Cracked Fingertips Add To Winter's Misery

A friend of mine switches to Dove bar soap from liquid soap for washing his hands in the winter and it seems to reduce the amount of skin cracking. He thinks the antibacterial soap may be the problem.

Best thing I've found is pure hydrous lanolin, tube or jar, from any pharmacist.

The only thing that I've found that will heal the cracks around fingers is to apply antibiotic ointment and wrap with a bandaid. This will take about 2 days putting fresh ointment and bandaid the second day.

A product called "Zims Crack Cream" works well, as does "Bag Balm" used to soften a cow's udders. Comes under several different names.

I find using Working Hands hand cream helps heal cracked fingertips very quickly.

Plain old petroleum jelly has kept the skin on my hands and feet from cracking through many winters.

I am a paddler and it seems as if cold water aggravates skin cracks on my fingers. For years I used Zim's Crack Creme which worked very well in promoting healing.

Then a few years ago, the formula for Crack Creme changed. It used to include Canadian Willowherb which is now patented in Canada and too expensive for them to use. Without this it dosen't work nearly as well as the original formula.

I still have a couple of bottles of the origonal Crack Creme. I don't know what I will use when they are gone.

For years we have used Corona, lanolin-rich Antiseptic Ointment. It's in the same catagory as Bag Balm but much better. One can purchase it at feed stores or similar places. Great stuff!!

A sure cure for cracked fingertips is to take Flax oil. I use the 1200 mg softgels. Since taking these I do not get the cracked tips any more. Nothing worked before, including many prescriptions from doctor.

The best thing is to moisturize following each hand washing, to prevent the problem. I like to put a small amount of olive oil on my cuticles; massage it in, followed by any good, thick moisture cream. The cream mixes nicely with the oil, aiding the absorption.
If I neglect to do this even once during the winter, I get the cracks and split cuticles. The only thing that helps me at that point is to use Nexcare Skin Crack Care, which seals the cracks. Note that it probably won't work with the use of creams or lotions...

I used to have at least 4 fingers cracked all the time. It turned out that if I wore cotton gloves when reading the newspapers every time I picked one up I never cracked again. I do get dryer hands in winter but the cracks were from the acid or ink in the paper.

I USE VICK'S VAPORUB ON MY CRACKED HANDS. WHEN I GO TO BED I RUB VICK'S ON MY HANDS AND USUALLY BY MORNING THEY ARE A LOT BETTER. IN A DAY OR TWO THE CRACKS ARE HEALED. I ALWAYS GET THEM ON THE BACK OF MY HAND AND FINGERS AND RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF THE NAILS AND KNUCKLES.

A number of years ago, my old physician was treating me for hypothroidism & found it necessary to prescribe a daily Synthroid pill for me, but after he'd passed away, it was necessary to seek another GP.

I've always had Mediterranean Anemia, which is
hereditary from my mother. Although I am periodically tested because I'm on a daily regimin of
75 mg of Plavix Tab, Avalide 300-12.5 Tab, Verapamil 240 mg er Tab., but my GP continues to tell me my thyroid is OK. Since I've stopped taking
Synthroid, my hair has thinned out terribly & my skin is extremely dry, in addtion to the constant splitting of my finger tips. I've found it necessary to use bag balm on my hands & often apply Triple Antibiotic Ointment on my split finger tips & wear bandaids on my finger tips to heal the splits.

Although I've complained to my GP about these conditions, he's advised me there's nothing wrong w/my Thyroid. I personally feel I'm in dire need of some sound advice.

I don't know if you received my previous message about cracked finger tips, but the only thing that helped my wife for her cracked finger tips, after trying many so called remedies, was when I had a water softner installed. It's been several years now and her fingers are fine.

I also have cracked skin on the tips of my fingers. I have tried many products. The only success I have had is with these products: Zims Crack LIQUID SKIN Care when the cracks first start. After the crack has closed, Gold Bond Ultimate healing Aloe. I hope this will help someone else.

