i use creamy vasaline.. no smell, absorbs quickly.. i use it on my feet & hands and its cheap!

When I worked in Nursing Home (yrs back) we used Crisco for the patients that had extremely dry skin. You would have to use gloves when sewing. But its animal fat that works. Now I no thats mostly not fat. So there is plain Hog Lard.

Gold bond ultra healing, works real good for me.

You might try Aquafor -- it is a highly refined vasoline --no perfumes or added stuff. My dematologist had me start using it several months ago because of skin problems. Might be worth trying. It seems really greasy at first, but if you keep massaging your hands, pretty soon is soaks in and no longer feels greasy and your skin feel soft. I get Walmart's brand, it is about 1/2 the cost and is the same thing. In our Walmart they sit side by side and are in the cosmetic section.

I used castor oil from the drug store, it heals from the inside and placed on overnight with cotton gloves or socks the cracks heal quicker and are not so tender. Now using Tri-Medic foot cream (I am diabetic)found at grocery store, my heels have not cracked and when getting a pedi the young lady no longer has to use a callus scrub - they are super soft and I am wearing sandals again!

I use vinegar on my dry skin in the winter and when I'm sewing a lot. It helps to balance the ph lost in our bodies. My nephew had severe dry skin and he tried it and now his hands are much better. Soak your hands for 5 minutes and pat dry you'll feel the difference right away. I even put vinegar in my dish water when I have to wash my dishes. If you have cracked skin put pure vitamin E on them too at night time and use cotton gloves it's natural and no smell.....

Julie, I also have severe cracking & bleeding fingers from living in the desert with very low to minus moisture in AZ. I use a Merino Lanolin Skin Cream, It's available online at merinousa.com or at 1-888-663-7466 I bought mine at a local weekly flea market from a distributor. When I have a cracked finger I apply liberal amounts and then place a finger cot on the effected fingers. To my amazement they heal within 2 days. I also use it at night before bed on my hands and feet which take a beating all year round with the low to minus humidity here. It keeps me quilting and I don't have to worry about bleeding on my fabrics with the finger cots, they are available at Walmart in the first aid section. Hope this helps...

This will sound crazy and I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told me. My heels cracked open and about the same time, I got a lot of fissures on my thumbs and index fingers. I decided to try athletes foot cream on the heels and within three days, not only were my heels much better, the fissures on my thumbs and fingers had begun to clear.

My hands are allergic to many lotions, so I can't tell you how surprised and pleased I was when I discovered by accident how to take care of the fissures. The cream also smoothed and strengthened my nails.

Won't cost much to try it and might be just the thing. Just be sure you check the active ingredients to be sure there isn't anything you know you are allergic to. froggyintexas

Haven't read all of the posts but, I find that "Look Ma, New Hands" from Bath & Body Works heals up the cracks in my thumbs in 2 days. But you have 6 pages of suggestions. I am sure that you will find a product that works for you.

I like gloves in a bottle. Not greasy or sticky.You can get it in most quilt shops.

Pardon me dear, that is Aquaphor. It pronounces the same as stewyscrewy spelled it though. :-)

I have the same problem- Try washing your hands after sewing, and putting any good emollient on. You may be sensitive to sizing. That is what tears my hands up. If you wash all of your fabric before you sew, that may also help. Sizing sensitivity is why some of us must wash new clothes before wearing them. It does work real good for matching seams while ironing though. (damed if you do, damed if you don't) :thumbup: (pardon my language please)

When I have those nasty tender cracks on my fingers tips I use Super Glue to basically glue the edges together..I usually trim the hard edges off and wash well and dry then apply the glue..takes the extreme pain out overnight and fasiliates (sp, to lazy to use spell check) healing.
For a really great hand cream I use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. You can buy the fragrance free. It's great and is not greasy. It's the best I've ever used. I buy it at Walmart but you can find anywhere.

I agree..."Zinc Oxide". It heals better and faster than anything I've ever tried. One time I found it in our local drug store with the baby products. Seems it works good
also for diaper rash.

