Painful cracks on thumbs

Bag Balm!

We ordered Bag Bakm and within 3 days my husband's thumbs are healing. Magic! Thanks for the suggestions everyone - looks like you have solved the problem he's had for years.

Snowfire is still available to buy. I saw it yesterday in my local pharmacy.

We eat quite a bit of vitamin C, but Not careful about using handcream. My hands are in and out of water so often, apart from dishes and washing clothes. I wash hands every time I have anything to do with the hens, or our pet's food etc.
The crack has nearly healed now, they semm to take their own time.

I would say increase vitamin c intake, recommend Neutragena hand cream, it is excellent, keep them out of water as much as possible. Hope it gets better soon, know how painful it is.

I'm gonna use it on my feet, legs and all ;sorts of places as I am a dry old Bird. So I'm glad I bought the eight ounce one!

My Bag Balm came at the weekend. I knew there was no way I would ever use 8oz (I thought of a block of butter), so I ordered the 1oz although it cost the same. I wonder why? My little tin is so sweet! The balm feels like good stuff.

I received my order of "Bag Balm" from Amazon this morning (beware of paying the same for one ounce as 8 ounces) I put some on my nose and lips which were sore from having a cold and its very good. Good value too.

Hello AnnieGran. Nice to meet you! ?

Udder cream really works, farmers use it. Get it on the internet, several different brands - not expensive.

Hello AnneGran. Almost the same name as me!

oznan cheers

I'm sure Granny always used something called Melrose for cracks in her fingers. It must be quite an old remedy but I'm sure it was in a pink stick that you twist (like prittstick) It always did the trick.

I used to use Snofire or the thicker Germolene but you can't get either of them now. When I had a hack on my thumb a couple of weeks ago I kept it sealed with Savlon antiseptic Sprayon Plaster. It nipped a little when I first put it on but after that the hack cleared up in a couple of days and wasn't as painful as usual because it was protected.

morethan2,my GP has told me that aqueous cream is no longer recommended for dry skin conditions as it can actually make the situation worse.You can check this out on the internet to verify and then perhaps you could suggest that your poor MIL stops using that and tries one of the other ideas posted on here.

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

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 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 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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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