Dry, cracked hands

[Ellen Forradalom]

Yep, it's that time of year again. I treat them by slathering Bag Balm on my hands before bed and going to bed with gloves on. I look like Mickey Mouse, but it works. What do you do?

[Ilsa]

1. Lansinoh and sometimes gloves.

It is pure lanolin, no skin reaction, just moist "wound" healing.

[MuseRider]

2. While Bag Balm works

I can't stand the smell of it! I work my farm outside much of every day and my hands get really beaten up and dry but I have found that Aveda hand relief has saved me. It is expensive but only takes a small amount so it lasts me a long time.

[greendog]

3. Neutrogena Hand Cream

I used to run a printing press and between the solvents and the constant hand washing my hands were always cracked and bleeding through the winter....this stuff worked without making my hands too greasy.

[Interrobang]

4. I use Burt's Bees brand Hand Salve

It doesn't moisturize your hands, per se, but it keeps them from getting dry, chapped, and cracked in the first place. It smells a little bit like equine fly spray, though (sort of a lavender/tea tree kind of smell), which doesn't bother me, but some people hate it. I first started using it to keep the institutional soap at my ex-work from killing my hands, and then found out it works just as well in cold weather, of which there is usually a lot, hereabouts.

Just a note: One should avoid lanolin if one has a wool allergy...

[arwalden]

5. I Use "Clark & Stanleys"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=617952&mesg_id=617952

[MissMillie]

6. Don't forget to wear mittens

or gloves when you go outside. That will help a lot.

Oh, and get someone else to do the dishes.

[pansypoo53219]

8. then i am screwed as I do the dishes

i use Udderly smooth(moo juice) during the day and when i feel decadent, i use this shea butter. may have to check out that burt stuff.
of course i sand the soles of my feet with a palm sander. i barefoot a lot and they suffer as well. those fat emery boards work nice to.

[XNASA]

7. We crank up the humidifier to MAX.

We average putting about 15 gallons of water into the air everyday in our house when the thermometer dips below freezing. Our humidifier holds two containers of 8 gallons each, and we use those up daily pretty much.

And of course, we have a large container of lanolin based hand cream that we share. Currently I'm using cherry flavored chapstick to augment.

I have more problems with my nasal passages and throat getting dried out while I'm sleeping than I do my skin. I use "Ocean" before I go to bed.

It's really important to cover exposed areas with lotion before going outside. Yesterday it was -3 when I made my 7/8 mile walk from the train station to work.

To be honest, the cold doesn't bother me that much. I'm a polar bear.