Finger Splits

[Chipchopper]

I have painful splits in my fingers and thumbs, which makes it difficult to pick things up and do up buttons etc.
What can I do to make them better and prevent a recurrence.

T I A.

[Buenchico]

Possibly a good place to start:
http://www.bad.org.uk/patient-information-leaflets/hand-dermatitis/?showmore=1&returnlink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bad.org.uk%2Ffor-the-public%2Fpatient-information-leaflets

[Sam1960]

I too have splits on my thumbs, just at the corner of the nail. Get them regularly when the weather is just above, or below freezing. And as you say, picking things up can be so difficult, and fastening buttons can be excruciatingly painful.
I wear gloves at work whenever I can, to try and prevent me from stubbing my thumbs (doesn't always work though) And I also use an advanced healing gel. But to be honest, I only get respite once the weather changes, and the temperature starts to rise.
Hope you can find something more suitable that works for you.

[KARL]

When the hands are continually colder than usual (poor circulation a factor ?), production of the oils that keep the skin supple is reduced. One way to alleviate this is to use petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) at the fingertips applied several times a day and when going to be - this material remains at the site longer than light skin creams, etc. Before starting that, any thickened skin at the margins of cracks should be cut away, perhaps easiest with nail clippers.

[Sam1960]

Poor circulation may well be part of the problem KARL. Toe next to my wee toe splays the minute I come home and take my boots off after I've been working in cold conditions. (and sore, doesn't cover it) !! Gave up smoking ten years ago, but maybe nearly forty years of the habit is coming back to haunt me !!
I use a hand skin moisturiser daily during the colder weather, but like I said "I only get respite once the weather changes, and the temperature starts to rise"
Hope some of this is helpful to Chipchopper.

Apologies if it looks like I've hijacked your thread