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.

 

[bigtiller]

Another +1 for bag balm.

 

[Highlandr]

I use Nitrile gloves when mechanicing or working with goo. Toss 'em when done.

Taught to me at a very young age by my uncle, a career OTR truck mechanic: If you do have grease, oil, lead, etc. on your hands wash in cold water. Keeps the pores closed so the nasty stuff doesn't leech in to you.

Several years ago when I was whining about my painfully dry hands (and face) the missus got me a bottle of this. It's not perfumey and doesn't leave you greasy feeling. I now swear by it. Although so far the "age defying" part isn't working.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I use a John Deere "Premium Hand Cleaner". It's made with soybean oil, green in color. I've never had cracked skin while using it. Canada part number is TY26069.

It's like a hand lotion that does an unbelievable job of floating the grease off. It's not cheap (approx $24 CAD for 2 us quarts). I get about a year out of 2 quarts so I don't mind the price. Plus I never get cracked skin from washing my greasy hands.

 

[anomad]

Another +1 for bag balm.

Is bag balm also called udder cream? May be a regional thing I'm guessing.

 

[Engineer42]

Is bag balm also called udder cream? May be a regional thing I'm guessing.

Yes, it's a brand name.

 

[BnRidge]

This:

Then thin it with some alcohol (hand sanitizer) so it soaks in.
I think ManaPro (right) bought Corona (left) and changed the marketing and label.

Carmex is also the only thing I've found that actively stops and removes those cracks that just appear for no reason, like when using tools that rub and a crack opens up and just will not go away.

 

[bigtiller]

Is bag balm also called udder cream? May be a regional thing I'm guessing.

From the internet...

Bag Balm and udder creams are both designed to soothe extremely dry, cracked skin, but differ in formulation and texture. Bag Balm is a thick, petroleum-based antiseptic ointment (99% petrolatum/lanolin), ideal for intense, targeted healing. General "udder creams" are often lighter, water-based, and better for daily, over-the-body moisturizing.

 

[RayIN]

After trying several brands of hand care products I asked my dermatologist. She said to buy a small bottle of 99% pure glycerin from any pharmacy and apply 5-6 drops to the back of each hand, then rub it in well. It will feel greasy at first but 5 minutes later it's soaked into the skin.
It is the least expensive and most effective product I've tried.
I apply it at bedtime and next morning the dry scaly skin is smooth and comfortable.
I got to comparing glycerin and name brand products. All the name brands contain glycerin in some low percentage.
Best part, one small bottle lasts for a year.

 

[stuckmotor]

More promising suggestions. That glycerine sounds like it's in my price range. I like to try the cheapest remedies first.

 

[stuckmotor]

On the nitrile gloves:
My Harbor Freight store was out of XX Large so I went on Amazon and found some orange ones. They're 8 ml while the HF ones are 9ml and cost less with Prime shipping. An added bonus is that they're the same on on the palm as on the back so both fit either hand. They're labeled ForPro Diamond Grip.
My only connection with the seller is that I bought a box of it's gloves and like them.

 

[LHF2019]

Same issue. Any hand cream will work just needs to be routine. I put mine on every night before going to sleep through the winter. I'm currently using O'keeffe's. When I had the dairy it was 10 times worse because of all the washing of equipment. Splits so deep it took months to heal and always bleeding. The remedy was lotion before putting Nitril gloves on before milking and lotion before bed.

Can't stress enough the cure to prevent is to start lotion before they split. This winter did not have a split that hurt. Just was a reminder I wasn't doing it every night.

 

[lman]

Is bag balm also called udder cream? May be a regional thing I'm guessing.

https://www.cvs.com/shop/bagbalm-ointment-1-oz-prodid-1070029?skuId=178676&cgaa=QWxsb3dHb29nbGVUb0FjY2Vzc0NWU1BhZ2Vz&cid=ps_bea_ski_pla

 

[WinterDeere]

I spent several years dealing with continuously cracked finger tips, a hazard of my job that often involves hand-loosening and hand-tightening hundreds (sometimes thousands) of stainless steel coaxial connector nuts every week, and then spending all weekend working outdoors with firewood.

Nitrile gloves whenever mechanic'ing, and under your hide gloves when working outside, is a huge help. But they are made infinitely better if you remember to lather up your hands with lotion before sliding them into those gloves. That's become my standard routine, when going out to my shop in winter... open the door, lotion on hands, hands into gloves, grab a pair of safety glasses.

I buy medium and heavy weight un-powdered black or blue nitrile gloves in bulk, they're much, much, much cheaper when buying large quantities. I don't mind if they sit on the shelf 12 - 24 months, they don't go bad, and I have peace of mind knowing there's always some there. When I get down to the last box or two, I order another case (20 boxes) of 'em.

The only down-side to my system is that when my hands sweat, the lotion does make the gloves want to slide around a good bit. Usually not a problem, it's not like my hands are sweating much in cold weather, but it happens on occasion. When it does, I just peel off the gloves, wipe off the sweat and excess lotion with a paper towel, and slide on a fresh dry pair. Problem solved.

After having tried damn near every lotion on the market, I prefer the ones made by Gold Bond, but O'Keefe's is also good. Others like Udder Butter seem to separate and go watery, when sitting on the shelf.