Hi all! I play the mandolin, but may not be able to tonight on account of 4 digits on my right hand being band-aided after cracking and bleeding while at work today. I work for a sprinkler installation company, so I'm outside all day and my hands end up getting wet off and on through out the day. working in the mud drys them out real bad too. I know my job has nothing to do with ITM, but It's starting to interfere with my playing and since you all play music and it's not a one-in-a-million kind of problem I'm having, I thought you guys may have some advice. I have a bottle of O'keeffe's Working Hands lotion and it works better than any other lotion I've found, but it's not enough. I know he neosporin gel + band-aid trick(that's what i'm doing now, but I was hoping one of you might know a better way. Thanx!
"I play the mandolin, but may not be able to tonight on account of 4 digits on my right hand being band-aided after cracking and bleeding while at work today. I work for a sprinkler installation company...it's not a one-in-a-million kind of problem I'm having"
Burts bees do a great hand salve. Its cheap and natural and effective. Both as protection and replacing oils lost. Muds got nothing compared to cement!
That happens to me all the time. I put Bacitracin on it at night, then cover it with Bandaids. I'll go through a tube of Bacitracin and several boxes of Bandaids each winter.
Body shop hemp cream and the like are best for re-moisturising after damage but I dont think they offer the same degree of protection while working as the wax based salves.. I remember times where the skin would absorb the cream as fast as it could be applied! A combination approach is probably the way to go.
I've found Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream to work better than anything else I've tried - and it doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy or have a girly smell. CVS Pharmacy makes a generic knock-off that's just as good.
But I've never had a problem as severe as yours, so you may be out of this league already. Still, if you haven't tried Aveeno, it may be worth a shot.
Stephen, I often use Liquid Skin or a similar medicinal grade "super glue" to seal cracks in my fingers. I've got two on my thumb right now, and the glue keeps them from hurting too much while also speeding the healing process. You can find it at any local drug store, usually with all the band aids, etc.
Work gloves - I did a fair bit of building once, used the rubber gloves, a bit sweaty and all that, but really saved the old skin. Of course, your mates might look on you as a bit of a wimp but you gotta get your prioritesi right!
I've often used superglue, or medicinal grade analog, even for slices that probably needed stitches. That what it was originally designed for.
In my past I worked as a dishwasher at a small but busy rest that was just getting started, we had not yet purchased a dishwashing machine. I washed them all by hand, for 30-40 hours a week my hand were wet. The bits of skin that weren't cracked were hard & pink & the rest was deep bleeding cracks. People gave me all sorts of hand creams, lotions & salves but nothing worked for me. The conditions were too extreme, it just washed off everything. Finally I tried lansinoh, it was the only thing that worked. Lansinoh is almost pure lanolin & is marketed for nursing mothers, it's pricey but a little goes a long way.
Another tip, before bed, liberally rub some bacetracin or another antibiotic on your hands then wear latex gloves while you sleep. They should be 100% in a few nights time.
I use the Burts bees hand slave that Ionannas mentioned when my hands get really dry and crack during the winter. Works like a charm. On an interesting note, I have a friend who swears by turpentine for healing cuts and cracks. Can't say that I've tried it myself....
dry hands = less ITM
dry hands = less ITM
Hi all! I play the mandolin, but may not be able to tonight on account of 4 digits on my right hand being band-aided after cracking and bleeding while at work today. I work for a sprinkler installation company, so I'm outside all day and my hands end up getting wet off and on through out the day. working in the mud drys them out real bad too. I know my job has nothing to do with ITM, but It's starting to interfere with my playing and since you all play music and it's not a one-in-a-million kind of problem I'm having, I thought you guys may have some advice. I have a bottle of O'keeffe's Working Hands lotion and it works better than any other lotion I've found, but it's not enough. I know he neosporin gel + band-aid trick(that's what i'm doing now, but I was hoping one of you might know a better way. Thanx!
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by steve...r
Re: dry hands = less ITM
"I play the mandolin, but may not be able to tonight on account of 4 digits on my right hand being band-aided after cracking and bleeding while at work today. I work for a sprinkler installation company...it's not a one-in-a-million kind of problem I'm having"
You sure about that?
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by mcdevincabe
Re: dry hands = less ITM
I remember this thread being useful -
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/20055/comments#comment419459
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Burts bees do a great hand salve. Its cheap and natural and effective. Both as protection and replacing oils lost. Muds got nothing compared to cement!
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Body shop hemp hand cream...only one that worked for me when I loaded bags of concrete for a living.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Splendid Isolation
Re: dry hands = less ITM
That happens to me all the time. I put Bacitracin on it at night, then cover it with Bandaids. I'll go through a tube of Bacitracin and several boxes of Bandaids each winter.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Have you tried Bag Balm? It's pretty good...
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Upsetter
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Body shop hemp cream and the like are best for re-moisturising after damage but I dont think they offer the same degree of protection while working as the wax based salves.. I remember times where the skin would absorb the cream as fast as it could be applied! A combination approach is probably the way to go.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: dry hands = less ITM
I've found Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream to work better than anything else I've tried - and it doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy or have a girly smell. CVS Pharmacy makes a generic knock-off that's just as good.
But I've never had a problem as severe as yours, so you may be out of this league already. Still, if you haven't tried Aveeno, it may be worth a shot.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by fuzzygreen
Re: dry hands = less ITM
can't you wear protective gloves at work?
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by claudine
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Stephen, I often use Liquid Skin or a similar medicinal grade "super glue" to seal cracks in my fingers. I've got two on my thumb right now, and the glue keeps them from hurting too much while also speeding the healing process. You can find it at any local drug store, usually with all the band aids, etc.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Work gloves - I did a fair bit of building once, used the rubber gloves, a bit sweaty and all that, but really saved the old skin. Of course, your mates might look on you as a bit of a wimp but you gotta get your prioritesi right!
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by the wounded hussar
Re: dry hands = less ITM
I use the same liquid skin that Will CPT is talking about. It's fantasttic stuff!
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by shanty
Re: dry hands = less ITM
I've often used superglue, or medicinal grade analog, even for slices that probably needed stitches. That what it was originally designed for.
In my past I worked as a dishwasher at a small but busy rest that was just getting started, we had not yet purchased a dishwashing machine. I washed them all by hand, for 30-40 hours a week my hand were wet. The bits of skin that weren't cracked were hard & pink & the rest was deep bleeding cracks. People gave me all sorts of hand creams, lotions & salves but nothing worked for me. The conditions were too extreme, it just washed off everything. Finally I tried lansinoh, it was the only thing that worked. Lansinoh is almost pure lanolin & is marketed for nursing mothers, it's pricey but a little goes a long way.
Another tip, before bed, liberally rub some bacetracin or another antibiotic on your hands then wear latex gloves while you sleep. They should be 100% in a few nights time.
good luck
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Brad Maloney
Re: dry hands = less ITM
I use the Burts bees hand slave that Ionannas mentioned when my hands get really dry and crack during the winter. Works like a charm. On an interesting note, I have a friend who swears by turpentine for healing cuts and cracks. Can't say that I've tried it myself....
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by jsmith
Re: dry hands = less ITM
*salve, not slave
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by jsmith
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Like I said to my friend, who was working in an asbestos factory, change your job. Now.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: dry hands = less ITM
Alright, I'll be writing these down and tryin' them out. I KNEW you guys would have ome good ideas
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by steve...r
Re: dry hands = less ITM
*some*
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by steve...r