My fingers were in terrible condition with splits when a good friend said for me to try "Corn Huskers Lotion". It is a miracle worker, keeps my hands soft and the splits disappear.

The only sure cure for me has been to cover the crack with plain adhesive tape for a couple of days. (It's so hard to make a band-aid stay on a finger-tip.) Oddly, the same tape (Johnson & Johnson Waterproof) was also the apparent cause of my most persistently recurring case of finger-tip cracking, when I left it on for 9 solid days over a bad cut; maybe I'm allergic to the "dry natural rubber" in the product. But a couple of days of it is curative rather than harmful.

I usually have cracked, dry, bleeding hands and lips in winter. Over the past 20 years, I have probably tried 20 different remedies. Finally settled on Chapstick which I used to use on fingertips and lips. But it seems they changed the formula about a year or so ago. Now use Gold Bond Ultimate Healing and love it. It is the best.
Comes with or without aloe. Both seem the same. It works great. And unlike Chapstick, you only have to use it once about every 36 hours or so.

I have used many cuticle moisturizers, from Avon to over the counter. The one thing that helped with them all was to wear the cotton gloves all night to hold in the moisturizer. Also soaks with Skin So Soft and Epsom Salts helped.

I have three painfully cracked fingers right now and it's hard to even type, dig in my purse or even button my shirt. Thanks for all your tips...

My husband recently finished radiation treatment for throat cancer and the Dr. recommended Aquaphor, made by Eucerin, to treat the burns on his neck. His fingertips had developed deep painful splits and he tried the Aquaphor there too. It did a wonderful job of quickly healing his neck and his fingertips. It works great for my dry winter skin. No more cracked heels.

I had hard, peeling, cracking skin on 3 fingers for over 1 yr. Nothing would work. Then I heard about figs, ate about 7 of them, 2 days later my skin was mostly healed with no more abnormal growth!

Earlier I recommended covering the cracks with adhesive tape for a couple of days for a reliable but temporary cure. Since then I've tried ketoconazole, recommended by another reader, and it seemed to provide a cure that has lasted maybe 3 weeks so far.

I have suffered from cracked fingers in the winter time only, for a number of years. The only sure-fire remedy for me has been to cover the cracks with a plain bandaid for a couple of days, like another writer in your "reader comments section" mentioned. I have tried a number of products to combat the problem, such as liquid bandage, and various creams, but nothing has been a real success. I am sure that in my case the cause of these cracks is the wearing of gloves made from synthetic fleecy liners. I never had cracks when wearing gloves with natural product liners like rabbit fur, but these are almost impossible to find these days. I am still looking for a suitable preventative solution short of not wearing any gloves in cold weather.

On Jan. 21 I wrote that ketoconazole seemed to work. I don't think so anymore, though it's hard to be sure.

I HAVE HAD CRACKED FINGERTIPS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW. I OWN A FLOWER SHOP AND KEEP MY HANDS IN WATER A LOT. I FOUND SOME CREAM CALLED FLEXITOL--THE ONLY THING I HAVE FOUND TO CLEAR UP MY HANDS IN THE TWO YEARS. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM PLEASE TRY IT... IT ONLY COST ABOUT $4.OO

Guaranteed remedy... coat with vicks vapo rub, wrap well with bandaid; pain stops almost immediately. Do the same at night, and for most splits, it's healed in the morning!!

My fingertips get hard also, then dry out and then crack. Tried many things over the years. Haven't found a cure yet, but will try some of the recommendations here. However what I have found is the best bandage for healing them: "BAND-AID Active-Flex premium adhesive Bandages." I buy them by the carton. Everyone on this form will thank me when they try them. Good luck!

My husband used to have cracked skin on his hands every winter. One year we realized he was using a lotion with lanolin on his dry hands in the winter. He is allergic to wool. He stopped using lotion with lanolin and has not had cracked skin since.

