Dry Chapped Hands

Updated on February 14, 2007
J.D. asks from Grand Forks, ND
39 answers

We are new to the area and this is our first winter here. My son has really chapped hands and I was wondering if you had some idea that would help? He wont even wear some chap sticks because he said that they burn so he won’t do it if it hurts. And if there is something that I could have him do to that would be helpful also. They are not to the point of cracking yet but winters not over.

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So What Happened?

WOW I wasn't expecting so much. Thank you everyone for your help. I have been using a little if this and that everyday. He is wearing his socks on his hands to bed and I got some hemp lotion for him it use it smells good and dosen't burn. We have gloves for outside and can't go outside with out them. And they are looking a lot better. I now have some other ideas for later this winter too if it ever gets here. And I'm makeing everyone even me drink more water. I think this community is wonderful. Thank You so much for all of your help.
J.

Featured Answers

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T.R.

answers from Des Moines on

The same happens with my hands to the point my skin will peel. My doctor told me to use Aquaphilic. It comes in a small white tub with black lettering. I use it on my hands after washing dishes or taking a shower. The other that I found and love is Hemp Hand Protector by The Body Shop. I use it all day, works great and has an okay smell too.

Hope you find something that works! :)

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S.M.

answers from Lincoln on

J.,
We have used Aquaphilic and Aquaphor for years now and we love them both. You can get Aquaphor over the counter at Walmart but it can be a little greasy. Aquaphilic, in a white jar with black writing, is sold at Walmart pharmacy (no prescription needed). Welcome to the wonderful world of WINTER! :) Hope this helps!
S.

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S.L.

answers from Dubuque on

Wearing gloves to bed definately makes a huge difference. Also, Mary Kay Cosmetics has what is called an Emollient Night Cream...it's amazing for chapped hands, butts, elbows, you name it. It can be sold in a Satin Hands set (which I also recommend), or it can be bought seperately. You can get online to find a consultant close to you, they'll usually drop it off to you if you ask. Either way, try to get him to wear gloves to bed after you lather up his hands with some intense lotion or emollient night cream. Good luck. (Side note: I have found that some Bath and Body scented lotions are actually more drying, I would be hesitant to run out and buy out their scented inventory). Again, hope he finds some relief. Peace.

S.

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H.R.

answers from Sioux Falls on

I have found that neutrogena hand cream is the best for us if you would like to try it.

1 mom found this helpful
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Y.E.

answers from Billings on

My daughter's hand were just like that and she is 6. If it hurts or looks bad she won't do it. I rubbed some A & D Ointment (diaper rash) on her hands and it cleared it right up. I think we put it on there twice. Hope that helps!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.D.

answers from Great Falls on

Welcome!!
My name is A. and I know a lot of people with that problem. I sell The Body Shop at Home and all of our products are natural (no stinging) We have a hemp hand protector that is amazing! I sell a lot of thoes two products to nurses who are always washing there hands and tend to be extreamly dry. Let me know if you are interested or feel free to check out my web site
www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/aduneman
Hope this helps!!!
A.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.N.

answers from Grand Forks on

My son has had that problem since he was born, they would burn so bad if he even put his hands in water, I have gotten to the point of putting baby oil in his bath after I wash his hair, and than when he is still wet put lotion on him, for some reason lotion works better when your sitll wet. I have also sent a bottle of baby lotion to pre school with him so every time he washes his hands he puts the lotion on along with every other kid in his class lol if one does it the rest are going to want to do it too. hope this helps some.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Bismarck on

olive oil and grapeseed oil are very compatibles to our skin and does not burn. add it when he is sleeping

1 mom found this helpful
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T.D.

answers from Boise on

Vaseline (unscented) or Crisco (plain, not butter flavor) work great! Have him put one of those on, and then some cotton gloves before he goes to bed. Also you may want to take him to the doc just to check and make sure it’s not eczema, which may require a prescription.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Casper on

Anything scented is going to burn. If possible put vaseline on his hands at night and then cotton gloves. He probably won't keep the gloves on all night but it might help.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Davenport on

The only thing i can think of is make sure he keeps his gloves on when outside. Maybe you can try to keep lotions on them as much as you can. I have not had a problem with my daughter yet being here. I have a hard time with my hands but i just make sure i keep lotion on them as much as i can..

