Super dry hands and palms - any advice?

Hey there,

The title pretty much sums it up. Every winter, my hands get so incredibly dry that the skin actually cracks and bleeds. I’m slathering on lotion every single day, and I've tried just about everything out there—mostly different brands of hand and body creams—but nothing seems to work. It’s like my skin just won't absorb anything. Does anyone know of something that actually helps?

I’m dealing with the exact same thing, and honestly, even just typing this right now makes my skin feel like it's on fire. I’ve tried all sorts of different lotions, but most of them actually seem to make the irritation way worse, which is just great. I guess the only thing that helps even a little bit is just using some basic Nivea, so maybe give that a shot? I really hope someone else out there has a better fix than I do.

I’m currently dealing with some serious skin issues myself. I think I need some heavy-duty ointment or something. 😁 My skin actually split open on my middle finger right where a ring would sit—on the inside. It feels exactly like a burn, just a 5mm cut caused by how insanely dry my hands get. This happens to me every single winter.
Help me out, guys! 😁

I usually slather them in Dr. Scholl’s heel cream at night—the kind that actually works in about a week—and during the day, I just use that little tin of Hansaplast cream from CVS, which runs about $8.00. Once things settle down, I switch to just using Vaseline or some heavy-duty salve at bedtime. You really have to be diligent about applying it, though. Oh, and whatever you do, don't head out without gloves, preferably leather ones with a soft lining!
Give that a shot. Good luck!

thinks it can fix everything... what a joke

So, I found this incredible cream at a local apothecary. Here’s the trick: slather it on thick right before bed after washing your hands really well. You definitely need to throw on some cotton gloves afterward—seriously, the stuff is super greasy, and you won't be able to get anything done if you try to use your hands normally. Just sleep in them. Do this a few nights in a row and I swear, you'll feel like a whole new person!

You’re clearly lacking Vitamin A. Go to a CVS, pick up some AD drops, and take 2-3 drops daily for about 3 or 4 weeks. Don't go overboard—you don't want to overdose, alright?

Creams won't cut it. You need the drops.

So, I finally gave that Cetaphil cream a shot, and honestly? It’s actually working... you should be able to pick it up at any local CVS or Walgreens... I tried using Vaseline and Calendula before, but I guess neither of those really did much for me in the long run.

I’m going to start using this salve (is the salve and calendula basically the same thing?) along with these vitamins. Do you happen to know which foods or fruits are high in Vitamin A? I’d rather boost my levels through my diet if possible.
If that doesn't work, I'll try this cream—never heard of it before. If that fails too, I'll just go with the heel cream.

I really hate how oily my hands feel. It's so frustrating. Honestly, it drives me crazy. 😁

Try mixing it with some Enzo Ferrari bitters—the box says Angostura.
Someone brought up hydrocortisone earlier. As far as I know, that's a steroid, so you shouldn't use it for long periods, just a few days at most.

I feel like I’m dealing with the exact same issue. I honestly don't think there’s a cream out there I haven't tried at least once, but as soon as the cold wind starts blowing and everything dries out, I'm right back to square one. I have noticed a bit more of a difference lately, though, since I started using that new Neutrogena fast-absorbing formula. My hands actually feel soft now, and they aren't cracking nearly as much as they used to.
It might not be a bad idea to apply some Bepanthen over your existing cracks at night before bed.