Help..

[Betwixt & Between]

I have recently had a problem with my right 3rd digit. It's so dry it is cracking. I use a biotone deep tissue lotion as I have from the beginning. And I do use hot stones across the back at the end of every massage. (50 to 55 a month) Could it be the heat from the stones? Washing my hands so much? I need something that will help it heal as it is starting to feel rough to me and I worry about it for my clients.

 

[cat lover]

Hmmm....

I would wonder why it isnt happening to any other finger. Do you have excema or dermatitis?? Have you tried applying a hydrocortizone product?

I use hot stones every day as well and have a problem occationally with a finger tip cracking open (usually in the winter.) However, I know other people who are in various professions whos fingers crack open during the winter as well.

Here is what I do when I develop a crack. I use a cuticle trimmer and trim back the thick callous type skin. Callous is dead skin and it will never grow back together. All it will do is get thicker and separate more, which prevents the growing layer of skin underneath it from healing properly. Then, I apply a few layers of liquid bandage (New Skin brand or something similar.) I then wear a finger cot (new one with each client) until it heals. The finger cot will help keep oils or anything else from getting in the crack. Clients wont even know you have it on and it will keep you from potentially scratching clients.

 

[David S]

Hmmm....

I would wonder why it isnt happening to any other finger. Do you have excema or dermatitis?? Have you tried applying a hydrocortizone product?

I use hot stones every day as well and have a problem occationally with a finger tip cracking open (usually in the winter.) However, I know other people who are in various professions whos fingers crack open during the winter as well.

Here is what I do when I develop a crack. I use a cuticle trimmer and trim back the thick callous type skin. Callous is dead skin and it will never grow back together. All it will do is get thicker and separate more, which prevents the growing layer of skin underneath it from healing properly. Then, I apply a few layers of liquid bandage (New Skin brand or something similar.) I then wear a finger cot (new one with each client) until it heals. The finger cot will help keep oils or anything else from getting in the crack. Clients wont even know you have it on and it will keep you from potentially scratching clients.

Thank you.... I will definately try that...

 

[?sweet fish?]

Hmmm....

I would wonder why it isnt happening to any other finger. Do you have excema or dermatitis?? Have you tried applying a hydrocortizone product?

I use hot stones every day as well and have a problem occationally with a finger tip cracking open (usually in the winter.) However, I know other people who are in various professions whos fingers crack open during the winter as well.

Here is what I do when I develop a crack. I use a cuticle trimmer and trim back the thick callous type skin. Callous is dead skin and it will never grow back together. All it will do is get thicker and separate more, which prevents the growing layer of skin underneath it from healing properly. Then, I apply a few layers of liquid bandage (New Skin brand or something similar.) I then wear a finger cot (new one with each client) until it heals. The finger cot will help keep oils or anything else from getting in the crack. Clients wont even know you have it on and it will keep you from potentially scratching clients.

I forgot to answer your questions...no I don't have excema or dermatitis and this is the first time I've ever had a problem like this. My other fingers are dry but haven't cracked open.

 

[bugsysue2]

I forgot to answer your questions...no I don't have excema or dermatitis and this is the first time I've ever had a problem like this. My other fingers are dry but haven't cracked open.

Sometimes too much moisturizing (which applies to almost all of us in this profession) causes your skin to stop producing its own oils. When I start drying out, I soak my hands in salt water after work each night. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but it does restore the balance and softens my skin back up nicely.

 

[Thong Man]

I used to have a similar problem because I play the drums and carve stone. When I was in massage school, it got worse and my Shiatsu instructor suggested that I take vitamin E--just one or two pills weekly-- and sure enough the problem cleared up. Maybe that can help you.

 

[Kylie S]

I had a similar problem many years ago. It only effected the three middle fingers on one hand. I ended up seeing a dermatologist and he thought it was probably from washing my hands so much.

t102

I went to using a special hand cleaner that I had to order from a pharmacy (non-prescription but special order) and a skin sealant to apply in between washings. Other things we tried were soaking in a tar solution (yucky smelling), antibiotics, prednisone and steroid creams.

My hands did clear up but I was never quite sure what caused it to appear and what made it go away.

One thing......it happened in a very stressful time in my life when I had many upheavals and uncertainties. Now that my life is so much better, it hasn't ever returned (knock on wood,)

I have used Biotone products for 15 yrs. both before, during and after the outbreak so I've never thought that it was a cause.

Angie

 

[Mrs Lovett]

Thank you all for your advice. Between all of it, I'm looking for this to clear up soon.

 

[cassiex]

I have had this same problem with the same finger but on the left hand. The thing I found interesting about it was that is the main meridian line for the Triple Warmer meridian, which in women is responsible for hormones. Mine at the time were definitely out of whack. I use magnets frequently and used one on the meridian at one of the main points that seemed to bother me the most. (Not on the hand however, farther up the arm or into the shoulder.)Within a few weeks the condition completely disappeared. Just a thought.

I did use Biotone products at the time also and found that it bothered my skin overall. It tended to dry out my hands to the point that even after washing thoroughly it didn't settle down. I ended up switching to a more natural product and found this also helped my skin on that finger as well as the hands themselves. Increasing my Vitamin E & A helped me a lot too. Hope this helps.

 

[armouror2000]

You probably know I am a big acupuncture fan, but only with a GOOD acupuncturist.

I have been going through a very stressful 4 years. I started out with "stress spots" on the backs of my hands. They would come and go, come and go. Recently everything went haywire and the stress spots got bigger and covered more area of my body for not reason at all.

I have been to the dermatologist. What they did just covered the problem. I am currently seeing an acupuncturist/herbalist and she feels we'll have the problem cleared in about 4 to 6 weeks. It is rare she is wrong on her timing. Originally she was expecting 3 weeks, but my nerves keep getting fried.

I recommend seeing someone sooner than later. It's no fun trying to fix it once it gets bad. :shock:

 

[Hitpig #1]

Thank you both. Dodab...if you don't mind, what lotion did you switch to?