Very dry hands

[kaifen]

I tried so many things like jojoba oil, wheat germ oil, propolis, various heavy duty natural hand creams.
They all help a little but my hands are still so dry, only hands, the rest of the skin is fine, and
only during winter and colder months of spring and fall. I take various oil supplements regularly,
try to eat right, no junk, get my vitamins and minerals from juicing, still this condition gets worse
each year. The skin on my hands gets so dry it breaks and bleeds sometime just from a slight scratch or rub,
it becomes like sandpaper, so dry and rough, it even hurts me to wash my hands when it gets like this.
And I use very mild organic soap and try not to wash my hands too often. I also apply a mixture of various creams
and oils almost each night, put some warm gloves on and sleep with all these creams an oils on my hands.
It helps in the morning but then towards midday my skin gets very dry again.
Here's a little discovery by the way for people with the same problem. It's called B5 Design Gel
by Aubrey Organics. It is really a hair product but it works very well as relief for super dry skin.
I guess it has to do with 2 types of gum that are in this formula. This gel has no alcohol either
which is great and very rare. It is very light an not greasy at all. It dries fast and basically just
holds skin together like a glue. There's hardly any residue and it stays on even after you wash your
hands. It is an instant pain reliever!
But this is more like an emergency solution, it doesn't improve the condition, just helps to relieve
the dryness for some time.
Could anyone please suggest a remedy for my condition? I don't know what else to try. Thanks!

[beachbuminthecountry]

I had the same problem along with tight/dry skin around my eyes and mouth but after a few years of changing my diet and using antifungals and probiotics it is just about gone. Just have very very very very little dryness around the mouth. I have found that cleansing the body with change of my eating habits and mainly probiotics help a lot. I am so happy I have changed everything. I can know eat foods that I could before....PROBIOTICS, NO SUGAR, SOME ANTIFUNGALS AT THE RIGHT TIMES, AND EATING RIGHT ARE THE KEY TO GETTING BETTER. Just takes time and reasearch...and most of all listen to your body.

[kaifen]

Thanks for a quick reply. I did enough of thorough detox/cleansing for several years including 5-6 liver flushes which took care of most of my problems but the skin on my hands remains very dry in colder months, moreover it gets worse each year. It is not a major issue but I have to deal with this on a daily basis and I'm kinda tired of sleeping with all this stuff and gloves on my hands.

[shelley]

Are you taking any supplements? Which ones?

Chronically dry skin is often caused by dehydration. ARe you taking in enough fluids? If you are, then have you ever had any other heavy metal or allergy type symptoms? Are you perhaps avoiding salts too much? Low in iron or iodine?

Definitely do a rotation diet and see if you're allergic to anything. Supplementing probiotics would be good. Kefir, yogurt...

Vaseline is excellent. Just put a very thin layer on your hands before you leave in the mornings, repeat sometime in the afternoon.

[kaifen]

Hi Shelley,

I don't take any supplements regularly, only when on candida 2-3 week maintenance and during prep for liver flush.
I drink plenty of fluids, also kefir regularly. I don't have any food allergies. I do tend to eat the same thing for a while like I can have kichadi for a week every day, but I'm trying to rotate.
I have enough good salt with my food, I also love dulse, I have it every now and then.
My skin is much better today since it's warmer. It is weird. The colder it is - the dryer my hands are even when I'm inside all day.

[shelley]

Okay then, I guess what I need to know is your diet. I need to make sure you're eating enough fats. Kichadi is wonderful but if you're mainly eaeting kichadi you should also be eating the Protein Shake to ensure enough EFAs in your diet, and alternating Cod Liver Oil and Wheat Germ Oil, one bottle of each once a year, twice a year at most. That's really all you need. Are you doing something like that?

If you can, list whta your meals/snacks/supplementation usually is for one week.

[kaifen]

I am mostly vegetarian. My diet is very simple. I rotate different grains and beans for breakfast, like rice, quinoa, lentils, mung beans. I prepare those with ghee or oil. For lunch I have various soups with crackers. I usually don't eat dinner. I snack on nuts, fruit and kefir. I try to juice regularly in the morning. I also take wheat germ, fish, flax oils. I mix them with kefir, it is much easier to take them this way.
My hands are so much better since it is very warm out. They'll be ok untill it gets cold again. I just hope that by next winter I'll find the cure. Thanks for your input!

[shelley]

Okay, then if I were you I'd have my iron levels checked and add my Protein Shake to your diet so that you get at least two tablespoons of EFA's a day. Be sure and allow yourself enough salt. If you never eat processed foods, it's actually possible to NOT get enough out of being TOO conscientious! And Zinc is another good one, it's tough to utilize the fish oils without it.

[kaifen]

Thanks, Shelley, I'll try protein shakes and zink supplements. Please suggest where/how I can check my iron levels?

[shelley]

Just get a complete physical, you should be getting one once a year to establish your personal base levels, and ask them to check. Tell them you have a history of low iron/anemia. The tests are very easy to read, usually they have the normal values right there and will say low if the numbers are too low.

[Guest]

This sounds like dishydrosis. Or sometimes called dishydrotic eczema.
I had it for a LONG time, and then i started taking Omega 3 oil and it cleared up within a week. I have not had any sign of it since! I take Omega 3 1000mg/day (from fish oil) - Get 'Omega 3' specifically, NOT cod liver oil or an omega blend, as these are not as concentrated/effective.

[kaifen]

Thanks, I've been taking omega oils for quit a while, rotating flax and fish oil, also wheat germ oil. This didn't help much in my case.

[shelley]

It can also be caused by dehydration, low iodine, heavy metals and allergies. You may have some allergies you haven't discovered (some people are sensitive to flax seed since it's a weed).

Have you tried vaseline intensive care? a humidifier?

It's curious that it's mainly your hands. Do you work with your hands? Wash them frequently? Do you have dry skin anywhere else? Has anything ever happened to your back, up high around the neck and shoulder blades?

[kaifen]

I don't think I'm allergic to anything, but who knows?
Yes, it is just my hands, I don't have problems anywhere else.
I was a compulsive hand washer once but I fixed that a while back.
I do have a humidifier and I use it during colder months.
I haven't tried vaseline. Is it ok to use? There was some sort of controversy about it, like it may actually irritate skin with some people.
Also, I tried Burt's salve with beeswax and it worked really well, but still this is just a temporary relief. My hands are so much better now, during summer. I just wish I won't have to deal with sand paper skin again once it gets colder. Thanks for the input!