I suffered from cracked fingertips for over a year until I read about pycnogenol, an over the counter supplement, in your column. After I began taking two in the morning and two at night, my problem went away within two weeks. I also use plenty of moisturizer.

I still get a crack now and then, but rarely.

I am looking for rubber tips to put on my cracked fingers.

My Mom use to do that many years ago.

I will buy rubber gloves if there are no rubber tips. Dish washing is killing my fingers. Gloves are not my favorites. No one mentioned them.

I have tried many of the above .

I swear by Hemp Hand Protector from The Body Shop -- it clears the cracks within 12 hours. Hemp is a natural Hydrocortisone and so does not do the same damage to the skin that a chemical hydrocortisone can do.

For the person looking for rubber finger tips... they are called finger cots... postal workers use them to make handling paper easier...
LLS

My husband use to get painful cracks on his heels and I would rubbed crack creme into them. It totally cured him and his heels never cracked again. Instead both my thumbs and middle fingers crack all the time. (typing right now hurts!) Bag balm, crack creme, etc. Nothing has worked. He gave them to me. The cure must be to pass them along. I wish it could be so easy. I'd give them right back! Thanks for all the good tips.

I have cracked fingertips every time the weather gets cold. The skin on my finger joints and knuckles will even split. I found a product called Badger Balm at the auto parts store and it is wonderful. I try to grease my hands in it at night and wear gloves to bed when having this problem. The only negative on this for daytime, as with all balms, creams, etc., is when you work with paper or equipment all day (can't do your job with gloves on) you can't keep them greased since it gets everything you touch greasy. BUT, it's the best thing I've found so far. It really relieves the soreness pretty quick as well as heals fast, too.

pure zinc oxide cream has worked for me for several years. there are diaper rash creams that contain it, but they contain so many other ingredients, they don't work. insist that your pharmacist
order (inexpensive) pure zinc oxide cream for you soon. (it's becoming hard to find.) it's messy; use it when you can rest your hands.

Vicks vapo rub? that sounds painfull! Does it sting at all?

I've suffered from cracked finger tips and knuckles every winter for a number of years, and the doctor keeps prescribing moisturizers which I use every night, without much effect. I shall try some of the suggestions left here and hopefully get some relief at last!

I accidentally discovered that the cracks on my fingertips foamed markedly when I got 3% hydrogen peroxide on them. If I apply H2O2 every morning, the cracks may or may not foam, but they never open up or cause trouble. Not a cure, but 100% effective control. My best guess is that the cracks are playing host to some organism that produces catalase (which makes H2O2 foam), and the peroxide kills it, or inhibits the production or activity of some enzyme that weakens the tissue.

I had the same problem every year. This year I'm great.I think taking flax seed oil helps. I'm taking flex seed oil (1 tbs)with 6 tbs of yogurt.
it's great for many things as I see for cracks too.

I just read your article from the man who said he and his wife had painful cracked skin. I am 65 and have had cracked, bleeding, painful cracked skin for all my life. This past year I tried Diabetic's Handcream made by Stanmar Laboratories in Kansas City, Mo. I haven't had one open sore all winter. I couldn't even cut my fingernails because they would crack open and the split would feel like someone holding a knife on them. I can only use two household products without using Mr. Clean latex gloves and that is Palmolive dish detergent (purple kind) and Mr. Clean (the yellow lemon scent). I feel like I found a miracle.

The response posted by JC is on top of the situation. Cause and effect is something I learned in school. The cause is the soap you are using in the winter time. Switch to Dove soap with moisturizing cream and kiss the painful cracks on your fingers goodbye.
If you have a crack on your finger and want it to heal quickly use Nature's Bounty vitamin E-liquid. Put a drop or two on a band-aid and in a day or two it will be healed. It also works on burns, etc. leaving no scar.
Also, using liquid soap causes hangnails.