I use a creme called "Genes Vitamin E Cream" It is a Swiss Collagen Compolex Moisturizing Creme, for sensitive skin. It was recommended by my doctor and I find it works extremely well. It's heavy, so I use it at night, not while I'm quilting. It can be found at Sams Club and comes in a yellow jar.

I never have this problem but my husband does every winter.
Finally found something that worked for him. I don't remember name but it is in a short round container (like snuff) and is found in the paint department at Lowes. I guess it is commonly used by painters. The container is green and has plaid on it (I think) and an Irish or Scottish name. Hope this is enough info to find it.

Since you're in the desert, you definitely need moisture added to your environment. A humidifier will help, and the quick, simple, quiet, inexpensive version is a spray bottle of water. (I use distilled or filtered water to avoid leaving mineral deposits.) Just spritz it in the air all around the room, and you'll feel the difference immediately. Repeat often. If you have the room for a small fountain you could have the soothing sound as well as added humidity; again, using distilled or filtered water cuts down on mineral deposits, extending the useful life of the fountain.

I go to the Dollar Store and buy 1 container of Vitamin E, 1 container of vaseline and one container of baby lotion in the pink bottle.

I use the whole container of the Vitamin E and the baby lotion. I add about 1/2-3/4 of the vaseline into a mixer. Mix up good and fluffy and use. We really like this stuff. :)

I remember years ago my dad used to get a piece of suet from the local meat market. He would rub it on his hands to heal the cracks and dry skin.

Would something like this work:
http://michiganloonyloomer.blogspot....nd-lotion.html

good old alho vera , the best you can buy .

Try warm olive oil. It doesn't have to be the most expensive on the shelf! Olive oil doesn't have perfume or any other additive. Just soak your hands in it.

Have you ever tried vasoline then wrap in suran wrap. My feet get really bad and that is what I do

Patty

Have you tried Gold Bond medicated hand cream? It is great for me.

Please let your M.D. know! Very dry skin, like you describe, is associated with hypothyroid disease, among other conditions.

That said, I've had very good luck with skin protection products from The Honey Guy at www.honeyguy.com

I started using his products when he had a booth at the Houston International Quilt Show, years ago. I really like them.

I put any cream on, put my quilting gloves on, quilt away for as long as I want. take the gloves off and my hands feel and look great.

My dad's fingers used to bleed. He tried everything to help relieve the discomfort and heal the sores. What finally worked for him was Preparation H. A little strange but it really healed him fingertips.

Good luck.

I've found plain old olive oil to be very effective. Wash your hands, rub a little oil into your hands, being careful to cover your fingertips and nails, too. Put on some 100% cotton gloves overnight. Or you could use some Vitamin E oil, but it may have some fragrance in it.

if you want to go a different route you could try this get a pair of cotton gloves,then lather your hands with vegetable oil and wear the gloves overnight.It does help but I know I didn't care for having to wear gloves in bed overnight lol

Julie, I have the same problem with the corners of my thumbs cracking with deep crevices. It hurts so much and constantly have bandaids on them. The only thing that I find heals them is the Neosporin. I put it on at night and cover with bandaids. I remove the bandaids in the morning and keep them off until nighttime. I also use rubber gloves when my hands are in water. I like the other suggestions that the girls had and I think I will try some of those lotions.

Julie, I have the same problem with the corners of my thumbs cracking with deep crevices. It hurts so much and constantly have bandaids on them. The only thing that I find heals them is the Neosporin. I put it on at night and cover with bandaids. I remove the bandaids in the morning and keep them off until nighttime. I also use rubber gloves when my hands are in water. I like the other suggestions that the girls had and I think I will try some of those lotions.

Ann, is crazy glue really safe to put on those deep cuts?

Lucy

My doctor told me to use it. Also a friend that was an army medic, said that is what they used in the field to pull wounds to gether till they got patient to hospital. What it was invented for. I have done this too.

i have extremely dry feet and my fiance had very dry hands. his doctor recommended aquaphor - over the counter lotion from walmart, etc. it has worked really well for both of us. i just apply at night and wear socks or he wears gloves and have seen immediate improvement the next day.