I wear gloves whenever I work with my hands - mucking horse stalls,
gardening, working around the yard, etc. But not when working with
jewelry, for the safety reasons mentioned by others, as well as for
the dexterity andfeel required for fine finishes. One thing I do use
regularly is pure lanolin thinned with mineral oil. Smooth this on
rough and cracked areas of hands (and feet!) before bed, then cover
with simple cotton gloves. Asmall quantity goes a long way. This is
an almost nightly ritual duringwinter months, and really helps heal
those painful cracked areas with justa few applications. Pure lanolin
can be ordered in bulk from most pharmacies or health food stores.
I was given a sample of a cream called “Beautiful Skin” it has Tamanu
Oil, Coconut Oil, Apricot Oil, Cocoa Butter Beeswax, Vanilla
planiflora and Sandalwood.
I will post how the “Beautiful Skin” goes here’s hoping it is good
up till now using Bodyshop hemp hand creme and sorbelene at different
times. Wonder if this is better.
Howdy Rob, I also have extreme neuropathy in my hands and feet, and
the blood thinners I have to take adds to the problem, as any holes
leak more than average. Its a hassel, but with lapidary in
particular, I have found that applying nails (that mostly women use)
to the thumb and forefinger especially, allow you to get quite close
to your grinding wheels. They can also be used if you have a series
of projects that need extensive buffing with tripoli or other
cutting compounds.
That stuff sounds good. Is it for dry skin, like in winter up here
in the north?
The best thing I’ve found for dry skin (I have severe psoriasis) is
Zim’s Crack Creme (the liquid not the ointment). http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep815h
That sounds good. Is it for dry skin, like in winter up here in
the north?
Shannon, if you’re referring to the lanolin/mineral oil mix, then
yes, you can use it for dry skin up north. The downside is that it’s
a little messy, which is why it’s applied at night, under gloves
(and socks, for the feet). Pure lanolin is THICK, so the trick is to
thin it out for application, without losing effectiveness.
Shea butter is really good. I have a female friend who uses it
everyday, sheis 58, has the softest skin I have ever felt, like
velvet. I bought 5 lbs, raw organic (?) and I am giving it to my
customers in cosmetic jars. I think the are 2 or 4 oz. jars.
We use it on saddle sores, rubs, and small wounds on our horses all
the time. And it makes a pretty strong hand moisturizer/protectant.
It is pretty thick and goopy, but it’ll help chapped hands.
My hands have reached terminal stage where Bag Balm and shea butter
is not working. I just ordered some lanolin to try. My hands are
like dried out leather, despite putting rich hand cream on them
nightly. Of course, it didn’t help that I refinished 14 vintage
silversmithing hammers today. One of you on this forum uses lanolin
mixed with some mineral oil. What’s the ratio you use? Thanks Joy
My hands have reached terminal stage where Bag Balm and shea butter
is not working
The trick is get a pair (or 3 pairs) of cotton gloves and a helper.
Just before bed, apply a thick coat of bag Balm or lanolin or Shea
Butter (or the product you happen to have handy, you just want it
nice an thick) … on your hands. Then with help slip the gloves on
over the thick layer.
You can still read and it will keep your sheets from getting full of
the grease. In the morning take the gloves off toss them in the wash
and wash your hands. Repeat for a few days and you will be amazed at
the improvement.
But because of Madison Avenue wanting to sell fancy colored and
scented products, folks have forgotten their Greek roots.
Anyway, as I suffer from psoriasis, I’ve searched for and found the
best way to wet my skin and keep it wet.
Soak the skin in warm water a long time (like in a bath), until your
fingers and toes wrinkle. That wrinkling is caused by water in the
skin.
Then smear petrolatum (petroleum jelly) on the area you want to stay
wet.
If you just use Vaseline or hand cream without first wetting your
skin with water, you’ll do quite the opposite of what you’re trying
to accomplish.
"Water, absorbed through bathing, will hydrate skin but will
rapidly be lost to evaporation unless a topical occlusive agent
is applied to prevent moisture loss through the skin. The
frequency of bathing (at least 5 times or more weekly) is more
important than the mode of bathing (tub vs. shower) in
effectively treating dry skin. In addition to the elements
critical to prevention of dry skin through bathing practices,
environmental humidity and fluid intake must be therapeutic."
The key to healing up cracked leathery hands is pretty easy. Put on
the Bag Balm or other oily lotion at bed time. Then put on a pair of
plastic gloves they are cheap and disposable. The gloves keep the
lotion on your hands so it doesn’t rub off on the bed clothes and
also creates an environment where your hands will sweat. Do this for
a few days and you will see a real improvement in your hands. The
gloves are the key!