Bag balm best?

[Janet Macunovich 32]

Nursing several splits on my fingers, marking the grocery list to pick up more bag balm and wondering is anyone has any better suggestions for keeping skin from getting so dry during winter. I always garden in gloves but even in gloves these splits hurt, and can get infected. Today we went out to liberate a few more plants we need to use at a February Propagation class and youch , the dirt inside my glove tips got into one split.

[Ester 4]

I'm all for Bag Balm slathered on thick and covered with gloves for sleeping, but there are other issues. Skin abuse is the norm, rather than the exception. Here's my tip list:

 

Cover your skin, as much as possible, whenever you expose yourself to big temperature dips - yes, I mean put the gloves on everytime you leave the indoors, before you open the door to exit.

 

Run a humidifier in your house OR hang all your laundry to dry all over the house (this also saves on the power bill) Then anytime the house feels dry, just dip anything handy and hang it back up, repeat until proper humidity is restored.

 

Reconsider your dishwashing liquid and bathing bars... I'm using Dawn with Oil of Olay for dishwashing at my sister's suggestion and I don't have a single crack in my cuticles. (I'm usually tearing off big snags and bleeding daily at this time of year)

 

I also have figured out that all the hand lotion I buy doesn't do much good if I forget to ever apply it!

[Corky 5]

...is anyone has any better suggestions for keeping skin from getting so dry during winter. .

 

Bag balm is good: Shea butter is even better. While both work, they are expensive, and plain old "garden variety" (pun intended) Vaseline will do just as well. It's consistency and timing that makes the difference.

 

Whatever greasy substance you use, put it on over damp skin. While drying when exposed to air, water really is what makes skin soft and pliable: the secret is keeping it from evaporating and getting it absorbed into the skin. Even hand lotion on damp hands will help. Another great practice is putting gloves on, over the Vaseline, Shea Butter, etc. After bathing, and applying the greasy kid stuff, slide hands into gloves overnight. Even socks over you hands would help.

 

For really bad splits that have been around long enough to get hard edges, I'm afraid the quickest "cure" is a painful one . . . But it works. Take a (clean, please!! Boil it.) fingernail clipper and "freshen" the edges, getting rid of the tough, thickened edges that have formed. They won't heal anyway, and serve to prolong the agony as the wound has to heal from the inside out. The cuts don't have to be painful: what you're trying to remove is dead anyway - it's all about aim and not cutting too deeply. (Although, if you're tough enough, getting into the "quick" gives you the best, and fastest, healing. . . don't panic if they bleed a little.) After you have clean edges, tape the edges in close approximation: a butterfly bandage is good, but paper tape is fine, just put it right over the wound. You will be amazed at how fast these new edges heal, but be patient and don't stress them too soon: continue moisturizing over the tape and pamper that finger.

 

Of course, if you are really in a hurry, you just super glue the darned thing closed and be done with it!

[MG gal 5]

I too frequently have cracks/splits on my fingers, especially in the winter. I have found that AmLactin applied twice a day keeps my finger tips from cracking and bleeding.

[Janet Macunovich 32]

Thank you!

Although not for the painful solution. I'm way too chicken for that.

 

I've done the sleeping in gloves full of moistener. But never thought about the laundry all over the house and re-dip thing!

 

This winter just seems drier than usual. Even our dogs seem to be drinking more water. And the static, phew!

[SusanC 0]

Vitamin E moisturizing cream, (which I've found at Rite Aid and Sav-on Drugs) is excellent. In addition to containing vitamins E, A and D, it also has aloe. It promotes rapid healing from cuts, burns and scrapes. It comes in a 4 oz jar and is reasonably priced.

Susan C

[Margaret Thele 16]

The super glue comment made me laugh out loud Corky! I wonder if that would work on crcked lips. I have a split that won't seem to heal...but I'll try a bit of vitamin e oil on it...

[Corky 5]

The super glue comment made me laugh out loud Corky! I wonder if that would work on crcked lips.

 

Hi, Margaret!

Well, it works on dogs' noses, so why not? Though I can't imagine how much that would hurt!

[Dawn Trainor 3]

Super glue definitely works if you already have the cracked/split fingertips!

[Gail Morrell 1]

I have known people to get terrible infections using super glue, it locks all the bad stuff in. I use a bandage with the old A&D Ointment, after a night or two it seems to heal nicely. I use it on my lips also.

[098 0]

I use Olbas Sport Massage and Skin Care Oil to prevent cracks in my fingers in the winter. It is full of natural ingredients. I put it on before bed - I do not wear gloves to bed with this. If I use this occasionally I do not get any. I also try and avoid all contact with dishsoap in the winter too. This can be found in exceptional health food stores or on the internet for purchase

[georgejean 1]

Yes, all that moisturising will help, but better yet, get to the root cause. The house is too dry. Maybe the problem is that the house is not air tight enough and needs less dry winter air inflitration. That would also save on energy costs. Find the air leaks and plug them. Speaking from experience, this solved most of my dry skin problems.

[Laura 0]

A&D ointment (generic just as good) and a band-aid at bedtime works for me; catch it right away. I rub in A&D during to day also if a spot starts to split.

[carolm 1]

If you have access to latex or nitrile gloves, you can cut off the fingertips and use it as protection on the cracked finger. Works especially well when left on overnight.

[Corky 5]

I also try and avoid all contact with dishsoap in the winter too.

 

:lol:

Why just in the winter? I have this down to a science! DH now does all the dishes (He says I do all the cooking so it's only fair: his idea!)

 

Btw, it goes without saying that, if you were going to superglue a wound closed, you would assure yourself that you had removed all dirt and S/S of infection first and not just glue the edges closed, filth and all!