cracked skin on fingers

Nobody knows exactly why some people are affected by these rashes and others with the same exposure aren’t. Those with atopic dermatitis often have non-skin allergies (like hay fever and asthma) but their rashes aren’t caused by skin allergies. On the other hand, those with contact dermatitis do have true skin allergies, but usually not other allergic problems like someone with atopic dermatitis. Contact dermatitis occurs at all ages, whereas atopic dermatitis is most often a problem in kids. Hand dermatitis is caused by skin irritants such as detergents or chemicals. Dry (chapped) skin occurs because of lack of water in the stratum corneum (see diagram). If your skin surface doesn’t have enough oil, there’s more evaporation of water which contributes to the dryness.

Scratching can actually trigger eczematous rashes. Initial mild itching makes you want to scratch, of course. But scratching damages the skin, worsens inflammation, irritates surface nerves, and leads to even more intense itching than you had before. This cycle aggravates and prolongs all of these rashes. In fact some eczematous rashes completely disappear without any treatment if you just stop scratching.

As you can tell, these rashes differ in many ways. So why do we lump them together? Because the underlying chronic inflammation makes them all look, feel and respond to treatment in the same ways.

cracked skin

As a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, I’ve devoted my life to making people look better, and feel better about themselves. But underlying beauty is health, particularly as it relates to skin.

Taking proper care of your skin can do more to enhance your appearance than all the lotions, creams and makeup that are often applied to cover up unhealthy skin. It can even help you avoid the dry skin, rashes and other diseases which necessitate an expensive visit to a dermatologist.

The winter months, of course, pose unique challenges and can create serious dry skin problems. Constantly switching between unnaturally dry indoor air, and the harsh cold and wind outdoors removes moisture from the skin. While creams and lotions replace some of that moisture, it is far better to take steps to prevent those losses in the first place.

1. Realize that the skin is a living organ, the body’s largest, not just a covering like the upholstery on your couch. General health rules regarding nutrition, proper rest and exercise all contribute to the overall health of the skin. But, there are some special that will help you avoid dry skin and stay healthy. Here are a few that are especially important during the colder months. First, keep well hydrated. This is probably easier to remember during summer, but is just as important in winter. In addition to eggnog and champagne, drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This keeps skin moisturized and flushes toxins out of your body. Next, use sun block. Although skin is less exposed in winter, ultraviolet rays can be particularly intense on clear winter days. Even when cloudy, UV rays still penetrate. If you go skiing, UV exposure is even greater. Bottom line; use a good sunscreen that blocks both types of ultraviolet radiation - UVA and UVB.
2. Keep out the chemicals. Your skin wasn’t designed to deal with dish soap, bleach, hair coloring and thousands of other everyday chemicals that can cause dry skin. Many common cleaners and solvents specify the wearing of gloves. Always follow such advice. Even products that don’t require gloves can still suck the oils and moisture out of the skin, leaving it dry, cracked and irritated. This even applies to antibacterial soap. As you can’t wear gloves all the time, I recommend Gloves In A Bottle, and Skin MD Natural, which I will explain in more detail later.
3. Use gentle cleansers on the face. The face is more delicate than other parts of the body and deserves special treatment. I recommend Cetaphil from Galderma Laboratories for people with dry skin.
4. Get rid of dead skin. Most “dry skin” is actually skin that is ready to fall off. Exfoliation, therefore, should be part of your regular routine. Use a washcloth when washing your face and then work up to something like a loofa if you can. Exfoliation helps moisturizers and other skin care products do a better job. By exfoliating before you apply moisturizer, it isn’t blocked by dead cells.

Using Your Body's Defenses

Peter Helton, D.O.
Newport Beach, CA

Peter Helton, D.O. is the medical director of the Helton Skin and Laser Institute in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Helton specializes in non-surgical methods of improving his patient's appearance. Using his artistic, creative and medical knowledge as one of the nation's most renowned Cosmetic Dermatologists, his patients receive results that are second to none.

For more information visit his website

As I mentioned above, keeping your skin healthy and beautiful requires keeping out the harsh chemicals. Since the skin is designed as the barrier between your internal organs and the outside world, it is already very tough. But it wasn’t built for the range of chemicals that we come in contact with today. It is well known that these chemicals are harmful if swallowed. Many are also bad for the skin. If you get bleach on your hands, it won’t kill you, but it will keep you from having the smooth, soft skin you desire.

Even if you wear gloves while cleaning, you certainly don’t when washing your hands, reading the newspaper or the many other day-to-day activities that remove moisture and cause dry skin. Then there are other parts of the body such as the feet, which become dry and rough. Even your elbows or the parts of the arms which touch the edge of your desk when working on the computer need help.

While moisturizers can replace what is lost, they are not an ideal solution. To begin with, they don’t prevent the absorption of chemicals into the skin. Then there is the problem of the body’s response to the moisturizers. If the body thinks it has enough of something, it cuts down production. For example, drinking caffeine raises the body’s production of adrenaline, giving you more energy. Over time, however, the body compensates for the caffeine by cutting down on its adrenaline production. It gets to the point where people can’t wake up in the morning till that first cup of coffee hits their bloodstream. The same applies to moisturizers. Constant use makes the body think it has enough moisture and it cuts back on producing its own moisture. The real answer, like so many other aspects of medicine, is prevention not cure.

This is where shielding lotions like Gloves in a Bottle and Skin MD Natural enter the picture. A shielding lotion is a moisturizer which is designed to bond with and protect the skin. It seals the skin to prevent the loss of your own natural moisture as well as providing additional moisture. Most skin products are simply oil based or lanolin based and so they sit on top of the skin where they can wash right off when you clean your hands or do the dishes. Gloves In A Bottle, on the other hand, does not wash away since it is absorbed into the outer layer of skin. It acts as a protective barrier that keeps inside your own natural moisture while repelling outside chemicals. It is gentle and suitable for all skin types and is a great way to prevent many of the skin problems that wind up in visits to the doctor. I would not advise using it for severe problems such as open wounds or skin that is so cracked it is bleeding. You should definitely see a physician in such cases. But after the application of the appropriate medication, a shielding lotion can often improve the absorption and effectiveness of the medicine. Consult with your doctor and act accordingly.

chosing haircolour

you have a great base hair tone, you're better off with highlights. You don't want to mess with nature; what you want to do is enhance it. If your base color washes out your skin tone or is "blah," consider single-process color. Single-process color is cheaper than highlights.