For over 30 years I have been using Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream (known in our family as "pink stuff") for cracked/cut fingertips, small cuts, corner of the mouth cuts and lips. Dab it on, cover with a bandage if possible. It now comes in a tube, making it easier to use for this purpose.

Cracking, bleeding finger tips is called Eczema. I had them too. Dermatologist gave me Mometasone ointment . It works but expensive to use forever. When I ran out, I found using just petroleum jelly works just as well. Rub it on you finger tips as often as you can. My bleeding stopped in a day or two.

My husband and I both suffer from this problem....and we have the same fingers that crack and bleed. Our home remedy is to put a small amount of zinc oxide on the finger and put a bandaid over it. It usually stops the pain, and it heals up. The problem we have is that once we get ours healed, within a week or so, they are showing signs of cracking again. I am going to try the Vick's Vapor Rub like some of the others have. Thanks for sharing these remedies.....counting the days till spring so I can have normal fingertips once again.

my hands are really bad in the winter, so last night i cocoa butter inside a pair of plastic gloves (medical ones). I had put loads and i mean loads of the cocoa butter on my hands as the skin was really bad ,my hands are a lot better today (still bit rough and cracked) but not as bad as yesterday.

I've suffered from cracked fingers for several years now. I am a preschool teacher so not only do I wash my hands a lot I'm always making and playing with play dough (salt---OUCH), painting or using other such materials. I've tried many different kinds of lotions and treatments and nothing seems to work. I have tubes of Avon silicone glove, corn huskers oil, Aquaphor, Mary Kay "pink stuff", Aveeno Hand Cream, Eucerine, oils and the list goes on.

I have a history of a very over active Thyroid but that has been a problem longer than the cracked fingers. We have "teacher soap" at school that is not antibacterial and I put lotion on each time I wash my hands. Liquid Bandaid has been the most helpful, the cracks don't heal but it keeps them from bleeding and the cracks from getting deeper.

I just used Lip Medex, which is an ointment for the lips (it also prevents cold sores). I rubbed it on my fingers and fingernails last night, and when I woke up this morning, the pain was gone.

I moisturize from the inside out by taking an Omega 3-6-9 (1,200 mg. Borage, Flax & Fish Oil) supplement each day. This keeps my skin hydrated since I don't eat much fish, and fish oil pills make me burp. I use to scratch my legs with a hair brush because they itched soo bad, but not anymore. When I started taking 3-6-9 five years ago, it took about one week at the start to see/feel the difference.

I rarely use moisturizer at all anymore on my legs or arms. However, I still have cracked finger tips from having my hands in water so much. I apply Johnson&Johnson First Aid Cream at night and cover with a Clear Water Block Plus Band-Aid and the crack is gone by morning. But then I start the cycle again from having my hands in water the next day cleaning, cooking, etc. Within a week, another crack appears. Moisturizers and band-aids come off in water. Gloves are annoying. I use finger cots (found in the first-aid section) and rubber finger tips (from an office supply store) but water gets in them too.

I have been suffering since 1977 and I want to prevent the cracks from starting. I already have an excellent way of healing them overnight. I love some of the suggestions posted and will try many of them. I had no idea anyone else had the same problem. Many thanks to those who have posted their successes. Keep them coming and I will check back again and again until I find "my" success. Thanks!

I found cracked skin on finger and thumb tips responded very well to simply spraying hair spray (any brand) on them . It stings for a second but works. Needs to be repeated after putting your hands in water a few times. But protection is almost immediate.

Sometimes at bedtime I have used either Vicks or Vaseline then covered hands with white socks. By morning much better. But not always "cured" so on to the hair spray...

I feel like my fingers are cracking from the inside out. When they split, they bleed. When they seem to be healing up, they will just split again. Wearing gloves as much as possible does help.

Thank you all so much! I have been doing tile project on my house, and my fingertips have a couple of amazaingly painful cracks that just won't heal for more than a week now. I will try the suggestions here. I'm glad to know it is not just me.

