If you're like me, winter is a time of barely-recognizable hands. Granted, I live in Calgary, home of 20% relative humidity and this week, -40 degree temperatures with the windchill (whether you use Fahrenheit or Celsius scales, it's the same number). But even if you are in a more moderate climate, forced-air heating and cold weather can wreak havoc on aging nails and hands, not to mention hair. Not surprisingly, pharmaceutical companies sometimes do research in these extreme climates to find out what works.
I've interviewed dermatologists who say this is a common complaint among patients. Apparently, petroleum jelly is a popular remedy for skin cracks on hands, as is Krazy Glue!
I've found a couple of protectant creams to be very effective on my own hands, when applied in small amounts, a number of times a day. They are: Cetaphil Barrier Cream, which is fragrance-free and non-greasy; Prevex Protectant cream, which contains 67% petrolatum so is greasy, but can be applied in very small amounts to skin cracks; and Herbacin hand cream, with glycerine, silicone and camomile.
Protect your nails further by limiting the times your hands are in water. This can be challenging if you're washing your hands often to avoid spreading colds and flu. Wearing rubber gloves while doing dishes and other wet tasks will help.
Cracking skin and breaking nails may sound like a small problem, but cracks on the tips of your fingers can be painful enough to wake you up at night. What have you tried? Let me know if you have a solution to this cold-climate problem, and I'll publish the suggestions.
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