I am sorry i can't be more help.. Let me know if you have any other problems.

Welcome To The Midwest..lol.. Where you from?

1 mom found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from Davenport on

Hi! I have the perfect product for you. I got this from my doctor when my son had really dry skin over the summer, and you can buy it over the counter. It's called Aquaphor, and is made by the Eucerin company. It works almost instantly to heal and relieve dry and even cracked skin. Plus, I figure if my doctor gave it to me it's gotta work. Hope this helps!

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R.S.

answers from Davenport on

aquaphilic and gloves cotton gloves over night work wonders my daughter had the same problem one year and it made the diffrence. but anyways. try that a container cost about $18 but its so worth it and make sure he keeps his hands lotioned with the good kinds of lotion like gold bond that is shea butter it works wonders too!

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T.R.

answers from Nashville on

I have one child that experiences the same thing -- I make her put shea butter on hands several times a day. I also have her carry chapstick and put that not only on her lips but any place dry on her face and hands. It works really well but it doesn't hurt her.
Hope this helps.
tam
____@____.com

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A.T.

answers from Waterloo on

I am VERY new to this site and I haven't had a chance to read all of the responses, but I have always had alot of trouble with chapped hands and I just found a product at Target or Walmart (unsure where) it is called Udderly Smooth. It is a white container wth red and black coloring. Best product I have EVER used!!! I have searched for years. Non greasy (which seems to always be a problem), and an incredibly light scent that shouldn't be offensive. There is no burning, I have even put it on cuts before. Try it! I don't think that you will be sorry. Good luck.

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D.P.

answers from Omaha on

It's a Peru thing--the water here is so hard; it's terrible, especially in winter. My boyfriend swears by Gold Bond Medicated Lotion--he uses the green bottle and it does work well. I've started putting lotion on--sometimes even Vaseline--right after I shower. The towel rubs some off, but I always add more. Slathering on night cream (any kind works for me) regularly throughout the day and covering the hands with cotton gloves. These are hard to find--WalMart's hand care aisle has the only pair I've seen--OR white cotton socks. These are also getting hard to find, unfortunately--mens' long ones are easiest. (They have to be white.)

If you can get him to do this even once or twice a day for five minutes: A) that's a long time for a kid, or anyone who doesn't like the feel of lotion; and B) overnight doesn't seem to help. I *finally* got cotton gloves, and wearing them all night seemed to make it worse. Stick with a few minutes.

If he doesn't like the socks, maybe you can get your own pair (you'll need them, too, eventually) and turn them into puppets.

Other tips: wash with warm, not hot water. Wash hands with baby soap--the water is completely safe (other than last week) and antibacterial makes the dryness worse. Don't use alcohol wipes or the stuff you carry around, but use soap with lotion. You may want to use baby wipes to wash his hands (and face). Try to stick to gentle products in the whole bathing department; I can only wash my hair 2-3 times a week, and I follow the dry skin guidelines: wash wear you need it, don't use hot water, and get out quick. We keep lotion in the cars, both bathrooms, and my teens and I carry it in our purses.

My mom used to use "Cornhusker's Lotion". It worked for her--I was a teen and hated it. I still see it at the pharmacies and other stores, though, so I assume it still works.

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V.M.

answers from Omaha on

Welcome to the midwest! Consistency is the key here. Lotion ever night even if you are not chapped is the key to not getting chapped. Lotion before bed is great since you have all night for it to work on your skin.

I'm using Curel right now for my skin and it is very gentle. I've also used some products from Bath and Body Works that are specifically for hands like Glove Potion #9 and oh I can't remember the others, but they worked miracles also.

Hope this helps!

