Split skin on fingers?

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Hi... Some of you folks live in cold areas of the country

I realize there many variables in action here.  Since we moved to this house. The colder weather or natural gas heat or the hard water here or  something has caused me grief with my right hand only.  As in the photo: split skin at the tips of fingers.  Very painful when hit or touched .

My wife has dry skin for ever , so she uses various lotions daily for decades.  She has split skin too. She is tougher than me.. She will use super glue to close up the cuts. 

I use Gold Bond brand Super Hydrating  lotion or O'Keeffe's Working Hands cream on my fingers .. Applied 6 to 8 times a day in an attempt to keep ahead of the cracking.

Over the decades of auto repair and related chemicals , I never had this problem as vicious as I have now. Only happens  on the right hand.  Not sure what I may be doing or not doing?

 

[kb426]

I suffer the same way. Super glue is my friend in the winter. The only way I don't have splits is to not use my hands in the shop. That means it's a no win deal.

[58 Yeoman]

I don't know what causes it either, but I do get that occasionally.  There is a product called NEw Skin in a small bottle that I've used instead of super glue.  Have you asked your doc about it?

[chimp koose]

you havn't been mig welding without a glove have you ?

[idrivejunk]

I mig weld without gloves. 

Super glue? 

If it is open, bandaid.

Lotion is to go on wet skin, not dry. Fancy lotion is not required. Rubbing is. Applying to top of hands is. Most men will not massage webbing and knuckles and around nails. Places that wrinkle and crack have not been rubbed enough.

Never touch solvent, use proper gloves.

Twice in life I have hamburgered all knuckles simultaneously. But my hands are not all gnarly. Same principle as gums applies. If not rubbed, buildup occurs and soft skin bunches up around it.

Lotion is not just a wipe on affair, work is required.

Straight out of shower, blot dry and do not rub with towel. Two pumps on hands, rub in. Most folks stop there.

Two more pumps, do back of hands, top of forearms and concentrate all around wrists and elbows. Extra rubbing in on webbing and around nails including under.

2-4 more pumps quickly, apply to hair. Work in down to scalp, going out past hairline. Comb lotion in with fine comb. Tames grey, looks good and allows styling. Neck gets overlooked but is very important, all around.

Keep going while damp and get all the other areas. Feet feet feet, rub a lot lot lot. Scrub with washcloth and soap every time. Use the washcloth on back of hands too. What causes splits is dry buildup. Adequate moisturization in winter is proven by hands that won't get shaggy dry after a handwash or two.

Not needing lip balm is a matter of yes moisture but mainly frequent gums and lips massage. Eyebrows, noses, ears need special rubbing attention too. Frequently.

Not a manly topic but a tried and true approach that I have had ongoing success with. Lotion is not a wipe on and forget thing. It softens crust to a point that the next washcloth scrubbing can remove it. Crust is what cracks. Results are not immediste but diligence will inspire more proper care in future.

It is possible to become less scary looking. Crusty knobby knuckles that are never massaged become like tourniquets and can hinder circulation. And after you rub lotion in... do it again in a few minutes. As many times as you can stand.

Super glue, yeah I guess but you are approaching the problem from the wrong direction.

[idrivejunk]

Don't knock the putting lotion on hair tip until you try it.

[chimp koose]

If you are outside in the cold always wear gloves or mitts . That helps a lot to keep from splitting skin .

[Crosley.In.AZ]

My fingers are healed at the moment.. LOL

I just put first coat on the hands at 5am here.  The O'Keefffe's stuff leaves a bit of residue. The Gold Bond container was empty.  Weird how the left hand never cracks.

Watching early morning Highway Patrol TV show.  I kinda slept in today.