Hi again- I posted a few weeks ago to say that thanks to the posters in this thread, I FINALLY figured out why my hands were damaged, after years of being misdiagnosed by doctors. As a poster on this thread advised, I cut out cosmetic products containing SLS (sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate) and my fingertips are functional and pain-free for the first time in years. Here's a follow-up: as time passes, my fingers get better and better, but I had to do a lot of experimentation to figure out which products needed to go.
The good news is: Though I'd been convinced that I was doomed to live with cracked, sore fingers forever, to my surprise my fingers are healed. The bad news is: there are virtually no cosmetic products that are truly free of SLS or other irritants. Just because a product is organic or purchased at a health store does not mean it's free of harmful chemicals! Also, SLS has lots of sneaky names, such as "coconut-based surfactant"- it's next to impossible to ensure that the products you're buying don't have it. It was very, very challenging to find anything that worked for me, and harder still to isolate which of the products I was using were damaging my skin. I wasted a lot of money (and healing) on products that I still ended up reacting to. Even Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap and Avalon Organics shampoo were too harmful for me. Sadly, I still haven't found a dish/laundry soap that I can use, and the cosmetic products that I can use are less than ideal. For those of you who want to trial products to see if your cracked, peeling fingers finally start to heal (like mine did!) here's a list of the ONLY products that are 100% working for me. To make it work, you have to STOP using any other soap.
HAND/BODY SOAP: The Soap Works Pure Glycerine Soap (it's liquid and you need a cloth to use it in the shower as it doesn't lather very well. But it does the job and it's better than nothing!). A 455 mL bottle cost me about $7.50. I bring a small bottle of it with me everywhere so that I can wash my hands in public or at friends' houses when needed.
SHAMPOO: In the shower, I keep a sealed tupperware with baking soda in it, a big bottle of apple cider vinegar, and a 1/4 measuring cup. First, I wet my hair thoroughly. Then I scoop a bit less than 1/4 cup baking soda out and rub it into my scalp. It feels gritty but I can distribute it pretty evenly. Then I rinse thoroughly. Then I rinse out the scooper and pour in a bit less than 1/4 cup of the apple cider vinegar, and pour that on my hair as conditioner. I can't believe how well this works to cleanse and detangle my hair, and once it's rinsed out, my hair (honestly) smells normal! Even my partner says he can't notice any weird vinegar smell or anything (and I have long, thick hair). Plus: my hair has never been in better condition, honestly!
TOOTHPASTE: Jason's Cinnamon and Tea Tree Oil toothpaste. At first, I couldn't stand the taste. It's foul... but I'm slowly getting used to it. Really!
MOISTURIZER: I bought a brick of pure shea butter which I keep just sitting out on a dish. I keep one in the bathroom and one on my bedside table. My hands have never been happier.
To anyone suffering from dry, cracked, peeling fingertips, I know your pain! I STRONGLY SUGGEST a trial (for just a week or two!) of cutting out all soaps/shampoos and trying these instead for your hygiene. It's a bit of an inconvenience, and less "luxurious" for sure, but if you're suffering like I was, then it's got to be worth a try. Best of luck to you!
Hi Karen- I posted a lengthy response in the main body of the treat r/t which products worked for me. It was a long hunt and it involved a lengthly process of elimination! Hope they work for you, too :)
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I am 54, diagnosed with GERD & yes I bite my nails - when I was faithful to the SOUTH BEACH DIET--limited carbs - I did not bite my nails. Interesting. However, about one year ago sores on the inside of my right finger began to appear. I went to my doctor who told me I had a fungus & prescribed a topical cream. He told me the fungus will never go away - just get better possibly. The cream didn't work so he gave me something else - this went away in the summer but back now & spreading into my hand. Also I have small cuts on the front of my finger. I take Nexum for my GERD and have that under control. My doctor wants me to see a dermatologist. I am a school teacher and worry about spreading what is on my hand.I have resorted to wearing latex glove when grading. The fungus doesn't appear any where else. I don't drink or smoke - my worst habit is drinking tea. If anyone can help me please advise. thank you.
SKIN PEELING FROM FINGER NAILS AND HANDS AND CRACKING
Hi - i started having this a few ago to. Basically, my the skin on my fingers started to peel - sort of like when you're feet are in the water for a long time and the bottom fo feet has small patches of peeling skin, but in this case, my hands are not in the water and they aren't dry, but they peel. It started with my thumb and then moved along up to my pinky finger and now to the bottom of my fingers (connecting to palm). My palm is also starting to develop this hard like blister (but its not a blister, just a tough piece of skin - something you'd get if you used the monkey bars a lot for instance).
Anyway, I used cortisone and Aveena and while it helps very tiny or for perhaps 1 hours, my hands go back to being dry. Its like my hands are going from 38 year old to 60 year old. There are many lines showing (almost like wrinkles) and they are puckered (as if you had just came out of the shower or have been washing dishes). But in this case, my hands are not wet but they are puckered as if they've been wet or soaked in water. This puckering is also happening in tandem with hardening of skin (or roughness) and even if you glide a piece of toilet paper over the top of those fingers tips, you can barely (if at all) feel it. Well thee are my conditions at least.
So I go to Chinese doctors. He showed me a book and the term is called "housewives hand eczema". Essentially, it means our hands have been using potentially many different soaps or irritants/chemicals. The medical word is Keratoderma Tylodes Polarmis Progressiva. You can find a study and see photos online to see if your hands look like this.