Highlights look best when the stylist uses at least two different shades. Ask for more around your face, they can brighten your complexion.

Keep in mind that due to root growth, all-over coloring will need to be touched up every four to eight weeks, while highlights can last up to two or three months, depending on what kind you get. Ask your stylist about a gloss treatment following your color. Gloss boosts color and makes hair shinier.

There are basically 4 types of highlights: basic foil highlights, baliage or "hair painting," chunking or "piecing" and lowlighting.

Foil highlights add strands of color to hair. You can get up to 5 different shades in hair to make it look more natural.

Baliage, or "hair painting," allows the stylist to add natural stripes of color to hair in large or smaller swaths. This is best for women with a great base color who want to go just a couple shades lighter. You won't need to get roots touched up as much with baliage as you do foils.

Lowlighting allows the stylist to add darker shades to hair. This gives color more contrast.ray hair can be resilient to hair dye because of its coarse texture. If your hair is less than 15 percent gray, opt for a semi-permanent color that's a shade lighter than your natural color (or matches your color).

Many women who are more than half gray opt to dye their hair blonde. For more information on coloring gray hair, check out this Q&A with stylist Antonio Gonzales of Eva Scrivo in NYC.

life fashion

Huate hues for a cool summer

What will the 2010 summer fashion palette look like?

The summers are here and it’s time to revamp your wardrobe. With the heat wave in the country at its highest in the last 10 years, fashionistas are looking to put a stylish foot forward while trying to stay cool. So while buying that piece of luxury and quality, make sure you purchase ‘cool couture’ to beat the heat.

Daytime story
While the temperatures soar during the day - breezy, light and youthful couture is what one craves for. “Everyone is trying to look slim, yet trendy. Jumpsuits with broad belts are hot, as are leggings in different fabrics,” says designer Abhishek Dutta.

And if it’s summer, then how can one not don a pair of trendy shorts? If hemlines are anything to go by, things are certainly looking up - skirts are creeping up the thigh and revealing bloomers. Yes, you heard it right, ‘bloomers’. “This year, the ever-favourite shorts come with a big twist. Styled like bloomers and wraparounds, shorts will be trendy,” quips Dutta.

Designer Archana Kochhar too, gives an insight into the season’s hip trends. “The silhouettes float from fluid caftans which morph into shirt dresses clinched with patent belts. Jersey playsuits with zipper embroidered cuffs and patterned ballooned pants with crepe shrug-shirt are absolutely in,” confirms Kochhar. For designer Ritu Kumar, no matter what the trend, the clothes have to easy and comfortable. “Resort wear is big because they are loose and easy to wear and not at all clingy,” says Kumar.

“Those who swear by ethnic wear can go in for kurti dresses with big prints and minimal embellishment. They can team it up with leggings minus a dupatta or go for a big belt,” advises Dutta.

Night time faves
With the daytime dressing taken care of, it’s the party nights that one needs to look into. “Toga dresses, which are light and easy, are apt for the season,” says Dutta, adding, “They can be modified into different drapes and silhouette according to your preference and they work best during night outs.”

Designer Asmita Marwah too swears by comfortable clothing. “You can put off showing your curves for another season, as form-fitting outfits are out. Cuts should be relaxed and comfortable. Styles like halter-necks, backless and low-backs work best,” says Marwah. And yes, shorts too can be worn during an evening out. “A well cut pair of shorts with a great shirt, teamed with strappy sandals can make you look hot. But the shorts need to be well-made,” warns Marwah.

A single shouldered jumpsuit or strapless one too can work wonders. Architecturally inspired designs are hot as well.

Colour me cool
While white has always been a trend for the summers, this year fashionistas are expecting a complete whitewash. “White has been a perennial favourite with everyone for the summer. But this year thanks to the heat-wave, people are ditching other colours in favour of white,” confirms Kumar. “And if you want to make things interesting, go in for pastels,” she adds.

Marwah however, is in favour of summery hues. “Apart from ivory, go in for orange and yellow. If you want to experiment, team up a bright colour with a toned down one, like beige.” For Dutta, this season provided one with a good opportunity to go ‘eye-popping colourful’. “Tangerine, orange and tomato puree red are sizzling, yet cool.”

Cloth capers
While women would always like to look sexy and beautiful, ‘flirtatious’ is the key with fabrics like chiffon, cotton and linen being a complete sell-out. “Cotton is definitely an all-time fave. But this year, I’m working on the Chanderi fabric and it’s proving to be quite popular,” says Kumar. “The jersey fabric is cool. If you’re one for cotton, wear your feelings on your sleeve with big prints - psychoanalytic, graphic, Freudian-slip print, geometric patterns - you name it. But no florals please. They are so 2009!” says Dutta.

hairstyle fashion

A young man wearing a Mohawk.

The Mohawk (known as a "Mohican" in British/Commonwealth English) is a hairstyle. In the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaved leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair in the centre. Mohawks became common in punk subculture in the early 1980s and were then adopted by Rivetheads with various other groups, becoming more diverse in style. Today, Mohawks are still associated with the punk subculture, but have also become part of mainstream fashion.

The Mohawk hairstyle is named for, and often associated with, the people of the Mohawk nation, an indigenous people of North America who originally inhabited the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York.^[1]

Cossack musician with khokhol

This hairstyle was also known among other peoples. For instance, the Clonycavan Man, a 2000-year-old male bog body discovered near Dublin, Ireland in 2003, was found to be wearing a Mohawk styled with plant oil and pine resin.^[2] When going to war, 16th century Russian Cossacks would shave their heads, leaving a long central strip. This haircut was known as a khokhol and was often braided or tied in a topknot

hair style articls

Hair brush and other hair care myths.

“Shaving a baby's scalp will not alter their hair at all... ”

Related Links

• Healthy Hair Secrets
• How to Get Sexy Healthy Summer Hair in Six Easy Steps

Hair Care Myth #1

Having a haircut during the full moon will make your hair grow longer, healthier and faster

When the THS team decided to try this one out, not only did it not work, but it ended up being a fun night under the moon and starry sky.

Hair Care Myth #2

If you shave a baby's scalp, you can alter their natural hair texture

You honestly didn't think that we were actually going to try this one, did you? For the record, shaving a baby's scalp will not alter their hair at all- just like it wouldn't if you were an adult, so please, don't try this at home!

