Splitting hands... :-(

[hodgey03]

I always suffer with dry hands, doesn't matter if I use hand cream they're always dry, but every so often, say, every 2 weeks I suffer terribly with split skin all over my hands. I can barely use my hands for around 4-6 days. It's is if the skin on my hands is too tight for my skeleton and the skin literally splits. It's horrible and very painful. The splits/cuts are small and can appear anywhere on my hands. Everything that comes into contact with my hands sting, even soap and water and drying my hand makes me cringe with pain. What is this and what is causing it? Thank you! x

[Dr Emma Wedgeworth]

Sounds like a form of hand eczema. Either an irritant form or very occasionally an allergy to something your hands are touching. Do you use any chemicals etc for work?

Start with taking out soap altogether. Use a non-soap, unfragranced emollient based hand wash. Then use a thick ointment for the hands which is unfragranced (look in the medical moisturiser section or ask the pharmacist for suggestions). Use gloves for washing up and any cleaning.

Then see your doctor for an anti-inflammatory steroid cream if this is not working. Also consider a referral to a dermatologist for consideration of specialist allergy testing (this won't be for food, but something your hands are touching).

Best wishes.

[hodgey03]

Thank you so much for your reply, it was very informative and has given a lot of information I didn't know about and has put me on the right track to try and combat it. Thanks again! x