<p>I assume it goes without saying that you should use humidifiers if your house is dry. I have them spread throughout the house. I also started wearing gloves when outdoors or in ice rinks.</p>
<p>The combination of humidifiers, glove use, and especially CeraVe has my hands feeling better than they have in years.</p>
<p>Just note that petroleum jelly, lanolin (Crisco, bag balm) are not moisturizers. They protect the skin from losing moisture but do not provide it. Aquaphor actually draws moisture from the skin, as do glycerin products.</p>
<p>It could possibly be fungal infection. Don’t dismiss that possibility even though the topical creams have been tried. Creams may not work–it may require an oral antifungal agent like oral Nizoral. Yeah, the cream should work according to theory–but often it doesn’t. It often needs to be taken orally to work.</p>
<p>Another scenario already mentioned is a yeast infection. If easier things don’t seem to be working–cut out yeast from the diet–totally–and see if it doesn’t help. Allergy pills won’t help for this–you just have to cut out yeast products (which seem to be ubiquitous). Seen some great results.</p>
<p>Emaheevul - I know you haven’t had babies yet/nursed them, but I have. I also used to be a LaLecheLeague leader, a support group for breastfeeding moms. Back in the day, when I was active with the organization, I learned of a product called Lansinoh.</p>
<p>It was initially discovered to help nursing mothers with sore, cracked nipples (which can be ENORMOUSLY painful), but over time, people began using it for other dry/cracked skin issues. It is my go-to for lips during the winter time, and when I get the dry, cracked areas on my skin (hands or feet), it’s also the best thing out there I’ve ever used. They market it as the world’s purest lanolin. </p>
<p>Most people don’t know about it unless they’ve been breastfeeding babies! (or been close to someone who has been)</p>
<p>You mentioned soaps. That’s one of the first things to change. Wash your hands and face with only water or Dove soap. All others can completely dry your hands. This was recommended by my dermo. </p>
<p>Also he might want to limit showers, to maybe every-other-day or at least keep those showers short and not so hot. </p>
<p>And use lotions throughout the day, not just at bedtime.</p>
<p>Question to those who suggested cotton gloves: why cotton? Wouldn’t the moisturizer leak through? And how do you wear a “bag”? Is that another way to say socks? Trying to picture that and was thinking I misread that.</p>
<p>I also advise the bag balm. Make sure he doesn’t use any hand sanitizers, these have various amounts of alcohol in them. Cetaphil is good to use instead of soap. I would also suggest another trip to the dermatologist to rule out fungal, yeast and psoraisis. A humidifier and increasing fluid intake were also good suggestions.</p>
<p>These products are really good for dry skin. My mother has dry/cracking palms and soles due to chemo and the body butter works for her.
[Goat</a> Milk Soap | Windrift Hill Goat Milk Soap | Handmade Goat Milk Lotion, Body Butters](<a href=“http://www.windrifthill.com/]Goat”>http://www.windrifthill.com/)
The soaps are nice too.</p>
<p>Well, I just went to Walgreens and bought 2 tins of bag balm. My spouse read the tin and now thinks I am absolutely nuts. However if it helps the sons hands stop bleeding and it helps his friends really bad psoriasis it will be a great gift to them both.</p>
<p>I love bag balm so much I bought an industrial sized tub of the stuff. My husband thought I was completely nuts. He hated the smell - it’s not terribly strong but what you do smell is peculiar at first. Now? He keeps a tin of it by his bed at all time. Feet and hands and any place else - heals overnight most times. People ask me why my skin is so good and my hands look young. I tell 'em bag balm. They look at me like I’m nuts. Hey the stuff works. </p>
<p>Wandering around Amazon following links from the HPA Lanolin I found this stuff. Anyone ever tried it? Love the name!!! Mother Love is the brand =). Looks like it helps heal fungus - thrush - might be worth a try! </p>
<p>We had a cat, who has since crossed the rainbow bridge, who would go nuts over the bag balm. If I put it on my feet and walked around with socks on, he would jump on my feet and wrap his paws around them. He would purr and try to lick the socks, it was like cat nip for him!</p>
<p>He tried the bag balm last night since that is what he got to first, and it might have helped but it will take a few more days I think to tell if he is really improving… he was less uncomfortable today but his hands are still scaly and dry, I assume anything will take a few days to really show a result. We are looking into getting him a different soap and maybe a moisturizer he can put on throughout the day, he was reading last night and was intrigued by the CeraVe stuff. He does wash his hands a LOT, but no hot showers and I am guessing he washes his hands in cold water, too. You have to let our faucet run for a few minutes to get warm water. </p>
<p>I just just realized today he hasn’t been wearing his gloves outside anymore, because he doesn’t want to bleed on them. Poor guy. That probably isn’t helping.</p>
<p>Ema, I have really dry hands too, and because of the nature of my work, I am constantly washing my hands. I discovered that, for me, it made a big difference to moisturize more than just at night. So I keep a travel sized tube of moisturizer in the center console of my car, and in my purse, and in my desk–and I use it whenever I think of it.</p>
<p>When I was visiting my grandson recently, I used some of his Balmex–it worked like a charm. I sure didn’t want to have rough hands when changing his diaper or bathing him.</p>
<p>Vanicream may also help. It is similar to Crisco and my D has used it since toddler-hood because her skin dries/cracks/bleeds in various areas of her body each winter. We/She uses the cream that comes in the jar with a pump or just a regular jar. She does NOT use the cream that has a more liquid consistency in smaller tubes/vessels. Vani has ‘nothing’ in it to irritate skin, and her/my dry skin just soak it up. When my thumbs crack/bleed in the winter, I put on the Vanicream and cover it with a band aid/keep doing it until it until the skin heals. It can take time. I haven’t heard of ‘bag balm’ so will definitely have to check it out. Vanicream is sold OTC in lots of stores. Good luck with the cure. I hope the hands heal soon.</p>
<p>I think it’s good you are going for a second opinion on the hands, too, if he cannot even bend his fingers. That sounds serious!</p>
That probably isn’t helping.</p>