preventing cracks on fingertips

[j.blay]

Thick, heavy hand or foot cream like Bag Balm. Many other great products out there as well. I put this on before bed and then a pair of latex gloves as needed when I feel my hands drying out. I deliberately leave logs to cut up during winter for firewood which make me exercise outside more in the snowy season. When I work outside I put on a lite amount of hand lotion and then the latex gloves. Then I put on a pair of work gloves. I also keep lotion in my car so I can put it on occasionally while I'm out and about. This seems extreme, but since I started doing all these things, my fingers haven't cracked since, and I've had this issue since I started doing hard , outdoor labor and winter sports, over 40 years ago.

[Orfeas]

Hello Karen.

I frequently have the same problem when I climb and camp in high-altitudes for days. Due to ultra-low humidity, the only cream that worked so far is the Blue Goo (https://dothegoo.com/shop/footcare/c...els-and-hands/) You can find it at Walmart (the good one for hands is in the tin can). The trick is to apply the cream before bed and sleep with gloves (fleece or cotton).

[godfreydaniel]

Try Aveeno skin relief hand cream. Works great for me. DON’T use the Eucerin advanced hand cream, for some reason that makes the splits worse.

Use rubber gloves when washing dishes. Always reapply hand cream after washing your hands.

[JimmerO]

I keep an emory board in my pocket at all times. If I get a little bit of peeling of my callus I will file it. I also file the dead skin around my fingers that I don't need for fretting strings. Keeping my dry skin thickness in check and then moisturizing helps me avoid cracking skin. I also have a tube of lip balm for my lips with me all the time. I will use some of that on my fingers when I don't have anything else handy.

[Earl49]

I get bad cracks in the thickened skin on my heels, so I started using Flexitol Heel Balm. I use it every day in the winter, and every other day in the summer. Putting it on with my bare hands seems to help, and don't be in a hurry to wash it off.

My second choice is Eucerin Intensive Repair lotion, which also works well. Both are kept handy when I get out of the shower.

And like Jimmer, I need to sand my finger tip callouses, especially if I'm playing a lot. I use foam sanding blocks, medium-fine grit, for that. Keep one in the car and on the side table next to my TV chair.

[SouthpawJeff]

As a woodworker I’m all too familiar with split skin on finger tips. I’ve tried a bunch of different lotions and haven’t found any that fully prevent it, but working with wood all day in the winter not sure it can be prevented. I’ve started to shy away from lotions this year. I’ve gone to all natural products like olive and coconut oil. No chemicals and way cheaper than the fancy hand creams I’ve been using. In the morning put a little on your hands and rub it in for a couple minutes and wipe off extra with a paper towel before running out the door. In the evening when I have time i use a bit more and don’t wipe off. After several minutes it will absorb completely. So far I’d say they work at least as well as the hand creams and probably a little better.
Of course I still get plenty of splits, for those I use one of the liquid skin products. Usually two or three coats to protect it enough.
Good luck,
Jeff

[jeanray1113]

I often have very dry skin in the winter. Jorgen's extra healing formula is great stuff, as is Neutrogena Norwegian formula. Most important is to use it at bedtime, so that it has several hours to work with no exposure to water. It's also helpful to use it before using gloves for any task.

[00Buck]

I rub chapstick or a similar lip balm on the cracks around my thunbnails and Eucerin Advanced Repair. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a silver bullet for this problem. It's just something I manage until Spring.

[salsarev]

New Skin liquid bandage works on the small cracks. It takes a couple of coats to seal and protect the spot. I've just started using it this year and am pleased with the results. Before discovering New Skin, I would put a little Neosporin on the crack then dab super glue over it to seal it. That works, but the New Skin is as effective and you don't have to worry about gluing your fingers together!

[bluetweed]

About 10 years ago I went thru horrible times with cracks and bleeding. Its better now but when I have trouble the best was and is this;

http://www.guitarhands.com/

until they get better this will help as well

http://www.rock-tips.com/

[guitar george]

The cracks are caused by lack of moisture. You have to keep the cracked area moist so that the skin is supple and won't crack. When the skin is dry and hard it can pull apart and cracks can form.

This solution sounds overly simple but it gets rid of cracks in a few days and stops the hurt almost immediately:
Cover the crack with a "Band-Aid Plastic" bandaid
Lift up the fabric area and run water onto the fabric and cracked area
Do this whenever you wash your hands to keep the fabric wet
The plastic keeps the moisture in and slows the evaporation
After a few days, take the bandaid off.
Your skin will look like a white prune for a short while and your crack will be gone

[KarenB]

So many great ideas! I will look into them all. . I'm intrigued by the "guitar hands" products. I don't see a list of ingredients so I emailed the company and hopefully will receive a reply. I've always wondered about cotton gloves. Do you have to wash the gloves each time after wearing them? Thanks for all your "handy" ideas.
Karen

[joeyb]

I get this too. Have mild eczema and dry skin on hands at times. Really impacts my fretting hand as I try to keep the nails on that hand real short to effectively meet the strings. Get cracks under the nail. Tough to use lotion close to when you play I find, as excessive oils get all over the guitar.

Try cotton gloves at night while you sleep after applying a good moisturizer. Helps skin recover more quickly.

[vastier]

All the advice above is good. But to add to it, I have the same symptoms and I live on the Canadian west coast where it just gets more humid in the winter. Had a doc tell me long ago that I had eczema in my hands. I now use Aveeno -- the one in the tube with the pale blue cap that says it is for eczema. See if it works for you. I'm sure there are other "over the counter" lotions that are similar.

Rick

[jaybones]

In addition to O’Keefe’s I like Burt’s Bees for hands. Pretty hard almost like wax (natch), but you rub across the surface and it sort of melts. Rub around on your hands and you’re good to go.