I have tried tripple atibiotic ointment & cream for cracked fingers and thumbs. Also bandaids and cotton gloves when I sleep. For pain camphophenique is great. It is also an antiseptic. After reading some of the comments I am going to try an anti fungal cream.

I have tried many hand creams, foot creams, vitamin E oils and more. I can't say any of them worked for this problem. They always heal up in one or two days only to crack again. I want a preventative. I take a lot of vitamins and other supplements and drink a lot of water, but I still get cracked finger tips all winter long.

Bought a package of 20 disposable vinyl gloves at Home Depot for $1.00.
Cut off the fingers of the gloves. Before I go to bed, I dip my cracked fingers into a jar of vaseline and slip a glove finger over each one. In the morning I remove the glove finger and put on Zims Crack Cream which I can get at WalMart. Have to do this about twice a week.

I work in an Indian Health Service Hospital and the Nurses introduced me to Superglue. Hold the crack shut and apply a miniscule amount of superglue and it seals it. In health care it's important to seal them to avoid MRSA and other infections.

I have come to believe that newspaper as well as stress may be the culprit. Last year I moved and had all my china in newspaper my fingers split when I packed and were a mess for weeks then they were okay until we had to unpack and again my fingers split. This fall we moved again and of course wrapped everything with paper and wouldn't you know it, my fingertips split and my hands were so chapped that they didn't even absorb handcream!!

I found a few things that work..the lipbalm that is in the little pots like medex the one with the yellow lid (don't remember the name) also polysporin with painrelief, and when washing vinegar and then moisturize with one that says 24 hour moisturizer and use it every time you wash. I don't know why the vinegar works but it works great on sunburn too, so it must have some antiseptic quality.

Coconut oil helped me to avoid cracked skin on my hands in the winter. My wife likes it too because it's a food and can be used on her hands even in the kitchen when she is preparing food. If the room temp is above 78 degrees--it will become liquid--clear like water.

I've had cracked, bleeding fingertips on and off for years...never really found a consistent solution, but I will be trying some of the above suggestions.
I am convinced that my fingertip troubles are associated with my computer use... there are three fingers on each hand that crack and these are my main keyboard and mouse fingers... I teach computer art and use various computer sometimes all day/night.

It's the only thing i can think of that would explain why my pinkies and thumbs don't crack. I often catch myself absentmindedly resting my middle three fingers on the keyboard in between typing.

I've heard that computer keyboards and mice are very dirty generally, so I try to remember to clean mine, but it's kind of tough if they don't "look" dirty.

Anyway, just wondering if any of you notice some correlation with computer use. I also think I might be sensitive to the rubbery/latex-like buttons on remote controls... when I go through a tv-watching period a few times a year my right (remote) hand gets worse.

mysterious fingers.

My husband's fingers are cracked and he has tried everything. Last night I gave him Bath and Body Work's Heel of Approval to try because it really healed my heels.

I had suffered from peeling skin on my fingers for the past 9 years and have tried almost all types of cream. Thank goodness they are not contagious!

My dermatologist said it was some type of psoriasis. So I have tried prescriptions after prescriptions, and nothing helped. I also tried many drugstore creams, from Corn Huskers to the German brand Weleda, but those didn’t help either. Then about a year ago, a friend recommended Gloves In A Bottle.

You can read more from my blog:

http://cambreenotes.com/best-products-for-winter-dry-skin-relief/

p.s. this is not a paid endorsement... but just want to share my experience. Thanks :)

"Nutiva" Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil (Organic)

Not a joke. It can't just be any coconut oil. It has to be organic, extra virgin, and coldpressed.

I use it for everything skin related. It kills bacteria, so when I recently got this "fungus", and started getting painful cracks on my fingertips, I started putting it on mostly at night before bed, but during the day too if it started to hurt. It's been 3 days, and the cracks have almost completely disappeared.

