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[bigmomma051204]

My partner is a landscaper and so is obviously handling nasty things all day lol (dirt,dust,machinery,thorns,tree bark,chemicals,lifting heavy slabs, etc etc you get the picture lol!!!) And his hands are in terrible condition.....very dry and in one place (between his thumb and finger) where his skin creases it has actually cracked and split. Now obviously he is using medicated cream (savlon or germalene i think!) on the cracked bit to keep out nasties...and i have bought him some elizabeth arden 8 hour cream hand moisturiser as he has found that to work well (its just getting him to remember to USE it lol).....

My question - yes there is one LOL (!!!) is : what type of soap should he use?? It has to be pretty strong (ie to get all the imbedded grime off!!) but also gentle enough not to make his skin MORE dry and cracked!!!!

I used to go out with a mechanic years ago and i seem to remember him and the other mechanics using some special kind of handwash which got all the crap off their hands - anyone have any idea what that may have been?

Srry to ramble and be vague - its still pretty early on a saturday morning for me PMSL

[harryharp]

I used to be an Avon lady, and I know Avon's Skin So Soft Bath Oil is good as a hand cleanser. Used neat, it's as good as Swarfega at getting stuff off, but it doesn't dry the skin out as it's an oil. I use it after I do painting and decorating, etc.

[pinkpig08]

The mechanics handwash stuff is Swarfega. My OH gets his from work.

I used to work on a market stall, and the owner had this problem with his hands. He used to use something he called 'New Skin' but no idea where to get it from. You could try Googling it?

Edit: Just found the website

http://www.newskinproducts.com/

[cally1978]

Diprobase is an emoilent cream used for eczema and dermatitis but when mixed with water it lathers up and so can be used as a soap, btw cheaper to get on prescription I think than to buy x

[noonesperfect]

Sudocrem is briliant at putting on cracked skin at night when it can be left to work overnight (my ex FIL was a builder, he swore by it - after I told him how good it was )

New skin can be bought easily in the chemist-y bit of most supermarkets - also good at sealing cracked skin, but be warned - it does sting! Just make sure the area your sealing is really clean first.

As far as handwashes go, for normal handwashing try to avoid using anything with sodium lauryl sulphate it as it will strip the oil out of your/his hands quicker than you can say grease!!

Maybe use some Palmolive (yes really!! ->no SLS< ) liquid soap with a bit of added table salt for a scrubby effect (once sore bits have healed of course).

[Wee Bargain Hunter]

Aveeno products are pretty good. They are available in Boots & I know some of them are available on prescription as well. Agree with previous poster re Diprobase but I find Dermol 500 better (both are available from the doctor). Both are in large pump dispensers that you can leave by the sink. Once he settles on which products work best for him, he could see if his Doctor will prescribe a few at a time (for upstairs/downstairs/spare etc) & then get a prepay cert.

[bank_of_slate]

The Body Shop hemp handcream!!!!!!!
...Linda xx

[nealallen]

Try Neutrogena Hand Cream http://www.ciao.co.uk/Neutrogena_Han...scented__68800
I get very dry skin and it's very good.

[angie_baby]

my dad used to use new skin and it it work, be warned it stings like hell though.

Angie

[eyelinerprincess]

I've been prescribed Epaderm (sp?) and it's worked wonders for me.

[webresolved]

Try GOJO Hand Medic, i got mine from http://www.hygieneandworkwear.co.uk/...hand_medic.php and they offer your money back if it does not work!

[SarahShattered]

I was going to suggest Neutrogena Hand Cream too. Not as a cleanser obviously!!! But to help heal the cracks and sore bits, I get very sore knuckles, particularly in the winter, but the Neutrogena sorts it out really quickly.

HTH

[McKneff]

good old vaseline slathered on at night cant be beaten for healing.
swarfeg barrier cream before he starts work.
Why doenst he wear gloves for work

[melancholly]

another vote for the neurogena norwegian formula hand cream - used to do me the power of good after sailing and having wet rope shred my hands! it also doesn't smell 'girly' so it's one less excuse for your OH to use (assuming he's anything like mine!).