Hair Care Myth #3

Your hair can smoke while blow-drying

As a matter of fact it can, but not in a way that will damage your hair. Smoking while blow-drying can happen in two ways. One is from hair care products, such as mousse and wax, which can at times evaporate and cause a misty smoke. The second is from the heat caused by a hair iron. If your hair is a little wet, you will get similar smoke as you would when ironing your clothes - it's just simply steam, which when trying to straighten your hair, is not such a bad thing to have.

Hair Care Myth #4

Permanent tints are the only way to cover gray hair

I think everyone can appreciate this one. Depending on the level of gray in the hair it can be ultimately colored with a semi-permanent or demi-permanent- which is not only cheaper, but less harmful to the hair.

Hair Care Myth #5

Rubbing cigarette ash onto hair-dye stained skin will remove the color

Don't start lighting up those cigarettes just yet. Cigarette ash does work to remove dye, but it's abrasive and can irritate the scalp. Try using vaseline on your scalp before putting your color on, as this will stop any color from tinting and staining. There are also some products available on the market that will get any left over color without irritating the skin or leaving an unfashionable bright red mark across your forehead- not sexy!

Hair Care Myth #6

A little lemon juice and a little sun will lighten blonde locks

Sitting in the sun for 4 hours and smelling like a lemon is not fun, as one of our hair consultants recently found out. Although it seems like a simple and cheap alternative to bleach, unfortunately using lemon juice as a natural lighter does not work.

Hair Care Myth #7

Using a cheaper drugstore product is that same as using a product from a salon

This is a big no! Salon products are manufactured at a higher quality then drugstore products and the concentration that goes into them will give you the best possible results. Paying that extra dollar really does go a long way!

Hair Care Myth #8

Swimming in chlorine will make your hair green

One for the blondes that is unfortunately true. If you love green and you have tinted light blonde hair or naturally blond porous hair, than this is a fast and cheap way for a new color. If green hues are not for you, try using shampoos and conditioners that are designed specially for chemically treated hair.

Hair Care Myth #9

Using the same comb or brush as a person with a scalp disease will spread the disease

Ah, the question asked by so many people which is unfortunately very true. Sharing combs is a big no-no as you can receive lice and other parasites from brushes, combs and other hair care tools that aren't yours.

Hair Care Myth #10

Having a sunburnt scalp can lead to hair loss

For all you beach lovers, this one is for you. Sitting in the sun for a whole day can cause damage to the delicate hair follicles and for all those that have an inherited genetic hair loss gene - damage of this kind can push the likelihood of hair loss forward. There are products that can protect the hair from the sun, so if you love sitting in the sun, buy these products.

hair colour

Natural Hair Colors

Two pigments give hair its natural color - eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin can be black or brown, and determines the darkness of hair color. Blonds have low concentrations of brown eumelanin, while brunettes have a high concentration of the pigment. Black hair contains more black eumelanin, while a low concentration of black eumelanin results in gray hair. The second type of pigment, pheomelanin, is red. Redheads, of course, have hair containing more pheomelanin than those with other hair colors; however, all human hair contains pheomelanin in varying concentrations.

Black Hair
By far the most common natural hair color, black hair occurs in people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

by athena.

Brown Hair
Brown hair is also found all over the world, and is popularly associated with intelligence, trustworthiness, and success.

Blond Hair
Natural blond hair is relatively rare, due to its association with recessive genes. It can range in color from pale platinum to a dark golden shade, and occurs in approximately 2% of the world population, with the majority of natural blonds being of European descent. Since early Christian times, blond hair has been associated with being angelic and youth. Today, it is also associated with glamour.

Red Hair
Red hair, ranging from bright strawberry shades to dark auburn, is the least common hair color. It is most commonly associated with Celtic heritage. Throughout history, redheads have been thought of as everything from unlucky to brave to fun-loving.

Gray Hair
As people age, their hair naturally turns gray and often white. As the body stops producing melanin in the hair root there is a gradual decrease in pigmentation as new hair grows without color.

by -eko-

A History of Hair Dye

Most early hair dyes could only darken hair, and included ingredients such as henna, indigo, sage and camomile. Roman women would dye their hair with a mixture of boiled walnuts and leeks to give their locks a shiny, dark sheen.

Perhaps because of its rarity in nature, however, men and women throughout history have long sought to achieve blond tresses, sometimes with famously poor results. When Caesar brought Gallic captives to Rome, their blond hair sparked a new rage among the brunette Romans. At first, they fashioned wigs made of the captives' hair. Later, women used Gallic pomades made of crocodile or goat fat and beech ashes to lighten their hair.

In the Western world through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, many types of solutions were painted onto both men's and women's hair and left to lighten hair in the sun, creating the blond color that was popular at the time for its angelic connotations. These mixtures included ingredients as varied as black sulphur, alum, and honey, or saffron and onion skin.

Near the end of the sixteenth century, Venetians ladies would put on crownless hats, apply a caustic soda solution to their hair, and sit in the sun during the hottest hours of the day in order to achieve the famous shades of blond seen in Titian paintings.

Nineteenth-century Parisian ladies drenched their hair in harsh potassium lye solutions. Around 1860, hydrogen peroxide first came into use as a hair bleaching agent. Sometimes combined with ammonia and soap flakes, hydrogen peroxide was commonly used as blond dye through the 1930s. The process was quite harsh on hair, and it was not uncommon for hair to break off during the bleaching procedure. Headaches and scalp burns were also a common side effect.

Hair Coloring in the Twentieth Century and Beyond

Two of today’s most well-known hair dye products got their start in the early twentieth century. In 1907, French chemist Eugene Schueller developed the first safe commercial hair dye, a synthetic formalation based on the chemical paraphenylenediamine. Schueller originally called his product Aureole, but it was later renamed L’Oreal. Later, in 1932, New York chemist Lawrence Gelb developed a hair color product that penetrated the hair shaft, and started a company called Clairol. In 1950, he introduced the first one-step hair coloring product, Miss Clairol Hair Color Bath.

In the mid-20th century, Clairol copywriter Shirley Polykoff helped bring hair coloring into mainstream American culture by coining the tagline, “Does she or doesn’t she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.” At the time, “painting” one’s hair still carried a stigma that made this phrase resonate with American women of the era – it seemed to say that respectable wives and mothers had the right to color their hair, and to do it with discretion in their own homes. Between the 50s and 70s, when Polykoff gave up the Clairol account, the number of American women dyeing their hair rose from 7% to more than 40%.