You can get it at vitamin shops, or a whole foods store, like "Whole Foods Market"

I have tried tea tree oil and loads of other stuff, with out much luck.

A friend told me about Gloves in a Bottle years ago. I never looked back to using anything else.

Once in a while my fingertips still crack and bleed, but when I apply GIAB, it heals much faster. Usually in 3 days or less. Only thing is I wish I had known about it sooner.

DECOLORIZED iodine is what my mother always used when she had these cracks on her fingertips (on me, it's usually my thumb(s)). It won't stain like the regular brown iodine tincture. You have to ask for it at the pharmacy counter, and it's becoming increasingly hard to find. It stings like heck for a minute but removes the pain right away, and heals quickly!

where can you get that stuff...GIAB and how much is it?

Hi Nancy,

In California it's available at Kaiser Pharmacy. You don't have to have Kaiser health insurance to buy from their pharmacy either.

About $15 per bottle of 8 oz bottle.

Or you can get it online here - http://www.glovesinabottle.com/order-form.html

Good luck!

Does anybody's fingertips ever start to be infected? Mine is not only cut, but swelling and almost getting black. I wonder if remedies still apply.

Also, my skin was dry for sure and fingers sensitive, then, made the mistake of using an industrial purple cleaning liquid without wearing gloves! Immediately made splits and oh the pain.

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: PLEASE GET MEDICAL ATTENTION. DON'T MESS WITH POSSIBLE INFECTIONS.

I always have at least one cracked fingertip right at the corner of my nail. I use a tiny mini drop of superglue, then hold the crack closed, the pain immediately stops, allows the crack to heal. I tried the bag balm, vicks with a bandage and all the other greasy solutions, but they are so messy and the bandage keeps coming off, and those little splits hurt for days while they are healing. The glue works great. stopping the pain is important to me cause I'm really active and like everybody else, need all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs without wincing in pain every time I touch anything. Palmers Shea Butter helps a lot and it isn't greasy, try it in combination with the glue.

What I really want is to cure the cause, what causes this, is it a shortage of something in ones diet?

When my husband and I get cracks on our fingers I noticed that the skin around the crack is thick. It has helped us to use an emery board to file down the hard skin as much as possible before applying any creams or lotions. This allows the skin to flex so it won't re-crack. Follow up with Bag Balm at night or Gloves in a Bottle for the day so your hands aren't so greasy.

Gloves in a Bottle hasn't worked for me. My problem is more than dried out, winter skin. I actually have patches of thickened, occasionally itchy, spots on fingers, elbows & knees. I tend to peel them and inevitably end up with very sore spots. Dermatologist says psoriasis. Some things help temporarily, but where is the CURE? Evidently, this is an immune system disorder. I wonder if there is a connection to artificial sweeteners.....

Hi bca,
I wonder if the peeling makes it worse? Have you tried using "handmade" soaps? These soaps are much more moisturizing. Try one that is made with goat milk and with NO added fragrance. The less ingredients the better.

Another soap I like is Nature's Plus Natural Beauty Cleansing Bar - it has Vitamin E and allantoin. I've used it to wash my hands and it's help. I even shampoo with it too.

Also try to avoid eating refined carbs and sugar. These could aggravate your condition.

Please note, just sharing my own tips and opinions. It is not to be taken as medical advice. I am also not endorsed by any company or person for my review of products.

Good luck!

Several years ago when it first became available, the skin lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care, had zinc as one of its ingredients and completely healed the cracked and bleeding skin on my hands and fingers each winter almost overnight, and in 3 days max, just by applying once a day before going to bed. However, it obviously worked too well as it didn't require that much use and thus not that much lotion to get true healing, and the manufacturer, now Unilever, removed the zinc.

The new formulations with various exotic ingredients don't work nearly as well and take much longer, requiring much more lotion, to provide what is very little relief in comparison. Thus Unilever sells much more product which provides much less relief! Capitalism gone GREEDY - isn't it wonderful!? The comments about using zinc oxide ointment reminded me of that once great product!

