Preventing split fingertips in cold weather

[stuckmotor]

My finger tips tend to lose oil and split any time I wash them frequently and especially in winter.

Here are the best preventative measures I've found:
My finger tips tend to lose oil and split any time I wash them frequently and especially in winter.

Wearing disposable rubber gloves when mechanicing. The grease can be easily washed off the gloves with dish washing liquid while they're still off my hands.

When washing my hands with warm water I immediately cool them with cold water so the skin contracts and body oil isn't wiped off on the towel and doesn't evaporate. I can feel the pores contracting. To me, the thermal shock is worth not having stinging cracked fingers.

Less natural oil is rubbed out of my skin if I pat rather than rub with a towel.

After washing I use some type of moisturizer.


Any better suggestions are welcome

 

[Rockbadchild]

The working hand cream dose wonder... if you are a naturalist, beaver fat dose wonder for arthritis and splint finger tips / dry hands, I heard bear fat is also really good.

 

[Bocephous]

Sounds like you've got a good routine for preventing split fingertips. I also have had that issue, and still do occasionally. I use Bag Balm a couple times a day as well as a homemade tallow/olive oil concoction. When finger skin gets cracks I apply a smidge of triple antibiotic to the crack and seal with a band-aid wrapped with duct tape to prevent the adhesive from letting go when I wash my hands next. I also apply Bag Balm to my heels; I used to suffer from cracks in my heals so bad when I was a kid that I'd have to walk on the balls of my feet for half the winter.

 

[ponytug]

+1 on both working hands and bag balm. If it is cold and dry, I also try not to use water that is as cool as possible, and pat dry.

FWIW: I find that the NexCare waterproof bandaids to be a real help. If I put them on clean dry skin, they keep the skin crack or cut dry for a day or so, through repeated handwashings. I try to use the smallest possible ones on finger tips as nothing seems to seal well to the gaps around the edges of my finger nails. YMMV

All the best,

Peter

 

[bdhsfz6]

This time of year, I carry a tube of O'Keefe's in my pocket.

 

[stuckmotor]

Thank you gentlemen for the promising suggestions. Bears and beavers had better not let me see them.