In the 1970s, the young ad executive Ilon Specht immortalized the L’Oreal brand when she wrote the slogan, “Because I’m worth it”. Unlike the Clairol campaign, L’Oreal’s appealed to a strong woman who wanted to use hair color to reinvent herself - a sentiment that has carried through to today.

Hair Coloring Today

Today, there are four main types (or “commitment levels”) of hair dye available.

Temporary Color
Temporary hair color usually contains only tint, and comes in the form of paints or hair “mascaras”. They are typically made in exotic, bright hues designed to be washed out of the hair after a few shampoos.

Semi-Permanent Color
Semi-permanent products coat hair with color that washes out after 6-12 shampoos. Unlike most temporary color, semi-permanent dyes bond to the hair. However, the pigment molecules in temporary hair color are too large to penetrate the hair shaft, so that hair is still “coated” with color rather than fundamentally changed. Since the dye sits at the surface of the hair, this type of hair color is generally used to achieve brighter, more vibrant shades that may be difficult to achieve with permanent hair color. However, since semi-permanent products don't contain any ammonia or peroxide, they cannot lighten hair, only change the tone of the existing shade by adding color. They are also called "stains" or "washes”.

by -eko-

Demi-Permanent Color
Demi-permanent dyes last about twice as long as semi-permanent color. These dyes have smaller molecules than those of semi-permanent tinting formulas, so are able to penetrate the hair shaft to a slightly greater degree. Like semi-permanent dyes, however, this type of color contains no ammonia and thus cannot lighten hair, only add color to it.

by reutC

Permanent Color
The longest-lasting of hair dyes, permanent color cannot be washed out. It contains both ammonia and peroxide, which raise the cuticle of the hair in order to allow the tint to penetrate to the cortex and lighten the hair by breaking up the melanin that gives hair its natural color, fundamentally changing the shade of the hair. Since the color is (true to its name) permanent, bringing hair back to its original color requires a new dye job.

cracked skin on finger

Hand and Finger Care

Hand care is so important, so obvious, and yet so often neglected. Dry, cracked, painful hands and fingers are frequent wintertime skin concerns. Simply consider the limitation in movement and comfort this presents. Fortunately a little prevention and some good treatment help keep hands intact year round.

"HAND"le with care

Handle your hands with care! Hand eczema, atopic dermatitis, dishidrotic eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis (allergy), latex allergy and simple wear and tear lay the groundwork. Combined with cold, dry weather and lifestyle (like over exposure to harsh chemicals or water), and the skin is set to form tough to treat hand and finger splits.

I'm Drying...Drying...Drying...

Dehydration and irritation from over washing or frequent exposure to harsh detergents or disinfectants often affects health care workers. I remember when I was in medical school and going through my surgery rotations. The constant scrubbing with strong hand soaps several times a day literally tore up my hands. This is particularly true when cold dry weather and furnaces ace as environmental dehydrators.

Industrious Yet Notorious

Other industries are equally notorious for conditions, which contribute to forming dry, chapped hands. Bartenders, waiters and other food workers face irritation when handling lemons and limes, not to mention all that water exposure.

Hairstylists tend to find that chronic exposure to permanent wave and hair color solutions used in hairstyling contribute to hand dermatitis.

Cement workers and construction workers may come into contact with certain ingredients in the cement mix that can cause a contact dermatitis.

The list is endless, but understanding essentials of limiting water exposure as possible, wearing protective gloves (if necessary) and applying barrier emollients will help reduce the risk of routine flare-ups.

The H20 Has Got To Go

Cut down on water exposure. Ask your husband or kids to do the dishes. If you're in a job that requires frequent hand washing, keep your barrier cream with you and apply it! If you are considering bathing just a few times a week, let's face it life goes on. While it may have been the norm for dermatologists years ago to say don't bathe but once a week, reality dictates this isn't ideal. But, you can take some steps to protect your skin. As the water evaporates, it takes moisture out of the skin. This is why applying a barrier cream immediately after washing is so important.

When you do wash, try to use a mild soap such as Vanicream Cleansing Bar or Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar Soap.

ARE YOU ACTIVE OR PASSIVE?

Your choice of moisturizers is highly dependent upon the status of your hands. Those bland moisturizers I spoke of above are what I would term passive treatment. This is equally important for crisis periods you may face. However, you can add products into your routine when your skin is in a quiet phase that can help to prevent flare-ups.

Active Is As Active Does

Active hand care products contain ingredients that work to soften the skin. Since thick scaly skin is often associated with many forms of hand dermatitis, exfoliation is typically the end result of many of these active agents.

Many, however, are humectants, holding many times their weight in water in the skin. Active hand creams are not what you want to rub into an open wound, you'll regret it once the stinging starts. But if you have thickened rough skin or are prone to finger splits, these are the types of products you want to include for preventative purposes.

Regular use of such an active hand cream on a maintenance basis can help keep the skin softer, and less likely to crack or peel. You may certainly alternate the various active hand creams or combine them in a regimen with passive hand care emollients. Alternating the use of the different products can work synergistically and potentially result in a better result.

Whatever you use, it is important to apply something immediately after washing your hands or doing the dishes. Consistency in your routine is particularly helpful for keeping your hands in great shape.

• Glycolic Acid: DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Moisturizing Therapy For Dry Skin
• Lactic Acid: Priori Advanced AHA Hand & Body Revitalizing Lotion
• Urea: Carmol 10 Lotion or Carmol 20 Cream
• Combination Approach, Glycolic Acid, Urea and Green Tea: DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Moisturizing Therapy For Dry Skin

Glycolic and Lactic acid help soften the skin mostly through exfoliation of the hard dry epidermis. Urea is a humectant, helping hydrate the skin. DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Moisturizing Therapy For Dry Skin is a 2 in 1 treatment, softening the crustiest skin and helping improve symptoms of inflammation thanks to ECCG contained in the green tea.

Prescription options include LacHydrin (also a 12% lactic acid like AmLactin) and Carmol 30 and 40 (higher concentrations of urea).

Salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid are ingredients that may be incorporated into skin care products that can also help. Salicylic acid, aka beta hydroxy acid, helps exfoliate dry skin. Salicylic acid tends to be a companion ingredient in moisturizers rather than a main player.

Hyaluronic acid, aka cyclic hydroxy acid, (CHA), helps hold 1000 times its weight in water content within the skin. Hyaluronic acid is now a favored ingredient in a bevy of moisturizers.

Skin rejuvenation and moisturization can be achieved through the use of AHA containing hand creams. Here again, glycolic acid in DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Moisturizing Therapy For Dry Skin or lactic acid in Priori Advanced AHA Hand & Body Revitalizing Lotion helps exfoliate and stimulate a small amount of fibroblast activity.

Vitamin C is also a member of the AHA family, although most think of it in a class of its own. Not only can Vitamin C work as an antioxidant, it helps stimulate fibroblast activity. Apply some Cellex-C High Potency Serum and get your active protection, rejuvenation and SPF in one.

PASSIVE BUT NOT A PUSHOVER

They may be bland, but they're not boring. Heavy bland moisturizers are what I refer to as passive protectants. These are formulated without acidic or medical softening ingredients, yet help keep skin hydrated and sealed.

These heavier passive creams are essential for putting a barrier between you and the environment. No barrier, no healing. Lotions simply won't do. They are incapable of healing thickened dry skin splits. Real estate agents will always stress location, location, location. But when it comes to problematic chapped hands, cracked cuticles or finger splits, it's protection, protection, protection.

The key to using a passive moisturizer is to apply it as frequently as possible. Apply your passive moisturizer every time you wash your hands, do dishes, etc. Keep a second moisturizer at work or in your purse to have readily available. When it comes to parched skin, healing is proportional to pampering.

Protective Passive Options:

• TheraSeal Hand Protection
• Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream, 4 oz
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
• AHAVA DERMUD Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream
• Nouriva Repair Moisturizing Cream

Finger Split First Aid

Most people don't think about their hand care until split fingertips, itching or tiny blisters affect them until they appear. With all the nerve endings located in the fingertips, split fingertips can be exquisitely painful. If you think a paper cut is bad, just amplify it a thousand fold in order to get the idea. Fissures (also called cracks or splits) may be nursed back to health by following this routine:

• Apply Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment into the splits twice a day. Do not use any topical antibiotic ointment that contains neomycin which is a notorious skin sensitizer and cause of contact dermatitis.
• Use DERMAdoctor Handy Manum Medicated Skin Repair Serum with 1% Hydrocortisone at least nightly, ideally twice a day. DERMAdoctor Handy Manum Medicated Skin Repair Serum with 1% Hydrocortisone contains a bevy of AHAs, salicylic acid and propylene glycol to quickly softens the hard, dry skin, allowing the fissures to heal. It also contains 1 percent hydrocortisone, oat beta glucan and green tea extract to help reduce itching and inflammation. The base establishes a protective barrier to prevent further environmental challenges. I think of DERMAdoctor Handy Manum Medicated Skin Repair Serum with 1% Hydrocortisone as a medicated dry oil; a little goes a long way and won't leave skin feeling greasy.
• Use a passive barrier cream de jour obsessively.
• Using Super Glue does NOT help heal fissures and may lead to an allergic contact dermatitis.

Blisters

Do you have blisters on your fingertips that look like tapioca seeds? This is a sign of dyshidrotic eczema. The bubbles are a sign of increased inflammation that means increased itching and often scaling, splitting, etc. Seeing those little blisters form means you are about to have a flare. Don't ignore them, call your dermatologist if you rely upon prescription therapy. If you have been lax on your maintenance hand care, start up right away.

Dry out blisters by compressing them with a damp cloth soaked with Domeboro Astringent Solution.

Keep in mind, however, you want to dry out the blisters without overly drying the skin. Removing the fluid from the blisters with the Domeboro and then hydrating the skin with a moisturizer is not contradictory. Stop using the Domeboro when the blisters are gone.

It is preferable not to pop blisters. But for the occasional painfully large blisters, you may want to pick the edge with a sterile needle to deflate them but not pull the top protective skin off. If you do pop a blister, keep it clean with hydrogen peroxide and Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment to prevent infection.

Underlying Causes

Skin diseases can either directly cause or flare dry, blistering, itchy, splitting hand dermatitis. Are you eczema or psoriasis prone? Protection and finger split therapy remain important, but treating the underlying problem is essential.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is often treated with topical steroids. These can range in strength from OTC Cortaid to potent prescription cortisones. For unresponsive eczema prescription agents Protopic or Elidel can rapidly clear nasty chronic cases.
Psoriasis treatments tend to be selected by severity of the condition. These may include topical tar products like Balnetar Therapeutic Tar Bath, or topical steroids ranging from OTC DERMAdoctor Handy Manum Medicated Skin Repair Serum with 1% Hydrocortisone or Balnetar Therapeutic Tar Bath, to rx options; Dovonex or Tazorac. Light therapy (PUVA) is reserved for difficult to treat hand eczema or psoriasis.

For those who prefer trying remedies from Nature, AHAVA Dead Sea Mineral Mud and AHAVA Bath Salts may provide some relief from excessive scaling or itching. Don't however, steer clear of the previous options. There is more to fear from secondary bacterial infection than from the treatment itself.

Fungal infections of the skin may occasionally mimic hand eczema or psoriasis. If superficial scaling, particularly on the palms as well as the fingertips, is present, ask your dermatologist about a simple painless skin scraping called a KOH. While most commonly thought of as a foot problem, (aka athlete's foot) fungi can indeed affect the hands (tinea manum). Fungal infections may be treated topically with products like DERMAdoctor Feet Accompli Ultimate Antifungal Pedicure Cream or with prescription oral antifungal agents.

No apparent reason for the problem? Ask your doctor about patch testing to rule out a contact dermatitis. This refers to developing an allergic reaction to something you come into contact with. Not only may a contact dermatitis be the primary culprit for the condition, sometimes it may complicate other skin conditions, especially eczema. Atopic individuals tend to have a higher rate of allergic contact dermatitis. Eliminating these flare factors from daily use quickly helps resolve the problem.

