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Mar 25, 2015 2:09 PM CST
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
A paraffin-based lotion works for my (formerly) cracked to the point of bleeding winter hands, and it's the one and only kind that's ever done so.


I've tried so many others, but they just wash away too soon. I'm using this one now http://www.bathandbodyworks.co... , and it's working perfectly. It stays on plenty long enough to work, yet isn't sticky or greasy.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Mar 25, 2015 3:52 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Grantville, GA (Zone 8a)
Greenhouse Region: Georgia Garden Sages Organic Gardener Beekeeper Vegetable Grower
Seed Starter Cut Flowers Composter Keeper of Poultry Keeps Goats Avid Green Pages Reviewer
When I can't stand wearing gloves I switch to latex gloves. Tight fitting so you can do close work. I used to be of the same mindset about not being able to wear gloves. You have to FORCE yourself to keep them on! Eventually you will get to the point you won't be able to stand not wearing them. I have several different weight gloves for different jobs. For nighttime I use Bag Balm and cotton gloves when my hands are cracked and bleeding. Daytime, Gold Bond Ultimate.
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Mar 25, 2015 6:10 PM CST
Name: Mary K
Safety Harbor, FL (Zone 10a)
Container Gardener Region: Florida Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
I've had good luck with both Working Hands and CeraVe. I preferred the cream Working Hands, but that has been discontinued and only the salve is available now. CeraVe is available as both a cream and a lotion. Personally I think the cream is more effective. Good luck .. I can relate to gloves .. I hate wearing them too and my hands pay for it.
Mary K.
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Mar 25, 2015 7:09 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Ditto to what Arlene said. It took me years to get used to gloves but now I don't like gardening without them. Slugs made it all possible.
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Mar 25, 2015 8:56 PM CST
Name: Elfrieda
Indian Harbour Beach, Florida (Zone 10a)
Annuals Foliage Fan Herbs Hibiscus Master Gardener: Florida Roses
Salvias Sedums Sempervivums Enjoys or suffers hot summers Ferns Dragonflies
Bonehead said:Coconut oil.
I love coconut oil. I bought it to use for cooking; but I don't. I just use it as a moisturizer on legs, arms and especially hands. It does work. I hate wearing gloves - I know I should, especially when I'm gardening. I tell my gardening friends (some of them have really pretty nails) that you can always tell a gardener by their nails. I can't grow mine; they split and break. But lately they are looking better and I think it could be the coconut oil.
I do eat some nuts every day; walnuts or almonds and I use almond milk for my cereal (when I eat that).
“I was just sittin’ here enjoyin’ the company. Plants got a lot to say, if you take the time to listen”
Eeyore
Last edited by orchidgal Mar 25, 2015 8:59 PM Icon for preview
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Mar 25, 2015 9:09 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I agree with Sooby about the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream -- (well, my grandmother was 100% Norwegian, so I may be prejudiced...) My heels used to get really dry and calloused and would crack and hurt (to say nothing of wearing through any sort of socks or stockings in short order), and the Norwegian Formula finally got them back into shape. Thumbs up

I use leather gloves in the garden for anything like raking and shoveling and such, but anything that requires some dexterity usually finds me bare-handed. Shrug!
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Mar 26, 2015 11:30 PM CST
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
I use pure lanolin. You can find it in the Baby aisle. Nursing mothers use it to sooth cracked nipples.

I also use Beeswax Salve i order from a lady in Wisconsin, Julie. I buy 4 at a time in 1lb jars. Google: Stassel's Beeswax Salve. My daughter with eczema swears by it claiming is the only thing that keeps moisture in her body.
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Mar 28, 2015 5:47 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kyla Houbolt
Gastonia, NC (Zone 7b)
Composter Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Herbs Daylilies Sempervivums
Frogs and Toads Container Gardener Cat Lover Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! The WITWIT Badge Winter Sowing
I received my trial size of Wool Wax yesterday; that was fast! I put some on last night and this morning my hands were better -- better, I think, than with previous substances I've been using.

The only thing I don't like is that waxy feel but it does go away quickly as it absorbs. It's a bit sticky just at first.

I'm one who generally avoids chemical additives as much as possible, in everything. Propylene glycol is one ingredient I've avoided, as it has not so great a reputation. It's one of the ingredients in Wool Wax, so I looked it up to see how "bad" it is, and it turns out it is considered low risk by the Environmental Working Group (who study and rank all kinds of products.) It can cause allergic type irritation in some and is considered an immunotoxin. However, given all factors it's worth the risk to me.

Another ingredient I didn't recognize is glycero monostearate. That turns out to be benign in topical application. Apparently it's been tried out as a "nutritional" supplement by body-builders as it is supposed to stimulate cell growth or something? In herbology, a new cell-growth stimulant is termed a cytophylactic, and that's a prized property of plant oils and gels from lavender and from comfrey, to mention the two I am most familiar with.

So, yeah, so far so good. But I've starred this thread so I can try some of the other items if this turns out to be less than adequate after all.