In the beginning our hands are rough and peely, but if not taken care of, they will get worse. They will get to the point of becoming like tough leather where no oils can be secreted and they start to split/crack open - this is when you probably have to go the hospital. However, from what I hear or have been reading online, looks like the Western doctors are saying its just eczema, go put on some cream because its just the weather. While the condition can be triggered in the winter, the problem is far deeper than just weather.
Well, its not just dry skin or the weather. I don't know how to explain it in Chinese, but essentially, the body's system cannot produce properly the oils to the skin. This condition is also worsened by the fact that you have stress or sleeping really late.
So wherever people live, western medication may not be able to help you. The doctor I go to is a pathologist professor from Beijing University. He's helped me with my typical ailments such as the regular cough and cold and sometimes broncitis and is great at it. If my medication helps, I will keep you posted. But all i'm saying is that if you have this condition, don't just rely on creams, what you need to do is readjust your system- exercise to relieve stress and sleep more - at least that will help a bit. You also need a traditional chinese medicine doctor. Good luck to all.
Having said that, I got a prescription from my Chinese doctor today.
Hi - i started having this a few ago to. Basically, my the skin on my fingers started to peel - sort of like when you're feet are in the water for a long time and the bottom fo feet has small patches of peeling skin, but in this case, my hands are not in the water and they aren't dry, but they peel. It started with my thumb and then moved along up to my pinky finger and now to the bottom of my fingers (connecting to palm). My palm is also starting to develop this hard like blister (but its not a blister, just a tough piece of skin - something you'd get if you used the monkey bars a lot for instance).
Anyway, I used cortisone and Aveena and while it helps very tiny or for perhaps 1 hours, my hands go back to being dry. Its like my hands are going from 38 year old to 60 year old. There are many lines showing (almost like wrinkles) and they are puckered (as if you had just came out of the shower or have been washing dishes). But in this case, my hands are not wet but they are puckered as if they've been wet or soaked in water. This puckering is also happening in tandem with hardening of skin (or roughness) and even if you glide a piece of toilet paper over the top of those fingers tips, you can barely (if at all) feel it. Well thee are my conditions at least.
So I go to Chinese doctors. He showed me a book and the term is called "housewives hand eczema". Essentially, it means our hands have been using potentially many different soaps or irritants/chemicals. The medical word is Keratoderma Tylodes Polarmis Progressiva. You can find a study and see photos online to see if your hands look like this.
In the beginning our hands are rough and peely, but if not taken care of, they will get worse. They will get to the point of becoming like tough leather where no oils can be secreted and they start to split/crack open - this is when you probably have to go the hospital. However, from what I hear or have been reading online, looks like the Western doctors are saying its just eczema, go put on some cream because its just the weather. While the condition can be triggered in the winter, the problem is far deeper than just weather.
Well, its not just dry skin or the weather. I don't know how to explain it in Chinese, but essentially, the body's system cannot produce properly the oils to the skin. This condition is also worsened by the fact that you have stress or sleeping really late.
So wherever people live, western medication may not be able to help you. The doctor I go to is a pathologist professor from Beijing University. He's helped me with my typical ailments such as the regular cough and cold and sometimes broncitis and is great at it. If my medication helps, I will keep you posted. But all i'm saying is that if you have this condition, don't just rely on creams, what you need to do is readjust your system- exercise to relieve stress and sleep more - at least that will help a bit. You also need a traditional chinese medicine doctor. Good luck to all.
Hi!
I wish I had read this post years ago, because it wasn't until I read this thread that I figured out that the cause was irritating soaps/surfactants. Your Chinese Doctor was right, if your problem is the same as mine. I suggest that you STOP using any soap/shampoo/dish soap/laundry detergent with an ingredient called SLS, or sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate. It's very, very difficult to find products that are SLS-free and it requires some adjustment and trial and error. I detail it in a message somewhere earlier in this thread, but the long story short is that I wash my hands ONLY with Soap Works Vegetable Oil Glycerin Soap, I was my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar, and I can't EVER use dish soap. I suggest you try this! My fingers are finally healed and hopefully yours will heal, too. Good luck!
I spent three hours reading these posts back in October and finally tried staying away from SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate). My symptoms reduced dramatically within 24 hours. I have been suffering for over 4 years. I posted my results in September and I am glad some people have gotten some greatly needed relief. I am still staying away from SLS and I am getting better every day...to anyone still suffering, once again, please check the labels on anything that foams....anything containing SLS is toxic to you....Life is so much better and I feel such mental and physical relief!!! Kristine
Try keeping your fingers out of your face.
Comes on after I've been biting my nails (or sucking food, dried skin, or snot off my fingers) then goes away when I stop.
You're probably allergic to Nickle. I worked in the garment industry and normally all metal parts used should be Nickle-free because it potentially causes allergy to some people
I have had this for YEARS... finally tried 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 water. Soaked fignertips for about 5 minures..it burns but it starts healing them the very next day. Sounds to good to be true but it works miracles. As a women it is terrible to have band aids on 6 out of 10 fingers. This water/vinegar even helps the redness reduce byt he 2nd day.
This happens to me, it started out last year. All I know is that it comes once every year, but after a while, with skin cream, it'll go....