Working through problem hand concerns with your dermatologist and keeping hands protected, helps keep hands looking great and feeling great. Plan ahead now for cold winter weather before your hands become a nuisance. Advance planning makes all the difference for anyone with a known history of dry cracking hands.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this important information. I hope you have found this article informative.

cracked skin on finger

It is very true that many soaps and lotions can contain chemicals which actually can be absorbed by the body and can do more harm than good. Even some "natural" products contain chemicals which really are not natural, but tend to lead to body damage or organ/endocrine suppression in some way. Symptoms of chemical toxins in the body could show up with the cracking or any number of body ailments. An example here is to not use any product that has a "propyl alcohol".

Here are some little things which you may want to try:

You may want to experiment by eliminating for a week certain cosmetic or body care products, or curtail exposing yourself to certain possible toxins around the house or work or even chlorinated water, or substituting borax for your laundry detergent, etc. Experiment by removing from your environment different possible body polluters.

You may want to take some MSM and Vitamin C (or plenty of foods rich in Vitamin C). Biotin as a supplement may also help. These can help skin.

Simple Olive Oil, (cold pressed, extra virgin), rubbed on your hands and also eaten may help some.

Soaking your hands in corn meal and water will help to soften the skin nicely. It also helps to fight off unwanted fungus. Take some warm water and corn meal (preferably something that is not too processed), mix it about 50/50 or what consistency you prefer. Let it stand for an hour or so, then soak your hands in it. After a few days, the solution will get "ripe" with odor. Throw it outside on the soil of your lawn or in your garden or near a tree. It will help with the health of the tree or plants.

Also, doing "finger exercises" may help improve the circulation. Stretch and wiggle and bend and just a general finger workout repeatedly throughout the day. Massaging one hand with another, or lightly stroking alternate hands, or pressing points with one finger on the other hand can help with the muscles and nerves and general tone of the hands. [It actually can assist other parts of the body by putting attention on points in the hands in this way.]

Anyway, these are a few other things which may be worth a shot.

If you live in a very dry climate, the best way to prevent that dryness is to drink LOTS of water. However, you should probably see a dermatologist to be sure you don't have a medical condition that is causing your skin to crack. Another thing you can try is one that mom used to use... she would slather her hands with cold cream (ya gotta be old to remember cold cream, but it's still out there) or vaseline or hand lotion and then put on those little white cotton gloves you can get at the drug store. Looks dopey, but it worked for her. Lastly, try soaking them about every week in that stuff that people use for soaking their feet. Avon makes a good one as well as a product called Cracked Heel Relief Cream that has a pain killer in it as well as a super softener that you can use on your hands. Hope some of this helps.

Believe it or not, you can give yourself a regular treatment while hand-washing delicate items. Go to your local drugstore and buy a pair of latex gloves in a size that is comfortably loose for you. Every time you need to rinse something out, first wash your hands in warm NOT HOT water and cover them with a good quality hand lotion, preferably one with aloe or lanolin or both. Put on the gloves and wash your delicates. The warmth of the water in which you are working helps to open the pores in your skin and assists the lotion to penetrate. (This also works when hand-washing dishes.)
Years ago, when our office was being fingerprinted for some defense work, one of the girls had to do this because her fingerprints were so bad due to cracks in the skin. It worked so well I've done it ever since.

I have the same problem and have had for many years. I've tried lots of lotions and cremes and they didn't work for me until I made several changes at once. I think it's just a more complicated problem for some of us. Here's what works for me: I use a salve called "Baby your skin balm" after bathing, at night and before I garden (it protects and keeps the dirt from staining my skin) I also found I can't use any shampoo, hand soap or dish soap that's not a natural product. When I do, my skin cracks the first day. I also need to wear gloves when I work with any chemical-like product such as cleaners or solvents. Works great for me-good luck!

cracked skin

Dry, itchy skin is bad enough, but when eczema gets an attitude or psoriasis gets super serious, you may make the transition from considerable discomfort to full-fledged torture. Your skin can crack, leaving painful slits that bring agony with even the most basic body movements such as stretching.

Doctors call these cracks skin fissures. You will probably call them something a little more colorful. Hands and feet are the most likely spots for cracked skin, but there are other vulnerable places, too.

"Sometimes the feet are so dry that they crack, particularly on the heel and between the toes--and these cracks are like little portholes for infection," says Houston podiatrist William Van Pelt, D.P.M., former president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. "Women who wear open-backed heels and slides are particularly prone."

Here's how to take the fire out of painful fissures.

Give yourself a good soak. "The best way to treat very dry skin is to hydrate it every night," says Dr. Van Pelt. "Each skin cell is like a little sponge, so each night before going to bed, I recommend soaking your feet or whatever part of your body is especially dry in warm water for about 20 minutes. During this soak, the skin cells will absorb water. Then pat yourself dry."

cracked skin

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chosing hair colour

Time was when your hair color choices were blonde, red, brunette, and black, but those days are long gone! Each basic hair color comes in a full array of choices from platinum blonde to jet-black. Moreover, the modern consumer must choose from non-traditional hair colors that range from hot pink to chartreuse. However, the wrong hair color choice can give you the blues and leave you red in the face!

First Hair Color Choices
The best method in choosing a hair color is first to choose the results you want from it. Depending on whether you are covering gray, highlighting a natural hair color, or using hair color to completely change your image, knowing what you want helps you to narrow down hair coloring choices.

Before you get down to choosing a hair color, first decide on your commitment to hair coloring. Temporary hair colors wash out in a shampoo or two, semi permanent products typically last for a couple of months, while permanent dyes may either give you grow-out pains or necessitate frequent root touch ups.

Choosing a Compatible Hair Color
After you’ve decided on results and made your commitment, it’s time to get out the color wheel. Beauty experts tell us that we’re either “cool” or “warm” depending on our skin tone, eye color, and natural hair color.

	Cool Category	Warm Category
Eyes	Dark Brown, Black-Brown, Gray Blue, Dark Blue, or Hazel with white gray or blue flecks	Golden brown, Green, Green-Blue, Turquoise, Hazel with gold or brown flecks
Hair	Blue black, Deep brown, Ash brown, Ash Blond, Platinum Blond	Deep brown with gold or red highlights, Red, Strawberry Blond, Gray-Yellow, Natural Golden Blond
Skin	Very dark brown, True olive, Medium pale, Medium with golden undertones, Pale, Bronze	Brown with pink or golden undertones, Peachy or with peachy undertones, Pale with gold undertones, Freckled, Ruddy

Although this is good advice, if you’ve just finished a tanning session, if you have some complexion problems (Rosacea, liver spots, blemishes), or if your hair color is already not what nature intended (in other words previously tinted or more salt than pepper), it may be difficult to determine by examining your skin tone and hair color. Don’t despair! There is a shortcut!

