Question:
My hands get so severely dry in the winter that they get very deep cracks, bleed and are extremely painful. I’ve tried many different over-the-counter creams, but nothing seems to work. Is there something else that might help?
Answer:
This is a common problem in the winter months. When it is cold outside, people run their heaters and fireplaces more inside to keep warm. While this makes us feel more comfortable, it also dries out the air around us. Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are especially bad about this. People also tend to wash their hands more in the winter months due to the higher incidence of viral illnesses such as colds and the flu. Frequent hand washing, and especially use of antibacterial hand gels, dries out the hands as well.
The approach to treating dry skin in this case is two-fold: prevention of the condition and treatment of the condition. To prevent worsening, you should limit the use of wood burning implements in the home, consider a humidifier in the rooms of your house where you spend the most time, and limit hand washing. When you do wash your hands, use luke-warm water and a moisturizing, gentle soap such as Dove.
To treat this condition, you should apply a heavy moisturizer such as Eucerin cream before bedtime and then wear a pair of white, cotton medical gloves to trap in the moisture overnight. These gloves can be purchased at your local pharmacy. You should also use the cream frequently throughout the day. When your skin cracks and bleeds, you can apply liquid band aid to the areas to help prevent further cracking. This also allows the cracks to heal from the inside out.
If you still are not seeing improvement, you should see your physician to rule out other potential causes of this condition.
Mark Callery, DO
Family Medicine, Skin Care
Utica Park Clinic – Owasso
10512 N. 110th East Ave., Suite 200
Owasso, OK 74055
918.376.8900
