Hi Julie! I lived in NM for years! I have the same problem and have had since I was a kid. At times, it seems to clear up on it's own, but only for a short time. I don't touch water unless I am bathing or washing my hands. All other times, I wear gloves. I have been visiting a dermatologist for years for other issues and she suggested an allergy test for chemicals. Come to find out the only one that I am allergic to is a specific formaldehyde....lo and behold, it is the formaldehyde that is on fabric when it gets shipped. I now wash all my fabric twice in hot water, and dry before I use it at all.
I do still suffer from dry cracked hands (the whole bandaid thing and all) but not as often and mainly when I am handling fabric that hasn't been washed yet....like in the LQS or when I am getting it ready to launder.
Good luck!
Where in NM are you at?
Originally Posted by Julie in NM
from sewing. Llive in a desert..NM...and wonder if you gals have any ideas what I should use to moisturize. Udder balm isn't working like it used to. Right now I'm sitting here with band aids on 6 fingertips cuz they crack and bleed. Oh so sore. I even have med exam (no latex) gloves that I use...slather up hands and put the gloves on for overnight. Only feels good for a couple hours when I take the gloves off in am. Guess I just have to quit sewing for a couple days to for them to heal.
Alergic to perfumes in most hand lotions/creams. I do know that creams have more emolionts that lotions. Can't wait for suggestions.