Latex is a possible cause. I have a latex allergy and think that this could be in my dishwashing gloves as well as the finger cots I`ve been using to ``protect`` my poor sad split and painful fingers.
Have you considered latex as the culprit - I am allergic to it, but forget sometimes. I am, suiffering now, and looking for better dishwashing gloves.
Use new skin often
So you are saying since you exposed your hands to chlorine every day for 5 days straight now you do not have the problem anymore? I have EXACTLY the same problem. I've been staying out of my hottub because I thought the water would be bad for my fingertips.
Julie...I did not see a post regarding your visit to the dermo. Did they do the UV Therapy? Did it work? I have EXACTLY the same condition that you have described...I get dry layers of hard skin then the cracks start. Then it takes over my fingertips. I only get it on my thumbs & my right finger. Doc thinks & treat like psoriasis, but I don't think it is because it's not like the other kind of psoriasis I have on my elbows & my calf. I'm interested to see what your doc did. Thanks.
I have just started with this, my fingers look like they have been in water at the end and little tiny cuts on them. very tender like I have caught them with tiny grater. I also am in water a lot a moisture a lot. A lady today told me that it was because my skin is thin??? Could this be the cause . Don't know.
I too am a typist for a living and am not able to work today, my finger ends look wrinked and are very sensitive, look like they have little cuts on them, on my right hand (I am right handed) thumb and forefinger both split. Did you find any solution for your fingers, anything that helped? Hope so.
My skin doesn't get the "wrinkled" look. They get hard skin on them..sometimes flakey..then they split. Sometimes when I see it coming I use a nail file to get rid of the dead skin..once it splits it gets worse then my entire thumb is infected. I am constantly putting on thick lotion for extra dry skin..wear gloves at night...& use meds from the dermatologist like Clobetasol (steroid cream) and something called Talconex (use fro scalp but she gave for my fingers). None of these things are helping. It is very frustrating because we use our hands, particularly our fingers, for everything. I am always walking around with my thumbs bandaged up!
Sorry you still not found a solution. Just as a point of interest. I have very dry skin, my feet the worse when they very, very dry they split like they have been cut with a knife. I use a product on them from my chiropodist, urea 25%, this really helps keep the skin in better condition (might actually start to use on my hands). I used to buff my feet when the skin was hard, and before they split and I was told by two professionals this was big no no, as they said, I am causing the layers underneath to become unstable and stressed and they said that it would ultimately make the situation worse. (Don't know if that applies to the fingers) So I don't do that anymore and I have to say they haven't been anywhere near as bad. - if I get any joy with my fingers will let you know. Sorry you still suffering with them.
I've found that pure lanolin solves this problem quickly almost overnight. You can buy it at any pharmacy for cracked nipples in nursing mothers and it is found in the baby needs isle for from 7 to 12 dollars for a substantial tube! It works and soothes the pain as well as heals the cracks and dry areas quickly. Good luck with this.
I have the same problem and would like to know what exactly is UV THERAPY? I have a small UV lamp that I once used for Phyrosis. That was 10 years ago and it was on my hands only not my fingers. Is that what you are talking about?
UV Therapy is done by a Dermatologist and can heal the dry cracked skin. It's used for contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Hope this helps.
I also have the same thing. It clears up after putting vaseline or vitamin E oil on it at night time and sometimes I have to use band aides to keep it sealed with the moisture. I noticed it starts to flare up when I have recently used a counter cleaning product such as windex, lysol or clorox cleaners. If there is bleach in the cleaner it gets really bad.