It's hardly even cold yet as the weather has been in the high 70's and my son is already getting the cold weather hands. They are red and dry. Some parts have even cracked. My dad gets this really bad too. I tried putting some baby lotion on his hands last night but he said it burned. I think I need to get him a lotion more specific for this problem. Does anyone else have a problem with this? What do you use? Thanks for the feedback!!!
Oh wow!!! I never even thought about allergies or eczema. He has a well child check on the 6th, so I will mention it to the Pediatrician just in case. Thanks so much for all the ideas on lotions! I never thought about ensuring they have no alcohol in them. SO glad I asked! I knew you Mamas would have good ideas! Thanks SO much!
Added: thanks for the input on the water. I need to discuss water intake with his GI team. He is/has always struggled with weight and has used a feeding tube. They discourage too much extra water intake as water has no calories. It's a tough balancing act. They'd prefer he only put pediasure/whole milk in as they don't want him to fill up on water/no calories. Although I kind of break this rule in summer when I feel water is needed. I need to ask them what the proper balance of water intake would be. :-) Love that you've thought of it as I didn't!!! You mamas are great!
And if any other mamas have ideas feel free to add even though I filled out the So what Happened. I will update if I find something that works! :-)
Renew Creme from Melaleuca. It is the best dry skin lotion on the planet. Promise! Email me and I'll send you a sample today! It is remarkable and very safe for all to use.
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Lubiderm is my favorite. You'll need to teach him to apply it after he washes his hands, EVERY time.
Try Bag Balm.
They use it on cow udders to keep them soft.
It works.
LBC
My DD has very dry skin I use Cetaphil on her skin. Use the one in the jar the thicker the lotion the better. I aveeno lotion to school and put in her cubbie. I have asked the teacher to let her put lotion on her hands after she washes them. Hope this helps.
My hands crack, too - and yes, it burns. It's the open skin reacting to the lotion. Even if it's not cracked all the way through, the layers have gotten thin enough to get to the sensitive part.
If you have some old gloves or mittens that you don't mind getting lotiony (or you can buy cotton ones especially for this purpose in the drugstore), slather the hands with vaseline and let him sleep that way.
A cool mist humidifier in his room (on at night) will help with dry skin too!
I haven't read through all the ideas....but see that you are going to ask about it at his next well check. I would 2nd that. As someone with an autoimmune condition that has as a symptom, dry, cracked fingers/hands....I would see if you could figure out why thieves happening.
In the meantime, my rheumatologist recommended the Cetaphil CREME (not lotion). It comes in a tub. It is the best! And not greasy or sticky.
Good luck!
2 things, make sure he washes off all soap and DRYs his hands completely after washing. Also, my mom and dad both have this problem and use Udder Cream (that's the brand name) to help it. I think it's an organic product but seems widely available.
Try Vanicream. It is totally free of scents and dyes and is very gentle. It is thicker than a lotion but I think it absorbs better. You should be able to find it at Target or a pharmacy. Target usually has it in their pharmacy area and not with other lotions. It's the only lotion we use with our son.
I use Burt's Bees honey and shea butter body cream. I've found that it works wonders on extremely dry sky. I would also find a pair of lightweight cotton gloves. At night, before bed, rub in some cream and put the gloves on when you go to bed. That will give the cream extra penetration/it will work while you're sleeping. If you can't stand the gloves, you can take them off right before you fall asleep. I've had to do that and so has my daughter. It worked!
And, as another poster commented, you need to up your intake of water. Your body is probably dehydrated.
Put lotion of after the bath, while drying him off, and that helps seal the moisture in that is lost from evaporation. That's what most lotions do. Seal the skin. Some actually soak in but I would definantly research that.
I use two things - aquaphor under gloves - latex gloves to help keep them moist and mary kay night time emolient (spelling) cream...
Make sure any lotion you put on him does NOT have alcohol in it...it will further inflame them.
If this does not help - try keeping a log of his diet - it MIGHT be an allergy that instead of reacting in sneezing, coughing, runny nose is a rash on his skin. Try using "clear" detergents - no fragrance, etc. Like Purex Free and Clear or All Clear...no dryer sheets - do ONE thing at a time for TWO weeks...and keep a log so you know what changes you have made and note how his body reacts.
He might have a food allergy or eczema as well. Which eczema CAN be an allergic reaction as well....so talk with the pediatrician and keep a log of his food intake and if his hands get worse after a certain meal or food is eaten..
GOOD LUCK!!
Try aquaphor right when he gets out of the bath. It will help to keep moisture in his skin.
I get dry and sometimes cracked skin in the fall and winter, too. What I find helps is to make sure that I'm drinking enough water. Being hydrated on the inside can help your skin on the outside. I also like Aquaphor.
VANICREAM!!! It is a lotion that was recommended to me by a dermatologist. There is nothing in it that you can be alklergic to. It works great & is really mild.
I have eczema of the fingers only & this stuff is wonderful!
Aquaphillic (NOT Aquaphor) is the BEST stuff EVER
(I grabbed some Aquaphor one time thinking it would be the same thing---NASTY)
Eucerin is what we use. Available OTC in pump form- very helpful for my 6yo to use on his own. We try to use it after he washes his hands, definitely after baths. At bedtime I slather his hands thoroughly. Works well for him though it is too greasy for me. I use Vaseline Intensive Care, or the Walgreen equivalent.
Mine crack to the point of bleeding when the weather dips...because I am a compulsive hand washer. The dermatologist told me NO lotions because lots of them do have alcohol in them and to ONLY USE CREAMS because they are more emollient and do a better job. I like Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, or AHAVA hand cream. (Ahava is made with minerals from the dead sea...GREAT products, a little pricey if bought in spa or high end dept store...I just found some in Marshall's and the price was good/ reasonable). When the weather dips and my hands are most sensitive, I don't use antibacterial hand wash, just moisturizing ones, apply the creams during the day once or twice, but at night I load them and put gloves or socks on them and in the morning they are better. Also, some times I just smear neosporin + on them at night about 1/2 hour before I load them with cream....seems to help bunches! (works on my heels too!) good luck!
Aquaphor Cream! It's amazing.
If it is dry skin, try Udderly Smooth. Your son will like it because it doesn't smell "girly"!
I thought I had dry, cracking hands. Then I found out it was eczema.
Have you had them looked at? IF it IS eczema, all the lotion in the world isn't going to help.
Aquaphor is amazing. It looks like Vaseline but is much, much better. I still have the big tub I bought when my 14 year old was a baby; you don't need that much at a time. Put it on his hands after a bath, and put it on his hands at bedtime. If he resists, put it on his hands when he is asleep.
Eucerin is good stuff, too, but I feel like Aquaphor is a bit better.
