Cracking, splitting, bleeding fingers

[Naturegirl8]

The splitting bleeding thumbs and fingers has got a lot worse and is preventing me from doing everyday things like food prep and art without pain. I use silicone finger cots for short periods of time to get things done, and wear quilters gloves at night with Cera V or similar. Does anyone know what medication specifically helps with this that I could ask my GP for? I was prescribed Pilocarpine in 2017 by Rheumatologist but stopped taking it due to side effects. My GP will re-prescribe this but will it actually help my hands, or is something else more useful? Looks like zero chance of referral to rheumatologist or dermatologist on NHS. I am 70 and get frequent chalazions too, so any medication to help with this also would be fantastic please. Thanks and blessings x

[butterflyEi]

You may find a warm daily or twice daily eye mask will help to keep the glands in the eyes more free. Massage gently around the eye regularly. A warm mask can be a warmed flannel or a purpose bought eye mask which is heated in a microwave.

There is a good article on "Patient" which you may find helpful. patient.info/eye-care/swoll...

The optician recently recommended Ocusoft which I find quite good. It is a foam like substance which helps to keep the eyelids clear although my first chalazion was in the fold under the eyelid.

Have you tried using petroleum jelly on your hands at night, obviously wear cotton gloves to lock in the moisture? My grandmother was a great believer in Vaseline and this is something that I use now I am in my 70s. I also use a Vaseline soak when my lips are bad. (By soak I mean I put on a thick layer during the day and top it up after every meal or drink.)

You may also find that a talk to your pharmacist will give you better guidance on any new products.

I hope some of the above is helpful.

[Naturegirl8 in reply to butterflyEi]

Thanks so much, I just invested in a Peep Club Eye Wand because i was using almost boiling water compresses and made my eyes really bloodshot. I already use Ocusoft and lots of different eye wipes and drops and gels. I have used the heated masks also but was getting rosacea on my forehead and nose from it resting on there. I tried stitching it to rest on just my eyes but then its very hard and painful.I am specifically wondering about any medications that we Sjogrens folk can get prescribed which help with the skin issues, so i can ask my GP. Hydroxychloroquin for example, if anyone knows if that provides any relief at all. Blessings.

[dg70]

Me too. Especially in winter. I moved home recently and just sellotape on boxes and all the cleaning there was made my skin and nails split and crack everywhere. I have looked for the holy grail of hand creams and at times I have applied creams every hour or so in the day, worn gloves etc. The best thing I have found has been massage wax. My beauty therapist used it on my hands once and they felt so good afterwards. I bought a pot and I apply every few hours and when bad I put on at night with cotton gloves over the top. It's working pretty well but when your hands are bad its a case of doing nothing, no washing up or cleaning or anything which would cause trauma to your skin on your hands. I found after a few days of hand rest they start to get better. Anyway this wax is wonderful for your feet too. Some therapists have a hot wax bath which you can dip your hands or feet in and it coats them and softens them, they wrap you up in soft gloves and you leave on for 20 mins. You can buy a hot wax hand bath for home too and I used to have one. I may invest again.

I got the massage wax from amazon and its a big pot so it lasts ages. Songbird Naturals Vegan Orange Spice Massage Wax 550g It's £29 but will last a few months

[Naturegirl8 in reply to dg70]

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I was a podiatrist for 30+years and remember the hot wax baths very well, haven't seen one for decades, so glad they still exist! Yes, completely resting our hands for a couple of days is very challenging especially when living alone as I do. I really dislike having greasy hands and leaving traces of it on everything I touch, and trying to get things done wearing any sort of gloves is a nuisance. I have found Machingers quilting/sewing gloves that come in XS which is perfect for my small hands QuiltersTouch.com Putting a spiritual spin on it, having uber thin, broken skin certainly makes you mindful of what you do with your hands, and promotes gratitude for the times and things we can manage <3

[dg70 in reply to Naturegirl8]

So true. I will look at those gloves thanks. The massage wax does dissipate fairly quickly. Same as you it can be annoying having greasy hands all the time but its the toss up of cracked and bleeding. This year I have also had pain like needles all over my hands which lasts for hours too. Not a fun feeling. I hope yours recover soon.

[FlowerWoman]

hello, I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering with this. Like others I use Vaseline at night which eases things for me. Just to say, though, I am taking both Pilocarpine and Hydroxychloroquine and I still get the issue, so neither of them are a magic cure I’m afraid. Thank you for the gloves suggestion and also dg70 for the massage wax idea. I’ll give them a go. Best wishes all.

[Naturegirl8 in reply to FlowerWoman]

Many thanks for sharing your experience. I think I'm a bit prejudiced against Vaseline as it is a petroleum byproduct, and I always seek natural plant based products. It is super cheap though, and probably doesn't get absorbed but has a mechanical action of sitting on the skin and nails and suppressing the drying out that happens to fast in our disturbed skin.

[FlowerWoman in reply to Naturegirl8]

I agree, I don’t like using it but it doesn’t take much, I’ve had the same tub for ages. I decided on balance it was worth it.

[Naturegirl8 in reply to FlowerWoman]

Thanks again, I was prescribed Pilocarpine 8 years ago when diagnosed but did not continue with it due to side effects, but now my eyes and hands are worse and I have asked GP to re-prescribe it, and put me on the waiting list to see a rheumatologist again as only saw one once. Not holding my breath...

[FlowerWoman in reply to Naturegirl8]

I’m afraid my initial experience with rheumatologists was not good, but have now managed to see Dr Elizabeth Price at Swindon (though I live nowhere near, it’s worth the travel). She is an expert on Sjögrens. For eyes she has put me on to Thealoz Duo eye drops (which she recommends keeping in the fridge, but I find this too much), followed immediately by Evo tears preservative free eye drops, used at least 4 times a day. This combination is aimed at replenishing both types of moisture that are in the eye. At night she recommends Xailin gel which I find brilliant. I think you can get all of these over the counter if you wanted to try them whilst waiting for an appointment. You should be reviewed annually to monitor for other, systemic involvement. If you are feeling strong then a look at sjogrensadvocate.com will give you more information on other associated conditions to look out for. I hope you get a good referral.

[Naturegirl8 in reply to FlowerWoman]

AAh yes I have come to the same conclusion about Thealoz Duo, which is much better than the HydraMed or HyloForte I've been put on by opticians, so I use a combination. I use VisMed Gel at night which was prescribed by an opthalmologist. I bought some Xailin gel once but can't remember using it....perhaps its hiding somewhere in my rather extensive cache of supplements and eye wipes! A hobby of mine is buying everything I read or hear about that might possibly help in any way, then leaving them to go out of date before struggling to remember what they're for ~ thanks to fibromyalgia and its associated brain fog. All of my symptoms and conditions includoing hypothyroidism came on following a brain injury in my late 50's from a bicycle accident. I really appreciate you, and everyone's input very much <3

[youngmusic29]

Right before I go to sleep when I m not going to touch anything , I put Vaseline on my hands and rub it into my nails. You can put on gloves but I don’t. It helps with the splitting. Also, there are vitamins just for hair and nails.