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A.H.

answers from Omaha on

Hello I have the same problem I always know when winter is coming my hands get bad and oh do they hurt. They crack and bleed and on the sides of my fingers by my nails they feel like paper cuts. I have found stuff called Nexcare Advanced Skin Care I stand by it. I could not find anything that worked all other stuff would burn and hurt really bad. When I would put other lotions on depending on how my hands feel it will sting and turn majorly red but it would go away. Oh there is another that I have used that was good its called Eucerin Dry skin Therapy. Good luck I know how he feels

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M.M.

answers from Great Falls on

Hello J.~
I just responded to your other post about your own skin, it looks like you may already have a solution from all of the other ideas. As a welcome to Montana gift, I want to give you and your little son, a gift, that will help. There are so many differing opinions on what's great to use, just a little research will tell you anything petroleum based is a no~no for skin, and chemical colors, and dyes, even lanolin (which is an animal by-product) can be irritating. So I'll let you make the decision what's best for you, and give you your own Arbonne Hand Cream, so you can feel the Arbonne difference yourself. That's the only way, right? Welcome to beautiful Montana, I am a Helena native, and love showing people around, and all the coffee shops let me know what you like to do maybe we could get together. Enjoy your day!
~M. :)

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M.W.

answers from Lincoln on

Try A & D or Vaseline. You will get the moisture without the discomfort. You will also get a bit greasy, so maybe just before bed time :)

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T.P.

answers from Omaha on

I put blistix on my kids lips after they go to sleep. :-)
i use the sqeeze out kind and put a little on my finger and rub it on their lips. it gets really dry in our house and more than once my daughter has woken up with a cracked lip.
you could also try that with his hands. put Aqaphor on his hands after he goes to bed.or a lotion.. or what ever you find that works.

Good luck,, i know kids have a hard time with leaving mittens on. mine does any way since they can't grab things like they would like. or they just come off;-\

my routine for myself is always lip balm and lotion on my hands before going to bed. so now i just do my kids too..

good luck
enjoy the snow, more is coming ;-)
T.

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K.C.

answers from Waterloo on

Aquaphillic ointment really help, and it is gentle on sensitive skin also. You can get it in the pharmacy section of Walmart.

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M.G.

answers from Davenport on

i am from new mexico where it is dry most of the time, a little secret amongst the farmers and ranchers was an ointment called bag balm. i know it soundsweird because it is for a cow utter, but think about if it can help that it should be able to help your sons hands. it helped my brothers exzima (i think thats how you spell it, extreme dry skin). and most kids think its fu to play in. you can buy it at a local animal feed store. i hope this helps if you have more question feel free to write me.

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C.H.

answers from Fargo on

My best friend's son went through this for the last two years and he was 10 and 11. What she did was bring him to the store and let him pick out a sented lotion that was no sting (Bath and Body Shop stuff) and he thought that was cool because he was just beginning to like girls and he could share his lotion with the girls to be cool too. If your boy is younger then that, then I would take the advice of putting it on him after he is asleep. Hope any of this helps.

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L.S.

answers from Missoula on

Hi J.,
When I first moved to Montana my Daughter and I both had very dry skin, first time in our lives, so it was driving us nuts. What we do is put alittle bath oil in the bath. You might want to try that with your son. He may not like it if he knows it is in there but that might help some. Will he use hand creams?
Good Luck this happens every year for us since we moved here.
L.

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K.C.

answers from Lincoln on

I am glad that they are getting better. One thing to remember is that the skin is our largest organ. It is really important to read the ingredient list before putting something on your skin. Avoid products with a high percentage of alcohol (this can be drying) and do NOT use anything with mineral oil or petroleum. Mineral oil acts as a thin plastic layer on the skin. It is difficult to absorb and it clogs the pores, which slows the skin's ability to eliminate toxins. Shea butter, hemp, cocoa butter are all great moisturizers. Good luck.
K.
www.bathandbubble.com

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E.M.

answers from Omaha on

Have you tried lanolin (lansinoh is a pure version of this-- and a bit sticky-- but it works!). Vaseline is less sticky but also effective. Both of my kids had difficulty with the elements last year (and so did I!) but these two worked well. Also, try to make sure your son in well hydrated-- with indoor heating, the air dries and so does our skin.

HOpe that helps.

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C.K.

answers from Omaha on

Hi,
My son had the same problem this year. We found that body butter worked really well on his hands and made them smooth again. I've seen it at Target, Bath and Body Works and several places. It didn't burn his hands like a lot of the lotions I tried did either.

