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Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

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Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby RogerS » 21 Dec 2018, 12:47

I can't recall (and searching has failed me) which forum I mentioned this on a long time ago but I do recall quite a few suffering as well.

Up until this year, as winter drew near and/or I was spending a lot of time in the workshop in the cold, I used to get nasty little splits on my thumbs. Some folk used superglue, I used to tape them shut with Micropore tape.

However, not this year :D

I've been taking daily doses of a zinc/copper tablet from Cytoplan to cure the horizontal ridges I was getting in my thumb nails. They've now gone. But also have those splits.

Correlation ? Coincidence ? Dunno...I'm just passing on this tip to those similarly afflicted to give it a try.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Rod » 21 Dec 2018, 13:16

I’ve started to get them on my thumbs and they are very painful. I’ve been applying some cracked foot cream to them which seems to relieve the symptoms.

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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby RogerS » 21 Dec 2018, 13:52

Rod wrote:I’ve started to get them on my thumbs and they are very painful. I’ve been applying some cracked foot cream to them which seems to relieve the symptoms.

Rod


I agree! They were :D Try the zinc/copper tablet.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby 9fingers » 21 Dec 2018, 16:16

Add some ammonium chloride to the zinc and copper and you might become magnetic :lol:
I'll leave it up to you to choose where to place the carbon rod!

Much cheaper from Vitabiotics than Cytoplan out of interest Roger.

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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby RogerS » 21 Dec 2018, 17:07

9fingers wrote:Add some ammonium chloride to the zinc and copper and you might become magnetic :lol:
I'll leave it up to you to choose where to place the carbon rod!

Much cheaper from Vitabiotics than Cytoplan out of interest Roger.

Bob



Ah, but is the quality the same ?
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby 9fingers » 21 Dec 2018, 17:14

RogerS wrote:
9fingers wrote:Add some ammonium chloride to the zinc and copper and you might become magnetic :lol:
I'll leave it up to you to choose where to place the carbon rod!

Much cheaper from Vitabiotics than Cytoplan out of interest Roger.

Bob



Ah, but is the quality the same ?


I assume both have to meet some sort of quality standards to be allowed to sell them. Anyway just thought you might be interested as it popped up when I googled to see what they were.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Dave R » 21 Dec 2018, 22:29

Roger, can you get Bag Balm over there?

https://www.bagbalm.com/
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby RogerS » 21 Dec 2018, 22:32

Dave R wrote:Roger, can you get Bag Balm over there?

https://www.bagbalm.com/



I've never seen or heard about it, Dave.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Dave R » 21 Dec 2018, 22:34

Just looked at Amazon UK. It seems to be available there. It's good for chapped hands as well as udders. ;)
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Andyp » 21 Dec 2018, 22:46

Interesting Roger, I too have suffered in the past and have got through several boxes of plasters some winters past. Past two years I have beens split free and have pondered why. This winter todate has not been very cold yet but the idea that the cause could me as much to do with mineral deficiency as atmospheric conditions is intriguing. I am not aware that my diet has changed much but will have to investigate further.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby fiveeyes » 23 Dec 2018, 03:06

Perhaps you are somewhat dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, such as.... :obscene-drinkingcheers:
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Doug » 23 Dec 2018, 11:41

Some bloke in tool station was saying how good this stuff is when I went in the other day
https://www.toolstation.com/okeeffes-wo ... gLgqPD_BwE
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Glue and nails » 25 Dec 2018, 19:03

A further vote for O'Keefes - it works like magic! Wash and dry your hands, rub in O'Keefes - it does sting a little, but it truly works wonders! Used it after doing a fair bit of cement work with no gloves; skin dried and cracked all over the place, and was nipping everytime I bent my fingers. Applied O'Keefe's and within twenty minutes, my hands were soft and supple once more! Result = one very happy customer, although it seems quite pricey (about £7.00 for a small tub, though you don't need a lot)
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby RogerS » 07 Feb 2022, 08:24

How are folks doing with these this year ? I am very lucky and haven't had any. Neither have I been taking any measures to avoid them. Not cold enough for long enough ?
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Andyp » 07 Feb 2022, 09:20

I reckon it's less to do with temperature and more to do with humidity. This winter, like last, has been very wet here. I've not suffered at all.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Phil » 07 Feb 2022, 09:31

Andyp wrote:I reckon it's less to do with temperature and more to do with humidity. This winter, like last, has been very wet here. I've not suffered at all.



Good point.

Our winters are very dry, so I suffer each year.
At the start of winter I buy a new bottle of superglue :?
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Phil Pascoe » 07 Feb 2022, 11:25

I found barrier cream helped them heal. Incidentally I get them if I have D4 PVA on my fingers for too long.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Cabinetman » 07 Feb 2022, 11:47

I have been taking vitamins and supplements for the last couple of years and haven’t had any problems since doing that, as Rogers said three years ago I think it’s the zinc. Firm believer in giving the body the tools to fix itself.
Before that when I did have those little cuts that were incredibly painful I used E45 cream and that cured them overnight. Ian
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Woodster » 07 Feb 2022, 12:54

I find Aloe Vera gel very good on dry skin.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Lons » 07 Feb 2022, 13:42

Superglue still works for me
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby clogs » 07 Feb 2022, 18:05

I eventually found it was liquid soap of any kind that did it for me....
No to shave foam or hair shampoo.....
now only use a neutral solid soap.....
no more problems....
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby AJB Temple » 08 Feb 2022, 16:40

Interesting thread. I get the dratted cracks, but I have a tendency towards eczema. That said I agree with Andy that it seems to be affected by humidity. A change in the weather can trigger really dry and itchy skin within hours, it's bizarre. Must look into the copper and zinc aspects.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby Andy Kev. » 08 Feb 2022, 18:35

I first suffered from finger splits during exercises when doing Army basic training in bitterly cold conditions. Nivea hand cream was the recommended treatment. It worked. The idea was to initially apply it a couple of days before going into the field and daily in the field.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby RogerS » 08 Feb 2022, 18:48

clogs wrote:I eventually found it was liquid soap of any kind that did it for me....
No to shave foam or hair shampoo.....
now only use a neutral solid soap.....
no more problems....


There is a lot to be said for that. Before my leg injury, I would shower daily including washing my hair. The shampoo I used was El Cheapo from Dove, Nivea etc. But since the injury, I've not showered at all but simply washed using the basin. As a result my hair hasn't been washed each day (and sometimes twice a day). The beneficial and unexpected side-effect is that all the dry scaly skin on my scalp has gone.
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Re: Splits in fingers - a possible cure?

Postby SamQ aka Ah! Q! » 09 Feb 2022, 10:54

"No to shave foam or hair shampoo....."


As Adrian said, interesting. I also have a tendency to sebaceous eczema and find any commercial shampoo (including Johnson's Baby) has consequences. Ungumentum Merc and Cetraben are (I find) of limited, even unpredictable efficacy. The accompanying therapy of betamethasone etc is not something I look forward to long term. Jamie Oliver - if I recall correctly - is of this ilk too and rarely washes his hair.

Getting back to the point raised, sheep farmers, out lambing in frigid winter/spring weather, constantly washing their hands, pointed out to me that, if they rubbed their hands through the fleece of the ewe, and picked up enough lanolin from it, their skin didn't split. Many of the wee hill farmers up where I grew up now have a jar of lanolin in their pockets going out to the herd.

Link: http://moraybeedinosaurs.co.uk/downloads/Hand_cream.pdf
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