Thanks much, everyone! I tip my hat to you.
Last edited by kylaluaz Mar 28, 2015 5:48 AM Icon for preview
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Mar 29, 2015 9:59 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
It helps to first remove dry, dead skin. I use this product for that, works great
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000052XW5/

Some of my favorite hand creams are Curel and Working Hands. Another favorite is Garden Hand Therapy by Crabtree and Evelyn
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000052XW5/

Another goody: Hand Relief by Aveda
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000052XW5/

Karen
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Mar 29, 2015 1:13 PM CST
Name: Mone
Chicago between O'Hare & Lake (Zone 6a)
Plumerias Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Bee Lover Birds Hummingbirder
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Dragonflies Frogs and Toads Butterflies Beavers Irises
I use hand lotion and shea butter from All Things Herbal.
I keep a bottle of lotion nearby at home and at work and apply it after each handwashing.
I also wear latex gloves while working in the garden.
http://allthingsherbal.com/ind...

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Mar 29, 2015 3:24 PM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
pitimpinai said:I use hand lotion and shea butter from All Things Herbal.
I keep a bottle of lotion nearby at home and at work and apply it after each handwashing.
I also wear latex gloves while working in the garden.
http://allthingsherbal.com/ind...

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Welcome! Welcome to ATP! Welcome!
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Mar 29, 2015 4:12 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Two things come to mind after reading this thread, Kyla. (Besides keeping yourself well hydrated all the time)

First, no amount of cream, oil, salve or balm is really going to help if you are putting your hands in hot water with dish detergent all the time. It's designed to dissolve oils and will do that to your skin as well as to the dishes. Try using dish water that's not as hot, and as little detergent as you can get away with? Run water into the sink and wash all the dishes at one go, so you only wet your hands once. Also wash as many of your dishes as you can in the dishwasher if you have one - it's not only easier on your hands, it's much more water- and energy-efficient.

Second, you're really going to need to wear gloves in the garden. There are things that can hurt your hands, and cause serious infections. Some soils (the alkaline clay we had in Utah for example) actually dessicate your skin on contact. Dry air also aggravated that situation for me when I lived in Utah, a high desert climate. So much as I hated to, I learned to wear gloves. I buy the nitrile palm, mesh back gloves from Gardener's Supply, http://www.gardeners.com/buy/n... and find them very light, cool and supple, and good for dexterity - I can pick out tiny seeds and weeds with them on! They come in 5 sizes and six colors for $6/pair. I've also bought a pack of six "seconds" which were just pairs with the nitrile fingers stuck together and worked fine, 6pr. for $8.95. I get them whenever I can.

For the record, I also agree with Vitamin E and fish oil helping to keep your skin healthy. But I take them as supplements.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Mar 29, 2015 6:49 PM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Hi Mone! So good to see you at ATP! There are a lot of very nice people here. I know you will like it.

@pitimpanai is my long time garden friend from GardenWeb. Many of her plants are growing in my yard. She's also a master at wintersowing and has the gardens to prove it.

Karen
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Mar 29, 2015 9:02 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Awesome!! You should both check out the Site Talk forum -- there's been a request for a dedicated WS forum, your input would be appreciated! Smiling
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Mar 30, 2015 8:28 AM CST
Plants Admin
Name: Suzanne/Sue
Sebastopol, CA (Zone 9a)
Sunset Zone 15
Plant Database Moderator Region: California Cottage Gardener Garden Photography Roses Clematis
Daylilies Houseplants Foliage Fan Birds Butterflies Bee Lover
After reading those Amazon reviews for the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, I am going to try that for my hands and especially my cracked feet! Great suggestions everyone! Thumbs up
My gardening Blog!
Handmade quilts, new & vintage fabrics in my Etsy store. Summer Song Cottage
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Mar 30, 2015 9:12 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Forgot to mention, I like the new Trader Joe's "Head to Toe Balm". Comes in a 2oz. tin for a very reasonable price. (can't remember . . ) As with most of their products, it's full of natural ingredients including coconut oil, shea and cocoa butter, and the fragrance is citrus and lavender. It's very nice.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Mar 30, 2015 4:22 PM CST
Name: Linda
Omaha, N.E (Zone 5b)
Always room to plant one more!
Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Nebraska Hummingbirder Houseplants Critters Allowed Container Gardener
Cat Lover Butterflies Bookworm Birds Garden Ideas: Level 1
One winter I had dry hands and cracking, at the grocery store I bought a hand cream called Crack Cream, it
worked wonders and repaired the cracks.
You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because they have roses!
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Mar 30, 2015 6:37 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I don't think this is for hands at all, but for cracked heels there is a product called "Kerasal" that works really well -- mine used to be terrible, my poor socks would have holes in the heels after several wearings, then someone told me about Kerasal and it really helped. (Oddly, my feet are now much better in that respect, although I don't thing that has anything to do with the Kerasal... not sure what else changed, though)
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Apr 17, 2015 2:49 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kyla Houbolt
Gastonia, NC (Zone 7b)
Composter Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Herbs Daylilies Sempervivums
Frogs and Toads Container Gardener Cat Lover Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! The WITWIT Badge Winter Sowing
Welp. I'm back with an interim report. I am using gloves more and it does help.

I am using the Wool Wax and it also helps a lot. I'm getting low in my sample jar so deciding whether to reorder it or to try something else. I am really drawn to the herbal products Mone shared the link for. Maybe I'll do that and get more Wool Wax too.
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Apr 17, 2015 5:21 PM CST
Name: Mary K
Safety Harbor, FL (Zone 10a)
Container Gardener Region: Florida Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Calif_Sue said:After reading those Amazon reviews for the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, I am going to try that for my hands and especially my cracked feet! Great suggestions everyone! Thumbs up


did you try the Neutrogena cream? I did once .. didn't care for it at all. I think the Working Man's formulas and CeraVe are much better, but then everyone is different.

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