cracked hands

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:35 am

Can anyone help?
My hands are like an old potato pickers !! Not ideal for the little black cocktail dress - ok for the day job I suppose.
I have used so many different creams and the old scrubbing brush in the shower to remove and clean the cracks on my hands. Do you have a remedy, so far the best way is to do a big pile of washing up just before you go out and then use Neutrogena, not always practical however.
Many thanks. ???

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:41 am

Mix equal parts whole milk, methylated spirit and glycerine, use as a hand lotion after drying every time you wash them, the skin will soon improve. May not smell too fashionable though, but it really works. I suppose something more fragrant could be added.

Duncan

forestblaze · Post by **forestblaze** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:49 am

Udder cream has always been a favorite in our household, Sue

forestblaze · Post by **forestblaze** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:30 pm

P.S. I have just read that you have sheep ,your next venture should be spinning, theres nothing quite like lanolin for softening hands.Good luck .Sue

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:22 pm

The udder cream we used to get in was usually split 50:50 between farming clients and the vets' wives.... (and I'm led to believe that the wives only used it as hand cream).

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:24 pm

I winced when I read about you scrubbing your cracked hands to clean them. What have you been up to to get them into that state? Handling soaked sugar beet ? wet concrete ? or have you got very delicate skin? Or very extreme weather? I expect all the above solutions will help. But gloves might be a good idea. Either those skinny disposable ones, or for general purposes I've found Master Gardener ones quite useful - waterproof on the palm and fingers - OK for picking ice out of troughs but not if you are putting your whole hand in.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:11 am

Don't worry Estelle, you'll soon toughen up. A few harsh winters out feeding and tending your stock and you'll have skin as rough as a rino's, I'm not sure Simon will be too pleased though.
Its good to see you at last in this forum, keep posting and keep happy.
All the best
Martin.

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:10 am

An old friend gave me a very simple recipe for really good hand cream a few years ago and I have rarely used anything else since. Aqueous cream from the chemist (aprox £3 for 500g). Put some in a small pot and add a few drops of lavender oil. Brilliant :D .

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:17 am

Thank you for your replies. In answer to you Sylvia, yes I do have sensitive skin, yes I do wear gloves and yes I do mix sugar beet. We only have limited land and being that I am a total sad case, I poo patrol frequently and yes I do it with my hands, gloved I would like to add!!! The kids love to ride through the pats on their quads and my goodness the mess that makes of their clothes, I was totally shocked the first time that happened. So during the week its me and my bucket and wheelbarrow, surely I'm not the only one to do this am I? As Martin said I am a softee at the moment, I need a winter or two to harden off! I'm looking forward to spinning in the spring Sue, do you have any advice?

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:11 pm

ForrestBlaze, I was going to say the exact same thing. My hands are normally dry and often crack. I use Neutrogena hand cream, but its not as good a spinning greasy Polworth wool. That's healed them up really quickly. I just wash my hands with QV soap (for dermatitis) after spinning and they feel lovely and soft. :D

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:16 pm

:D I am very pleased to say that my hands feel like a baby's skin in comparison with last week. We went into London yesterday afternoon and I didn't need to use the scrubbing brush at all! What a difference the udder cream makes, I chose that but I will have a go at making Duncans mix too.

wagra dexters · Post by **wagra dexters** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:52 am

Happy Holidays,
Hope your hands are still holding out. You might be interested in trying Sorbolene, soaks right in & non-greasy, rubbed in before you start, and gets rid of the sand-paper skin, but if you are handling firewood &/or peastraw or the like, in the middle of winter, you can still get splits and cracks, gloves and all. The best after-the-fact cure I found is to wear unpowdered disposable food-handling gloves to bed. The natural moisture seals up the splits quickest. Feels a bit horrible but it works.

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:42 pm

Thanks for that, I'll try it when my husband is in France as it sounds a bit of a passion killer...

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:26 pm

Once youv'e used Duncans method for a while and would like to smell a little better try this.

Buy a small bottle of Jojoba oil.....pronounced hoe hoeba! Very similar to the skins natural oils.

Put a little on your hands before bed or whenever you have a bit of free time and put a plasic bags over each hand, if you like you can add 3 drops of Lavender, Rose or something to make it smell really nice!

Saffy