Question:
I find little relief from the skin on my knuckles drying, cracking & peeling
in large, unsightly, oozing patches (... I apologize for the graphic
detail...) after working on bonsai or on landscape plants even a short
while. I live with it, but my doctor and pharmacist both recommend for
treatment of the condition an externally applied steroid cream-- and the
pharmist recommends an anti-fungal cream, additionally. The after-the-fact
"doctoring" of disrupted skin with external creme application takes three
days to accomplish healing. Have others found a better solution--
hopefully preventative?
Answer:
1. Preventative: Those thin rubber gloves that doctors,
dentists, and almost anyone else who has to touch another human
being on a regular basis these days. They don't feel it, but
they're fairly puncture proof and they are like a second skin and
allow you to do everything you can do otherwise with bare hands.
You can buy a box of 100 for not much money. 2. Immediately after the fact: A potent anti-inflammatory skin
cream. Bag Balm or Udder Cream (both made for cow and goat teats
that get irritated) are excellent. I find that the Burt's Bees
hand salve (beeswax and something stinky) help hands that are
already irritated.
3. Regular dosing with an antihistamine may also help keep you
from getting such a severe reaction, but I suspect you've tried
that.
Yeah, even plant pathologists. But use nitrile, not latex, because long-term use of latex gloves can give you a latex allergy, which is worse than what you have now. My condolences, Chris. I got swollen hands from handing squash vines; happily, I don't do that in my new job.
Yes I had a severe case myself, I religiously use 'Bag Balm'
two to three times per day depending on what I have scheduled for day.
My hands no longer crack and bleed. It is petroleum based but can be
washed off I never leave home without it!! $9 Cnd for 10 ounces last for
3 months if used every day. If you can not get it there let me know and
I will send some - just ask. Not an uncommon gardeners complaint and you can hear lots of ways
different people approach it that could work. I find the most comfortable
for me, advised by my doctor, was to rub a moisturizing cream, best known
is Eucerin, generously into my skin - I hate to work with gloves.
Moisturizing and an oil protect the skin naturally. It will certainly
hasten a cure, too, so after washing hands use it to continue a healthy
skin conditioning, or use it overnight. I use it under gloves, too, if it
is a job with junipers or similar scratchy foliage. Btw, Eucerin is not
one of those expensive big names, but a long known and appreciated product.
