Dry Skin Question?

Question

Hey,

I am in away at school, in a different city that is much different colder than where I am from. It is winter here at the moment. The water and the wind seem to really dry out my skin, mainly on my hands. I have tried to put hand cream (not specifically for dry skin, just a soothing hand cream) and it tends to burn when I put it on. Is there anything else I could or should use so that my hands don't have that burning sensation, and my skin gets to be soft and smooth again?

My hands are cracking so much they even bleed sometimes, please HELP!

Answer 1

You can put on Vaseline at night when you go to bed. I have the same problem. Just try to keep them out of water as much as possible. Wear gloves outside too.

Answer 2

The reason that your hands burn or itch when you put lotion on them is that the blood vessels contract when they get cold and dry. The skin basically dies. When you lubricate them again, you stimulate the growth process, which may burn or itch as you slough off the dead skin and grow new.

If you keep up a regimen of lubricating your skin, the burning will stop when your skin gets healthy again. The best thing for your extreme condition would be plain old lard or animal fat (lotions are made from petroleum). If you worked in a restaraunt or someplace where you handled a lot of dead meat, your hands wouldn't be so bad at all.

Anyway, short of squishing hamburger while you watch tv or something, try 'Aquaphor' (Wal-Mart). It's made from petroleum jelly and a bunch of other stuff, but it will soften your skin and insulate it from the drying effects of wind. Also try slathering it on and putting latex gloves on for a while. This will help infuse the lubricant into your skin by making your hands sweat while you have a lot of it on.

Avoid washing your hands too much with soaps that will desicate your skin. Eat lots of chicken with your fingers.

Seriously, animal fat is better for your skin than petroleum products. They are absorbed better and have protein in them, whereas Vaseline-type products are kind of sterile. If not for the inconvenience, Crisco is the absolute best thing that you can do for your hands.

Answer 3

try vasoline at night all over your body. I even put it on my face before going to bed. In the morning, it reapply it on my hands and elbows and knees.