Too many Max baths, hand dish washes, counter top disinfecting, and washing hands after nappy changes! My fingertips are disintegrating, before my very eyes!
Sore as hell, cracked, red, rough, dry, discoloured. Ouch!
A few of you posted that Canesten Cream had helped to heal these symptoms, but I can't find the Post and can't remember the frequency or method of application?
Sorry but I can't help re the Canesten cream. I just wanted to let you know about a really good ointment that can be used for eczema, dry itchy skin, psoriasis, dermatitis etc etc. It's call Skin Salvation by purepotions. 100% natural ingredients. You can get it on line. I've recommended it to lots of people who have all benefitted.
I think you are beyond canestan. I used a cream called emovate. It was the only thing that even touched my contact dermatitis etc. Small tube used sparingly.
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Cheers!
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Please keep them out of water as much as possible too. I got a bit OCD when first on a dmard and washed my hands raw and chapped. Keep an eye out for infection if you get some nice cracks.
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Ohhhh, I have some NICE, big, ol, ugly, cracks already! Thanks, I will!!!!
You really are suffering for having grandchildren around. Hope these creams help. I use Neutogena which is good but may not be strong enough!
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Thanks... I have tried it and E45, and Eucerin, and something that sounds like Dermatol? Nothing has really worked although a few have stopped the cracking for a bit.... but it always comes back! With a vengeance!
I found something called Impruv works, but I also used food grade hemp oil and I believe this is what turned things around for me. I still use both of these products but a lengthy spell of dry itchy cracked hands is long over.
Originally I was using a cortisone ointment prescribed by the doctor but discovered very quickly that when you stopped using it the condition flared up worse than ever and had spread (a dress rehearsal for the PMR to follow about ten years later?) So I switched to otc cortisone ointment as being less strong, and started trying other things. Nothing really worked until the hemp oil which I was given by an aromatherapist. She'd been given a bottle as a sample in case she wanted to try it as a carrier oil. It wasn't suitable (too much character, I think) so she gave me the bottle. And about the same time I discovered Impruv. A naturopath suggested the shea butter in it is the active ingredient, so you might consider getting a little pure shea butter from your pharmacist.
I went out to OZ to be the best Nursery Nurse ever for the birth of my eldest grandson, I could hardly walk with sciatica at the end and I didnβt have GCA or PMR - silly old fool. The joy though.
I canβt really advise on creams, I use E45 cream and occasional 0.1 cortisone cream to keep Psoriasis at bay. Maybe you should see the doctor because of the compromised immune system? If you insist on being the best grandmother on earth maybe a pack of those thin surgical gloves would be an idea. Poor you, I should be more sympathetic but I am sooo jealous.
Hahahaha! No, both Arielle and Rich were here! ... but I'm a "control freak" by nature, and they are exhausted, new parents, so it was Max and me a lot of the time... It wasn't too bad and my hands were in bad shape already, so this visit just pushed them over the edge.
I have two packages of the thin surgical gloves under the kitchen sink... do you think I remembered????
I use a cortisone treatment. You can buy hydrocortisone 1 per cent over the counter to get it under control then a good unperformed hand creme. Body shop do a hemp one. Whatever you use do a good dollop at night after washing hands. Buy some cotton gloves and wear in bed. As you're not having to use them asleep it helps with healing.
The cotton gloves are a godsend, they help moisturise to the full, and wear marigolds or similar for kitchen/bathroom chores, think you should see a doctor though..or speak to the pharmacist as there's so much stuff out there - it's what suits you...I was prescribed Epaderm
it's a bit thick but good for severe cases and don't forget the gloves particularly at night.
Also which Canesten have you tried, it's the blue one and should only be used short term and not on cracked skin. The red box is more for thrush think you'll need more than otc assistance now it's taking a hold...atb.
I can only give you guidance from my lifetime of skin problems, take the bits that might help you from this potted version.
I have both creams, in fact every cream for every eventuality, but seriously from what you say I wouldn't use the red on your hands as they are, you need something fast acting as already mentioned.
The blue is very good for short term use if it works but for persistent problems you need to see your GP. The gloves and the thicker emolients eg Epaderm will soften the skin quicker = relief. Not sure if GP would prescribe at as Dermy gave me mine, they called it the rolls royce of skin treatments. Unfortunately GPs are no longer prescribing emolients, money saving, but you still need to see someone. In the meantime, if I were you, I would have another chat with pharmacy while waiting.
Lighter creams didn't work on me as they don't penetrate your skin the same. Thick skinned I am according to hubby!! Epimax cream is a light one for dry skin conditions such as eczema/psoriasis - Diprobase cream emolient is a light one but for red and inflamed/damaged skin including dryness and chapped hands - again didn't work on me. What works for one doesn't work for another, hope you get some relief soon, but same as our AI it will not be bullied so cut down on those chores if you can...a day with the right cream and those cotton gloves on WILL makes such a difference - the soreness is like being burnt isn't it?
If you haven't opened the Canesten they might exchange it.
I will be asking for a referral to my Dermatologist, as I have a suspicious looking growth on my face, I want checked out, so will show fingertips to him at same time. I have had pre-cancerous things removed before, numerous times, so GP shouldn't reject request....
The soreness is like NOTHING I have ever experienced... and I have had skin issues all my life! I told my husband today I would not with my finger tips on my WORST enemy!!!!