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S.H.

answers from Sioux City on

I highly recommend a product called Aquaphilic. It's a cream sold in a plain white tub with black lettering that is made in Sioux City Iowa. It's fantastic!! It even stays on after hand washing. I use it everywhere because of my super dry skin, and we put it on the boys when they get dry too. Also, it's oderless, non-staining, and non-irritating. Hope it works as well for you as it has for us!!

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N.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Dear J. D,

Try Glysolid. Its wonderful! My daughter has sensitive skin and ezema. My mother gave me some to try and it worked like a charm! Its not really pricey and it lasts forever! I believe you can get on their website and get a free sample sent to your home, but I am not certain. You can get it at some salons. My mom sells it at hers and could send it to you if you want it or like it. Otherwise, they may have a locator on their website as well. Good luck!

N. C

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E.

answers from Sioux Falls on

My daughter has the same problem. When she is ready for bed, we cover her hands with just a generic (Equate) brand Dry Skin Cream--it is like a heavier lotion. It is equal to Eucerin Cream. Then we put some gloves on her hands to sleep in. This helps to keep the moisture in and the lotion from getting on the sheets and blankets. Before I go to bed, about 2-3hours later, I take the gloves off. This helps almost overnight, two at the most. Hope this helps!!

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B.F.

answers from Pocatello on

I know you've gotten a lot of advice, but here is my two cents worth. First and formost, to have well hydrated skin, you need to be well hydrated. Simply drink a lot of water. Most people drink less water in the winter months because it isn't hot (obviously).
To combat really tough dry skin, my entire family swears by The Body Shop Hemp Chanvre hand creme. My Mom is a nurse (constant handwashing) and my Dad and dh work outdoors all year and they all had severe cracked hands. The Hemp cream completely cleared it up within a week. Good Luck!!

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K.F.

answers from Great Falls on

I have the same problem every year the best thing i have found for it is surgeons secret the stuff is wonderful. You can get it on line at www.jamarklabs.com. This is the only stuff that i have found the fixes the problem that does not cost alot. Also there is a lotion that is calles amlactin that is more expencive but works. That can be picked up at any pharmacy.
bag balm works to but it stings and is very greasy.

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D.B.

answers from Iowa City on

I know you've gotten a lot of responses already. Have you tried supplementing his diet with Vit E & Flaxseed Oil? Flaxseed pills can also come combined with Borage & fish oils. All totally safe, good for skin & heart. If your son can't swallow the pills, buy Flaxseed oil in bulk & mix into his peanut butter or other fatty type food. It doesn't taste very good alone & you can't cook it. -di

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S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

Is he drinking enough water? I find that my oldest son's skin chaps if he doesn't get enough liquids. There is baby lotion that is very gentle. Try that. It may take him a while to get used to our weather. Good luck!!!

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G.F.

answers from Omaha on

My hands are like sandpaper. I often have to put gobs of Eucrin cream, recommended by the doctor, on them and wear moisture gloves to make them better. I am sure he won't do this in public, but at home and when he goes to bed he could do it. As soon as I wash my hands, even with a moisture soap, they are dry again. I wish you luck with.
G.

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H.M.

answers from Omaha on

With regard to chapstik. I have the same problem and have lived in NE my whole life. I get chapped lips, so does my 4 year old, also complains of chapstik and such products hurting...Anyways, I found that AVON, care deeply lip balm or something of that nature is wonderful!! No sting!! No pain!! I put it on him and me every night and morning and his lips look so much better...and the kicker is he NEVER has complained about it hurting once...and it doesn't hurt me at all. I have sensitive skin and it works for me. It is only a buck usually also. So cheap and effective!!

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T.D.

answers from Boise on

I recommend Aquaphor lotion. IT is a medicated vaseline. I find it in Albertson in Idaho usually in the baby isles. Your pediatrician would also know about it.

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K.L.

answers from Des Moines on

This is also our first winter here. We just moved here from GA, although my husband and I grew up in the mid west. My children both suck their thumbs, so you can imagine how chapped their hands are!! I have discovered Curel lotion and it works wonders on all of us! It does not burn their little red hands and it is not greasy. My kids also are having fun wearing mittens, so that helps. I am sure this new found "fun" will wear off soon, but they do protect their hands.

Hope this helps!

K. L.

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