Examine your wardrobe. Cool hues are green, blue, and violet. Warm hues are reds, oranges, and yellows. Chances are, your wardrobe is a mix with either cool or warm hues in the majority. Clothing colors that look good on you and make you feel comfortable probably indicate if you’re in the cool or warm category. For instance, if olive drab makes you fade into the woodwork, then cool tones like ash blonde (ash tones contain green) are probably not for you.

In addition, most commercial hair colors have aids on the box, yet if you have a hard time deciding which group is your group, you may want to seek the advice of a professional hair stylist.

Hair Color Tips:

1. Highlighting is a great way to add tone to monochromatic hair (jet black, pure brown).
2. Beware of hair colors that have green, blue, or purple undertones, like “ash”. If you mix them with warm tones, your hair color will turn out green.
3. The levels (one to twelve) you see on hair coloring boxes are the lightness or darkness of the color. Level one is black (darkest) and level twelve is light blond.
   
4. “Complimentary colors” are opposite each other on the color wheel. Blue-orange, violet-yellow, etc. If you want to neutralize unwanted highlights, choose the complementary color. For instance, red will cancel out an ash undertone, and an ashen color neutralizes any red highlights in your hair.
5. Be sure to check if your hair color is a “progressive dye”. Progressive dyes continually add more color with each use. For instance, if you’re coloring blond hair black, your first use of a progressive hair color may not give the result you expected. However, continued use will turn your hair jet black.
6. Hair colors, like perms, are chemically based. If you’re pregnant, be sure to check with your doctor before coloring your hair.
7. Henna hair dyes are organic based hair colors that don’t mix well with chemicals.
8. Stay out of the pool and the ocean after coloring your hair. Neither sea salt nor chlorine mixes well with chemical hair colors.

chosing hair colour

Warm tones will bring out the pink in your skin, so if you've got redness to your skin, go for cool tones - champagne, sandy or ash blonde, or cool browns.

Warm gold or reds suits olive-toned or ashy skin.

Red is the hardest color to maintain. The shade will change almost from shampoo to shampoo so be prepared for the fade.

Choose coppery-reds instead of blue reds for a more natural hair color.

Rather than guessing, take a stand test to see what color your hair will come out as. Take a strand of hair from the nape of your neck and let the color sit on it for 20 minutes.

Bring photos and pictures with you to the hair stylist to ensure you both are thinking about the same color.

If you have to wear more makeup than you did before, than you have the wrong hair color. When the hair color works correctly, your skin tone comes alive - hair color should make your face glow.

Be honest with your hair colorist (and yourself) about how much time you're willing to spend having your roots touched up. Doing conditioning treatments and more.

There are high-maintenance options and low-maintenance ones. The further away from your natural color you go the more your hair requires.

Don't blow-dry single process highlights every single day take a rest on weekends and deep condition once a week.

If your hair is the same color you had when you were young, think twice about tinting it. Alot of women spend alot of time and money trying to go back to their natural hair color, rarely with the results they want.

hairstyle trands 2010

ends and you'll find dozens of trendy 2010 hairstyles to choose from!

Short hairstyles for 2010 will be taking inspiration from the '60s mod bobs and women's short hairstyles will be shorter and cuter, such as short layered cuts with bangs.
Pixie haircuts will continue to be a hit with women who will have the confidence and the delicate features to pull off very short pixie haircuts; think Halle Berry's and Sharon Stone's short haircuts.


Short Hairstyles 2010
2010 Short Hairstyles

Mod Bob 2010 Hairstyle
Short Haircuts 2010

Bobs will be more structured with shorter bangs. There will be a tendency to put bangs in the eyes, but there will be shorter bangs also just tracing the brows.
Asymmetry will be also popular style element in the 2010 hairstyles trends, from extreme cut-in effects to layers tucked back on the side.

Bangs and fringes will be still on trend, but we'll move away from such graphic and structured shapes to longer, sexy and eyebrow kissing ones, focusing on achieving natural texture.

man fashion

When it comes to fashion, girls have all the fun! There’re 50 selections for a woman with any comparable item for a man. In the realm of eco-fashion, the opportunity for a guy to both achieve a look of refinement while being earth-friendly has been practically non-existent. The only options the male species has had in the past are the causal, but unremarkable, organic cotton t-shirt, or perhaps a pair of organic cotton jeans that lacked a sense of flair – not every greenie guy wants to simply blend into the background with his wardrobe and in the it’s-best-to-impress-business-world of the urban jungle, there’s a necessity to stand out.

With the launch of Loudermilk Men from the LA-based eco- extraordinaire fashionista Linda Loudermilk, “the fearless urban male who doesn’t need a gas guzzler to prove himself” can go green with clothing “grounded in sharp tailoring and clean lines”. “It’s a mix of Saville Row inspired suitings, with t-shirts and dress shirts to mix and match”.

Linda says it best, “Loudermilk Men is made in the tradition of the most expensive suit you can buy. It has a very British look combined with a gothic Belgian flair. My menswear is designed for men who are not afraid to express themselves through their clothing.”

Linda has pioneered the use of sustainable fabrics in the fashion world for years with designs appearing upon the runways of the planet – creating women’s collections that have the same explosive and sexuality as any of the leading fashion houses in the world. Her eye is refined and extremely European though her roots are deep within the southern states of America. Her inventions aren’t inspired “by some predictable sense of patchouli-smelling do-gooderism. The ingenius sustainable fabrics she's developed and sourced for Loudermilk, the brand, reflect the respect Linda Loudermilk, the woman and artist, has for nature.” Her willingness to embrace both the darkness and the brightness of environmentalism is a contribution to the green movement by displaying to other big named fashion designers that sustainable materials are a real option. With the Loudermilk Men collection, Linda continues to push her “Fierce Heart” into new arenas by offering the man, that appreciates high-end fashion design, an unapologetic ways to express himself that may not sit well with the conventional mentality of the neo-green wave…but nevermind that, Linda is introducing to a world-in-need a brave alternative – and, hopefully, giving the green movement a much needed makeover.

