Splits on fingers, ouch!

[cacran]

If I get soil on my hands I develop deep splits in the skin of my fingers, on the ends. Obviously it is a reaction to the soil. does anyone else get this and do you know what heals it up quickly. They are so painful. I must stop forgetting my gloves!

[cacran]

[tim]

You cannot work in gloves!

Barrier cream to protect?
Lotil as a magical antidote! If you really have a problem, put on cotton gloves afterwards.

[shirlton]

Thanks Tim. I'm gonna get me some tomorrow. I do wear glove sbut even they dry your hands out

[manicscousers]

I sometimes wear the blue thin latex ones, a mate gets them for us, they're a bit thicker than the normal white ones  :)

[Barnowl]

Lotion then the gloves - collect the disposable ones from your local petrol station  ;D

[Gillysdad]

If I get soil on my hands I develop deep splits in the skin of my fingers, on the ends. Obviously it is a reaction to the soil. does anyone else get this and do you know what heals it up quickly. They are so painful. I must stop forgetting my gloves!

  The older gardeners amongst us will remember a product called "Snowfire". It works wonders on "Keens" (splits in the skin) and is still available . I have mine in the shed. ;)

[caroline7758]

Flexitol heelbalm had a lot of supporters in another thread- good for hands tto, though they do now make a handbalm.

[jo9919]

I noticed a bump on my wedding ring finger last week, right on the first bend. It worried me a bit having had cancer previously. I went to the doctors last Wednesday and guess what it is..........a ganglion!!! No..... not a gargoyle!!! And no jokes about it either!!!

I didn't know you could get them on your fingers, I've only ever heard of them on wrists before. Apparently, I shouldn't do anything with it and it will hopefully go of it's own accord, we'll see!!

Jo.

[laurieuk]

I used to get very bad cracks when I worked in one particular garden but I tarted using Neutrogena and now my hands, according to she who knows, are as smooth as a baby's bottom. ;D ;D ;D I use unscented in case I need to set mole traps on similar.

If I get soil on my hands I develop deep splits in the skin of my fingers, on the ends. Obviously it is a reaction to the soil. does anyone else get this and do you know what heals it up quickly. They are so painful. I must stop forgetting my gloves!

[cocopops]

My oh often works outside and gets really split hands.  I let him use my 'cure for all' cream and it worked within hours.  Bet he wouldn't admit it at work though ;)

I have really dry skin, and bought Elizabeth Arden's '8 Hour Cream' on many recommendations.  It is expensive :(, but I have the tube for nearly 2 years and it is brilliant.  Cracks, burns, chapped lips, sore skin, it sorts it all out.  I got mine from a discount chemist so paid a fraction of the retail price.  Smells a bit though.  Hope your hands get better soon.

[Emagggie]

.  The older gardeners amongst us will remember a product called "Snowfire". It works wonders on "Keens" (splits in the skin) and is still available . I have mine in the shed. ;)

Now there's a memory.My Mum used snowfire on my chapped Knees in Winter Didn't realise you could still buy it.
Anything like snowfire (thick and not too greasy) would be a good idea for a barrier cream, or Oxford Gardener barrier cream and cleanser are the creams of choice for me.

[Jeannine]

To heal up quickly, this I can help you with, as my fingers crack and peel really badly.

Neutrogena put on  very heavily at night, then wear a pair of cotton gloves over the cream to sleep in. Neutrogena is very sticky and I hate it during the day. If you use the same gloves for a few night they will get sticky but they work better that way.If my hands get really bad, this will clear it in a week if I am diligent, and  if I remember to use a little at night prevents it coming back.  I can't wear rubber gloves for anything as I have a severe latex allergy so often get myself into trouble getting mucky !! It really works. XX Jeannine

[manicscousers]

a pot of aqueous cream 1.00 from the chemist, mix in 10 ml of cypress oil, brilliant stuff for feet and hands, all dry skin  :)

[Lady of the Land]

Try epaderm, you would probably need cotton gloves and use overnight. I have used it on my foot - on very dry skin and my son has used it on eczema type rash and worked well. It can be bought at a chemist. :D

[Robert_Brenchley]

I can do a lot in standard gardening gloves, but not jobs like seed sowing. It might be worth trying marigolds; I use them when opening beehives, and that can be quite delicate work at times. You don't want to jolt frames in a bad-tempered colony!

[dtw]

I get dermatitis too, Dermovate to heal it and some E45 to moisturise my big sausage fingers.  ;D

[Bryan]

Dtw,
very glad you put "fingers" at the end of your last posting,

[tim]

If you have a particular finger that dries out, & you can't wear gloves, use a finger 'condom'.

[cacran]

Hey, thanks for all the advice. I have a list of all the stuff I need so will go to the chemist and choose one to try. It's better than going to the doctors asking you out there!!!!!

[trojanrabbit]

Can't really recommend anything else treatment-wise, but a few thoughts on gloves:

The thin white latex ones in particular can cause problems, usually a reaction to the powder used to stop the basic grade ones sticking together, but I react to unlined latex gloves even if they're powder free. The similar ones (usually pale blue) in nitrile rubber (it'll say on the pack) are generally better, although again using a completely impermeable glove is not great as they hold the sweat against your skin.

Aside from all that, thin rubber gloves tend to split as soon as be looked at (at least they do when I'm using them in the lab!) so for gardening you can get some pretty good ones which are thin, rubber coated cotton. They are usually dark blue/green, sewn together - not completely waterproof because of the seams, but really hard wearing and give you better dexterity than the thick leather ones.