What have you got on your fingertips, is it very sore and red, is it on the palms of your hands too with no broken skin and very intense pain where the redness is that makes you feel like cutting these areas open to release that pain?
The extreme dryness, discolouration and cracks are just on my fingertips and mostly around my nails. Where the cracks open up, it gets swollen and red and if you bang that area, OUCH it kills!!!! Like a wicked nerve pain...
My palms are always red (so were my Mom's) and I know that's Palmar erythema, but it does not hurt, or itch, or anything! It's just there.
Not what I thought - I have Pompholyx eczema and that is painful, was admitted to hospital with it - it only affects the hands and the feet - mine was just hands, that was enough, they appear like very hard blisters along your fingers, mine were mainly on the palms of my hands I used to put them in the freezer to cool or would have cut them off. They were similar to chilblains only worse, stress caused mine. Sounds silly but the Epaderm was prescribed as it goes deep into the skin and miraculously helped the pain, no other treatment was given and it went eventually, get it occasionally now if I'm stressed. I flared with whole body psoriasis afterwards. Strangely I was diagnosed with the AI illness shortly afterwards then the cancer followed - think the body was trying to tell me something.
Hope you get the correct treatment very soon, trouble with dermy it's such a long NHS waiting list.
Sounds awful! π« I can't complain about my cracked fingertips, really!!!! You've had it all, huh? I do think your body was trying to tell you something, YES!
Yeah, I won't wait for NHS Dermatologist, if wait time is crazy.... this thing on my face is weird and I want it checked sooner rather than later.
They're good thanks and why can't you complain you're hurting aren't you? What you've got is painful and it's not as if you can't use them for a day or so to let them ease, do use gloves though to help while you get to see someone. You should get in with the iffy thing on your face, hope it's alright, but the appointment might not include the hands as it will be a cancer clinic won't it? - you know what to do then - just cry...
Yeah, I know... but I feel bad complaining about "cracks" when I hear stories like yours! I am being very kind to them since the kids left and the white glove and rubber glove treatment starts today!
For the "iffy" thing on my face, if the NHS wait is too long, I'll see my guy (at Hove Skin Clinic) privately and make him look at EVERYTHING! : ) It will cost me, but I'll make sure I leave there having a the full MOT!
My daughter uses Child's Farm moisturiser. It's organic and as a bonus it has helped her psoriasis much more than even prescription stuff has. Worth a try maybe π€
Pop into the Chemist & ask to see the Pharmacist, theyβll recommend something to help heal your hands & buy a thick emollient as overnight cream & wear cotton gloves.
Next time, prevention rather than cure l think & hand cream after every hand wash.
Hope the hands feel better soon.
Angela xx
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Thanks!!! ... and YES, prevention rather than cure!
Unless Max had nappy rash that was being caused by thrush you shouldn't need canesten - it is an antifungal cream and for use when there is fungal involvement causing the damage. Your sounds more like too much hand washing and not enough hand care.
I'm just confused, because last time I asked about my sore, cracked, fingertips (4-5 weeks ago) several people here mentioned using Canesten... so I bought it. I guess I'll try one of the other suggestions and the white gloves...
If your hands are very dry you may need to use a product containing urea - ask the pharmacist, The urea really does an amazing job on hard and cracked skin.
Epiderm ointment and cotton gloves at night and apply as often as you can during the day and surgical gloves in kitchen etc have helped my fingers heal. My finger prints crack and of course itβs winter here in NZ now and they crack the same every winter.
I just don't specially "disinfect" anything when babies are around. Never have. It's been proven to increase incidence of allergies, excema and asthma in the children. Properly cleaned and thoroughly dried with clean cloths which are frequently hot washed (min 60 deg.) and dried is all that is necessary. For sore hands such as you describe, I would massage in neat esential oil of lavender topped with organic coconut oil and cotton gloves. You will notice a difference very quickly. Lavender is brilliant for burns aswell
This may sound too simple to try. After years of repeated sore fingers (no prints left). I started working using machinery, stains and varnishes. All day everyday not a hobby. An old woodcarver I met told me to rub a bit of vegetable oil in to remove varnish etc and then wash as usual. I could not believe it. Within days they were fine. ,!!! His theory was too much cream left on makes the skin too soft. I only do it after messy jobs now and wear gloves for prolonged work in water. I don't use heavy cleaning products,. Or do much cleaning for that matter. ππππ jen
Hmmmm? My ex-husband was (is) a woodworker... in fact I used to work in the shop when I was like 20, as the shop Admin; but I also babbled in restoration and refinishing of old rustic/antique furniture that came in... He never told me that trick!!!! That's why he's my ex! Makes sense that too much cream/moisture makes them too soft! Hmmmm. Thanks!
I had this issue a few yrs. & nothing worked as far as completely clearing it up EXCEPT Aquaphor. It completely healed the condition & itβs never returned.... Try it.... google.com/search?q=aquapho...
An ounce of prevention...get those surgical gloves out from underneath the counter and leave a pair next to every place in your house where you're going to get your hands in water. Think of it as OCD for hands - need those gloves where they're going to do some good!
PS: if you're latex sensitive, make sure the gloves do not contain latex.
I found the best thing was any hand cream with aragon oil was great . Applied at night with cotton gloves over. Your hubby will love it. Ha ha.x keep enjoying your family πx
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