) than from anaerobes provided the wound is clean and uninfected.

The thinking about moist wounds healing faster is that the elements involved in healing are sensitive to desiccation. In a wound base, capillaries and fibroblasts proliferate without the benefit of a covering of waterproof skin. So cover up your boo-boo.

It sounds like NC has a second problem that is interfering with healing: dry, cracked skin. Do you immerse your hands in water frequently? How often do you wash your hands? Any contact with solvents? In any case, cracked, dry skin will heal more slowly. It’s difficult to say via internet the exact nature of the underlying problem. Hand eczema is the most common reason for your complaint, but there are many other causes and you should see a dermatologist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment. For now, you could try the basics: minimize hand washing/immersion and twice daily application of a thick moisturizing cream like aquaphor or Vaseline

Choosybeggar, derm resident

Not necessarily. I was told here that covering a wound and medicating it prevent scars and keep dirt OUT.

Keep it bandaged very tightly, and make sure to put Neosporin-type ointment on the wound first.

AND, if you change the bandage at least once a day, it won’t get stinky and infected.

See, she’s trying to let it dry out-but it’s not healing, because it keeps opening up again.

Wise, ChoosyBeggar is. That one’s advice should we follow!

Whatcha got for the itch of dermatomyositis? Traditional antihistamines have failed, as have topical steroids. Systemic steroids are relatively contra-indicated.

I am an RN and have treated many wounds in this manner. Do not use antibiotic creams, alcohol, peroxide, and so on, on wounds. Wash them only if they are dirty. If a simple bandaid does not seem appropriate, use a dressing such as “Bioclusive”–reading from the box: “Thin adhesive film creates the optimal would healing environment. Breathes like skin. Less scarring than conventional dry gauze and antibiotic dressings.”

This transparent dressing is applied and left in place. The secret is to just leave it and not monkey with it. It may begine to look quite nasty with grey fluid, but not to worry, your body knows what it is doing. Within a week it should be as good as new.

Someone has already covered the signs of infection, so I won’t go over that.

The Johnson & Johnson Liquid Bandage seemed to work well for me in a similar situation.

Carmex always works for me in arid conditions, even on my hands. Heals those dessicated cracks on the sides of your fingers you get while skiing right up in a matter of days instead of weeks. Apply liberally and work in well once or twice over a couple of days, then then realize two or three later that it’s healed and you’d forgotton all about it.

I’ve become a real convert for the liquid paint-on bandages for hand wounds. Follow directions. The bandages stay on in water, which is a big plus, and are not loosened by the skin flexing involved in normal hand motions.

If signs of infection appear see a doctor.

Actually, if you’re having skin problems anyway - including severe dryness - see a dermatologist.

Question on the same sort of problem: What about thumbs? The ends of my thumbs split painfully in the winter, to the point where even the least pressure on them causes pain. Bandaging them makes for awkward living, to say the least. Any suggestions? Please?

Say, I like that liquid bandage idea! My 94 year old neighbor gets those painful fingertip cracks. I will suggest it to her. Thanks

Chefguy, have you tried vitamine E oil? It would be easy enough to give it a try. I just prick a vitamine E capsule and squeeze a little out. Apply it frequently for a few days and see if it helps.

A few more tips to avoid this condition:

When you wash dishes, wear rubber gloves. Before you put them on, slather on a liberal amount of handcream, and don’t rub it in completely. Then, put your gloves on.
After you’re done, your hands should be nice and soft.

A good lotion is Udderly Smooth, or “udder cream”. It’s relatively inexpensive and you can buy it at most drugstores. It comes in small tub or tube, and you can recognize it by the black and white cow-print on the labeling.

Advice has been noted. I found these bandages at CVS - they’re clear plastic, with the gauze in the center of it, so it adheres all around. Seems to be what’s called for, plus, it’s staying on better than other bandages.

Also, I seem to recall having seen ‘udder cream’ of some sort at Trader Joe’s. I’ll check it out.

Well, for my eczema, I use Bag Balm. I tend to put it on every night before I go to bed. Softens things up. So, maybe some Bag Balm on your hands, then wearing gloves over it would help some? Since I don’t have eczema on my hands, I use St. Ives Intensive Healing lotion. Good stuff.

For healing, they tell me that Vitamin C, Vitamin E and . . . gah, something else that I can’t remember are good for healing tattoos and piercings. Maybe they’ll also help heal cuts on your hands?

I get the same thing.2 things have helped me.Only put the bandaids on at night while sleeping,and only bandage enough to cover the splits.

Like the rubber gloves for dishwashing,I once put on a pair of those disposable cheapies (now in vogue in sandwich prep areas in public) and in just abt. 1/4-1/2 hour hands/ fingers were moisturized and felt like new.Do it every hour or so at night when you’re home (you can type with these babies on,that’s how thin they are) and in a couple days my thumb cracks disappear.