Highlights of the collection are unexpected use of color, simple deconstructions and reconstructions, tone on tone details, fitted high waisted jackets and whimsical lines. The collection does have its share of organic cotton (with no pesticides or heavy mineral dyes, of course) – but she also uses the Japanese Sasawashi plant and Manila hemp for her suiting, seaweed-based fabric for the button-down shirts, wood-pulp for jersey shirts and Sasawashi denim for a wonderfully toothy and sturdy denim. “The classic button-down shirt takes on a whole new meaning in seaweed fabric. Not only is it an elegant power shirt but it feeds the skin with oceanic nutrients that boost a sense of confidence.”

The clothing can be worn by anyone – though my feeling is that some people will not see the absolute necessity for green solutions that have disregard the prevailing fashion-sense of conventional eco-responsible garments. Linda plans to open a flagship store in LA in the coming months. For more info

chosing haircolour

To provide you a mental boost, to add a glow to your persona, to underplay prominent marks or to cover up the damages of your hair, there is an easy cure in hand; it is changing your hair color. Getting a professional hair color will boost your personality.

Hair color was once considered a simple way to conceal the grey hair. But now, it is utilized by all women regardless of their age. Women state that the natural color of hair nowadays does not convey the true personality. A new color would not only change their appearance but also make them more confident.

For a dry, damaged, dull and limp hair, hair coloring is an easy method to make it appear healthy. There are a lot of reasons why your hair become dry and damaged. It can be due to poor diet, improper care of your hair, malnutrition and exposure to sunlight.

Face and figure proportions can also be enhanced by hair coloring. To tone down a big face and make it look smaller, dark colors should be used for hair coloring. Light colors are there for small faces. To make your face look long, apply pale streaks or frost on the forehead. If you apply it on the temples, it will give your face a broad appearance.

Soft hair color should be used to tone down the sharp and hard features of the face. Pale colors can be used to cover up wrinkles. A big nose or jaw line can be concealed by making the observer look up in the direction of an attractive hair style and bright color.

Hair coloring tips:

There are some facts to be taken into consideration before settling down on a hair color. Money and time both are required. Going to a professional salon would mean a stable expenditure and after every two weeks you would have to go back for the touch up. It takes a lot of dough but apart from that it also takes a lot of time. You will have to make yourself present at all the times when coloring is required.

A lot of women can color their hair themselves at their houses. If you know how to do it and you have the persistence, then it will save both the money and the time.

Selection of the color is a very important task. Your hair, skin and eye tones have been blended by the nature itself in a perfect way. Anything that does not match with the natural contours and shades will make you look weird and unattractive. You will take al these things into account when you select the hair color, particularly if you are middle aged.

Women having grey hair should carefully choose a color. They should not go in for dark shades as their eyes and face will not correspond to the shade of the hair color. A dark color will make you unattractive, as it makes your eyes and face look pale. Therefore, choosing a lighter version of color would be the best for them.

When choosing a hair color for you, seek the advice from a professional beauty salon. Read through the magazines and attend special demonstrations by the professionals. They will help you choose your hair color in a better way.

The next door professional can be experienced in coloring the hair. Therefore, before making the final push consult the professional of your choice for hair coloring. He would help you in making the right decision or choosing the best color for you.

Hair coloring is the latest buzz. So if you are thinking of getting it done, then seek the best professional help and get it done. There is no harm in doing so.

cracked skin

I am another person who has tried EVERYTHING for my cracked, painful fingertips and nothing worked. A week ago, after applying six Band-Aids and greasy ointment I went to the Internet in desperation, hoping to find a better solution. I found your website and the testimonials convinced me that I had nothing to lose by trying your product. I called every drugstore in town and finally located it.

I am so pleased and amazed that after only one day the cracks were closed and healing. The lotion was also soothing and helped with the pain immediately. At first I used it faithfully every four hours. And now, a week later, the cracks are almost gone. My hands are softer than they've ever been. Thank you so much for creating a product that is finally healing my dry hands and fingers. What a miracle!

cracked skin on fingers

Compared to most health problems, cracked fingertips seem trivial. But anyone who has ever struggled with sore painful fingers will tell you they can turn normal daily activities into agony.

A reader confided: “It is very frustrating and sometimes depressing to be in so much discomfort and have to refrain from peeling and eating an orange, washing dishes, buttoning clothes, putting on jewelry and other normally enjoyable activities.”

It is not entirely clear why fingertips sometimes split open. This problem is most common in winter, so dry skin is the usual suspect. People who wash their hands a lot, from mechanics to health care providers, are especially vulnerable. When thyroid hormone levels drop too low, dry skin, particularly cracked fingertips, may result.

Fungal infections may be an unsuspected contributing factor, as one reader discovered: “While using the antifungal shampoo Nizoral for a dandruff condition, I noticed the cracked skin on my hands also improved tremendously. Now when symptoms appear I wash my hands using Nizoral (ketoconazole) three times a week. I've tried everything my dermatologist had to offer but this is the only treatment that actually worked.”

Nizoral shampoo is available over the counter. A Baltimore reader used a prescription drug: “I had a prescription for nystatin and triamcinolone cream. After applying it to my fingers several times a day they healed quickly. I suspect the cracks may be caused by a fungal infection, since nystatin is an antifungal medicine.”

Another reader uses a natural product: “Fingertip splitting can be very painful, especially since I'm using (and washing) my hands a lot as a massage therapist. I found that applying tea tree oil to the splits helps them heal in just a few days. It takes much longer when treating with moisturizers alone. I now apply the oil at the first sign of cracks and haven't had much pain from them in years.”

Tea tree oil has antifungal activity, which may explain the success. Beware, though, that some people break out in a rash when they are exposed to tea tree oil.

A quick fix may be as close as your lip balm. One person shared this: “ChapStick works for temporary relief of cracked fingertips.”

Many readers have discovered that sealing the cracks can help them heal faster, too: “I am a carpenter and I have had split fingers and thumbs every winter for years. I read about instant glue being used by medics in Vietnam so I tried it. It works great to seal splits and make the pain go away. This approach is easy and cheap.”

Household instant glue may be irritating for some. Liquid bandage could accomplish the same outcome and be safer, though more expensive.

Protecting hands from water and detergent is also important, as one reader reports: “What helped me most was rubber gloves. Now I never put my hands in water, except to shower. This is a great preventive measure, and well worth the cost and the inconvenience.