Hand cream

[jack]

I got some generic moisturiser from Tesco and in the short term it helped a lot. If it doesn't solve the problem I'll see if I can get something more heavyweight.

Looking at my hands I'm a little shocked at how cracked they'd got. I'd mentally consigned this to the category of "little things to sort out when I have time, after all, other people have real problems, surely I shouldn't complain about some cracked skin". But it did look a bit like I beat up a brick wall in a boxing match :)

I still only have a partial understanding of what constitutes "moisturiser"/"aqueous"/"emollient" and which brands are fall under one general umbrella term, and which brands represent something qualitatively different.

Comments

[ptc24]

If it goes on your skin, there's a confusopoly in it.

[jack]

Yeah, I got that far... :)

[gerald_duck]

Wikipedia suggests there's no difference between a moisturiser and an emollient, but Addenbrooke's dermatology seems to use the latter to mean moisturisers that are also actively soothing.

Aqueous cream is just moisturiser. Moisturising creams and such tend to be moisturiser plus expensive-looking colour, plus expensive-smelling perfume, plus expensive texture, plus allergens. (-8

[redbird]

It's the kind of small thing that I figure is worth taking care of (because it doesn't take huge amounts of money or time, yours or other people's) because doing so really will make you more comfortable and likely happier, and may also reduce the risk of a larger problem (like an infection).

[jack]

Thank you, that's pretty helpful.

[forestofglory]

The main thing I've found with hand creams, is to make sure they don't have alcohol in them, as it dries out your skin, and thus tends not to solve the problem.

[karen2205]

"aqueous cream" itself comes in big pots and is meant to be used as a soap substitute, rather than as a moisturising cream as if used as a moisturiser for long periods it can lead to allergic reactions.

Other than that most moisturisers are approximately the same (I'd check labels for any ingredients you know you might react to) and the principle is to apply lots of it often, rather than to apply it sparingly and infrequently.

Thicker substances, often labelled "ointments" can be used overnight, with cotton gloves to cover you hands after you've applied the ointment.