Heredity Strikes Again

[jducoeur]

I've been denying it for quite a while, but my cuticles are going entirely to pot. It's a trivial little thing, but the ongoing annoyance is getting to me gradually: at any given time, I have at least one or two fingers where the skin is receding just an Eeensy Weeensy Bit from the nail and peeling slightly -- invisible to anyone but me, but painful as a paper cut.

I've never really known *why* my father has always been so diligent about moisturizing his hands all the time, but I think I've found out. Time to pick up another habit from him...

Comments

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

Have you tried drops of crazy glue?

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

Jesus, that's even worse than my old habit of washing my face with Windex.

Any of the really thick ointments caked on the cuticles two or three times a day will do the trick. (You get used to the routine after awhile.) .

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

Oh?

I tend to get cracks there in the cold weather. Ointments help and prevent it long term.

However if you already have the crack... a small drop applied with a toothpick is enough to instantly seal it and stop the pain. It was developed as a skin glue after all. You then apply ointment over it once a day.

[jducoeur]

Effectively, yes -- that's more or less what Liquid Bandage is, IIRC, and that's what I've been using for several months now. But while it does work to protect instances after they've sprung up, it doesn't do much to prevent them (unless I use ridiculous amounts, because it only sticks for a couple of days). And in many cases it stings like bejeezus when I apply it -- one of the main reasons why I've decided I need a better long-term solution.

And really -- given how often I was having to apply the stuff to various fingers, it really wasn't any less labor than moisturizing is...

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

I have no recollection off the top of my head whether or not you are guilty of any offenses here, but generally speaking, one's dance partners appreciate moisturization as well. At least in the winter months.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

In college I worked the Hallmark Cards aisle at CVS, and my cuticles were a scandal (basically, lateral papercuts.) What really worked: Chapstick.

One of the benefits is you can keep a tube in your car, your desk, whatever, and put it on the cuticles whenever you notice it, without the whole-hand-grease aspect.

[jducoeur]

Huh -- never would have occurred to me, but that's clever and useful. I generally have a stick in my pouch anyway, so that's a useful option for me to keep in mind. Thanks!

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Blistex in the can works for me.

Another thing, is humidity in your house. I have had dry skin since I was a teenager (I got glares from my pimply compatriots when I put on moisturizer instead). With my new house having a humidity in the high 50's low 60's, I don't have nearly the problems I have had in the past. Nota Bene: Just adding water to your house can be detrimental to you and the house. The best way to increase humidity is to reduce air leakage (and it saves heat and money at the same time).

[cellio]

Seconded. I do this all the time for little skin irritations when I can't do something better at the moment, and it really makes a difference.

[serakit.livejournal.com]

Shea butter is a wonderful, wonderful thing. You can only use a dab of it if you don't want to be rubbing it in forever, but one dab lasts more or less an entire day.

[jducoeur]

Hmm. Don't know it, but I'll keep an eye open for it and see how it does...