Painful cracks on thumbs

Tiger Balm,now usually labelled "Oriental" Balm (presumably for trade descriptions laws-it does not contain any ingredients from tigers),is superb for very dry skin.It is a bit whiffy when applied due to the camphor and clove oils in it but this soon wears off.Basically,it is a petroleum jelly base with natural plant oils.
I call it magic balm as it is useful for so many things-headaches(on temples or base of neck),sore skin,toothache(rubbed on jaw),back of heels in new shoes,etc.Best of all,it is available from Poundland with 2 pots in the pack.
I had a very sore big toe,which I feared was an ingrowing toe nail.I applied Tiger Balm,popped a sock on and left overnight-soreness totally gone by morning.I suggest trying this on your thumbs with a pair of light cotton gloves on overnight.
I also like to rub this balm on the nape of neck and shoulders just before bed-it eases any tension and helps with sleeping.

My other half often gets cracks on his fingertips which he calls ' bird's eyes' and I think it's a very apt description . He uses O'Keefe's too.

Please try eating more fruit providing high vitamin C such as strawberries, tomatoes, etc. Tablets help but are not as good. Many people do not absorb vitamin C well and they need extra above what is an RDA and often cracks are more prevalent in winter when high vit. C fruit is less readily available. It takes about a week to improve things.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula is brilliant for prevention and cure

elegran i use germolene too with a plaster on top. i think germolene is a magic ointment - and my grandaughters are now used to having it on their scratches. well, it worked for me and for my children for all sorts of things. and it works for those painful cracks on fingers and thumbs too [have you ever used it to get a hard to reach splinter out? i have - and it works].

Germolene was the ointment always at hand when I was a child - that was the oil-based one. They later introduced a water-based one which was less messy. Fine for some things, but not for all the same things as the oil-based one.

I'd agree with Suzie B, cow's udder cream, from a country store! It's cheap, and very very good. Was recommended to my late husband when he was having chemo which seriously affected his hands and feet.

I use a dab of superglue. Stops the pain immediately, and protects it through several washes, giving it a chance to heal.

Neutrogena applied at night, thickly, and covered with a plaster. Works for me. Always use Marigolds, but when it is extra cold one appears on my right thumb.

My husband has this problem and uses NuSkin by Germolene. It's usually available in Boots.

CETRABEN Emolliant cream is very good for most skin problems. We get it on prescription as my hubby first had it from a dermotoligist at our local hospital.
Google it to read its uses

I stopped having this problem when I started to wear rubber gloves when doing washing up.

When I did have the problem, the best way to get the cracks to heal was to wear a plaster (I used bits of old cotton hankies held on with micropore tape) for as many days as it took for the crack to heal. Keeping the skin moist and covered seemed to help the healing process more than any cream or lotion.

I suffer with these every winter, even though I don't live in a cold climate. Always wear cotton gloves at bedtime after slathering on your hand cream of choice. It really helps!

When I was a young trainee nurse my hands used to get very sore. My mum insisted on rubbing glycerine in and covering with cotton gloves when you went to bed. I worked like magic but could stin a bit of the skin was broken.

When I was sailing a lot we used Lotil Cream which is very good. You can get it at most chemists.

Tricia we use a home made remedy for all kinds of cuts, cracks and rashes although nowadays because we use it regularly we just use it as prevention.
I use essential oils and they work well with coconut oil used as a carrier.
For my salve I melt enough coconut oil to fit into a small glass jar and, letting it cool but not set, you mix in well some lavender, frankincense and a blend called 'purification' and then pour in and allow to set in the jar, storing it with a lid on it. We all use that regularly on hands, feet and elbows and anywhere else that has a problem as it arises. Just remember that with coconut oil less is more and a small amount goes a very long way so it makes the oils economic too.
Not all essential oils are created equal so you need to ensure that they are pure uncut oils. PM me if you want more details.

Another vote here for O'Keefe's Working Hands cream. It's really excellent, and you only need a small amount.

I've got one on my right thumb at the moment - not only hurts but looks unsightly too. Always use rubber gloves, plenty of hand cream and eat loads of fruit so don't think I'm short of vitamin C. I use the very old fashioned Snowfire stick on it at bedtime and also Nuskin although I've mislaid it at the moment. They seem to be worse when my nails have broken so fully expecting one on my left thumb any day soon

Tea tree cream is the best & can be bought at Holland & Barrett also some Boots. It's not a fungal infection - my thumb tips crack & leave a deep fissure if I have them in water too long.

Thanks for all the ideas - seems to be a very common problem.
Glad to hear that Holland and Barrett still have tea tree cream - the last time I asked they didn't have any.
At the moment I've got some Ialucet cream on to try, with a bodged up plaster, but what to do when I have a bath? Just have to keep my hand out of the water.

Boots sell cotton gloves just use plenty of hand cream and put the gloves over the top and wear over night. The gloves can be washed so last for ages.

My thumb is currently plastered with Germoline on and it will be fine in the morning.
I thought it was simply because my hands were too dry in the winter these splits occur in finger tips or thumbs. Is it actually a fungal thing then?

I have a crack near the nail at the top of my right thumb. I have had it since last summer when I was stung by a wasp. The skin keeps peeling off I was told it was eczema. I have been rubbing various creams into it. Was told I needed something Sulfa based. I will try these suggestions though.

My poor MiL has the most painful hands. There all very red with cracks around the top of her fingers. She rubs aqueous cream and uses cloth gloves. It's been troubling her for years. She now in a care home ? And very unhappy. Her hands still bother her so we now know it's not washing up products. Can I recommend some of the products mentioned on here? or do you have any better suggestions.

I always got those in winter till I discovered Sudocream ... for babies bottoms . Works a treat.