Something else that might work, now that I think of it, would be Head & Shoulders Intensive Solutions Shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis & dandruff, which contains 2% zinc pyrithione as its active ingredient. In addition to the healing effect of the zinc, it also has some antibacterial or antifungal action to combat the dermatitis & dandruff, and is similar in its action in that respect to the colorless or decolorized iodine and Nizoral Shampoo already mentioned by others.

Jean,

I also used to use Chapstick and noticed that after they changed the formula it didn't work for chapped and cracked skin on my hands and fingers as the original formula had. The ingredient that was responsible for the healing, which they removed from the formulation, was allantoin which is from the leaves of the Comfrey plant.

I've experienced deep and painful cracks around my thumbnails for the first time this winter. I found that a big part of the problem was my overuse of alcohol-based hand cleaners. "Liquid bandage" has really helped, although you need at reapply it 2 or 3 time per day. I've also started wearing gloves while doing housework and the laundry.

I have dealt with cracked thumb tips over the years. I use tea tree oil on them now. Saturate a bandaid with the oil and keep covered for a couple of days and it heals.

After trying many remedies for cracked fingertips, I tried tree tea oil, and the cracks all closed up almost completely the same day. I was playing guitar again the very next day. Thanks for the advice!

Where do you get tree tea oil?

I have found the only thing to help numb the pain is campho & a bandaid. This eventually heals them.

Stores that sell essential oils, like GNC or Vitamin World, carry tea tree oil.

My fingers also become split and sore when I touch newspaper and some other kinds of paper. Cotton gloves work wonders in protecting my hands. I use garden gloves because the little rubber dots help me turn the pages more easily.

I have had a terrible time for several years with cracked finger tips that really hurt most of the time. I have tried many of the suggestions presented here with less than great results. I tried a product called "Gloves In A Bottle" expecting the same poor results. Instead, I found out that within 2 days my hands no longer hurt! I highly recommend the product. I finally have a cure for my winter blues!
Bob

super glue super glue! It works instantly!!!

My painful thickened, peeling skin (on my fingers was worst!) was diagnosed by a derm as psoriasis & Olus foam was prescribed, with little success. The Olus is expensive and the generic variety required by insurance burned. My mom gave me her "St Ives Swiss Formula Extra Soothing Aloe Vera Skin Therapy Lotion with Whole Leaf Aloe," and it has been a miracle cure.

However, it appears this has been discontinued (who knows where she may have bought this, possibly years ago!) I've looked on Ebay, Amazon & St Ives website. I even sent them an email but haven't heard back. I've tried aloe & other aloe products but have yet to find lotion as light, soothing & effective. My fingers had so many red, bloody, swollen spots I was totally embarrassed & wore gloves whenever I could. Now they are normal, but I dread what will happen once I use up this bottle. Anyone have any ideas?

Not having read all the comments about cracked fingertips, just to let you know what relieves the pain for mine - plain yoghurt. Keeping the fingertips dipped in the yoghurt for 10 minutes or so each evening has helped enormously in taking away the burning pain, and then eventually healing them up. Presumably if you applied yoghurt a few times a day, they'd improve quicker. Again perhaps it's the anti-fungal thing working.

FFS we have all got cracked finger tips!!!!!!

BUT what is the cure? Mine tic me off no end as I'm a joiner, but just get used to bleeding fingers! I'm not gonna die. Ow it hurts to type this, where's my tea tree oil/ super glue/ yoghurt? We need a medical answer, I think its caused by exposure to chemicals in my job and not wearing gloves. My fault. atrixo cream and lip balm sort me out but not a cure.

cheers,

Split fingers Mcshane.

I just got done reading all the cures for cracks. I have tried most and now I am going to try some new ones. I will let you know if any work, this is a great site keep up the good work.