The weather has been atrocious, just in case you haven’t noticed. A friend in Buffalo sent us photos that make us very glad we live in North Carolina. But even in the south, the weather has been unseasonably cold. Here is a photo from our deck yesterday:
Joe & Terry’s rain gauge filled with snow
Yes, we had quite the snowstorm! A cousin who lives in the Poconos wrote:
“Wow! I had no idea you had snow down that way! It looks very pretty. I would trade that in a heartbeat for all the ice we have right now.”
Another cousin ads:
“Oooh, so sorry you are getting the snow. I’m glad we aren’t getting snow, but it’s so darn cold here. I’m done with winter!”
The Problem with Winter!
A lot of people are complaining that their hands are dry, rough and cracked and spring is weeks away. Part of the problem is hand washing. We are told by public health officials that we must wash our hands frequently to avoid catching colds or flu.
If you have not been reading our newsletter, you may not know that the country is in the middle of a sexdemic. That has nothing to do with sex. It refers to the six (“sex” in Latin) infections that are sweeping the country. In addition to influenza there is norovirus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID, colds (adenoviruses and enteroviruses), Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). But wait, there’s more! Whooping cough (pertussis) is also out there and Terry just reported on the growing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.
That means washing after shaking hands, touching the elevator buttons or doorknobs or even cell phones. Let’s face it, viruses linger on surfaces for hours if not days. But all that hand washing wreaks havoc, especially when air is dry. What can we do to overcome sandpaper skin?
Suggestions from Visitors to this Website:
K.J.L is a teacher and her hands get terribly dry:
“I’ve suffered from cracked fingers for several years now. I am a preschool teacher, so not only do I wash my hands a lot, I’m always making and playing with play dough, painting or using other such materials with the children.
I’ve tried many different kinds of lotions and treatments and nothing seems to work. I have jars and tubes of Corn Huskers, Aquaphor, Aveeno Hand Cream, Eucerin and the list goes on.
“We have ‘teacher soap’ at school that is not antibacterial and I put lotion on each time I wash my hands. Liquid Bandage has been helpful; even though the cracks don’t heal, Liquid Bandage keeps them from bleeding and the cracks don’t get deeper.”
Candice prefers bar soaps to liquid soaps:
“Start at the source of why your hands are dry and cracking…drying soaps and dry air.
“Bring your own soap to school. Bar soaps are better than liquid for dry skin. I LOVE Neolia, an olive oil-based soap. It is hard to find in stores but you can get it direct from the manufacturer. Or try Cetaphil, a skin-cleansing lotion that doesn’t contain soap or detergent.
“Always wear gloves when washing dishes or working with any kind of detergent. Use a humidifier in your home and the classroom.
“Ointments are the most moisturizing over creams and lotions. I prefer Aquaphor Healing Ointment. My dad says Burt Bee’s Shea Butter Hand Repair Creme and Hand Salve are excellent. Good luck!”
T.S. uses olive oil!
“The best thing is to moisturize following each hand washing, to prevent the problem. I like to put a small amount of olive oil on my cuticles; massage it in, followed by any good, thick moisture cream. The cream mixes nicely with the oil, aiding the absorption.
“If I neglect to do this even once during the winter, I get the cracks and split cuticles.”
Karen cannot deal with greasy skin creams:
“I am a needlework and quilt designer. Working with threads and fabrics takes a toll on my hands; plus I have dry skin.
“I’ve been using Udderly Smooth Udder Cream for years. Since I started using it I have not had problems with cracked fingers. Plus, I think it helps my fingernails, which is an added benefit. It is also non-greasy, so I can work with my threads and fabrics without leaving a greasy mark. My husband loves it too!”
TTPOL has occasional eczema, which makes dry skin a real problem:
“I do not have serious eczema but it arises periodically on my hands. I have tried all of the remedies that I know of, including dietary restrictions.
“I use a skin cream with 20% Urea. I was amazed at the almost instant pain relief, followed by total clearing within a few days.”
Urea Intensive Skin Relief:
We think 20% urea is a fabulous ingredient that helps speed healing of dry, cracked skin. Research dermatologists have endorsed urea for its protective effect. Our natural product chemist, Chuck Friedman, has created exclusively for visitors to this website:
The People’s Pharmacy Urea Skin Relief
This 2 oz tube of intensive skin therapy with 20% urea is on sale until Saturday, February 22, 2025. Instead of $12, this handy tube is $9.60. As important as the urea is to help heal damaged skin, we are proud that there are no parabens or phthalates in our skin cream. Why not give it a try while it is on sale?
You can also download our free eGuide to Skin Care & Treatment at this link.
Here is a link to The People’s Pharmacy Urea Skin Relief 2 oz tube.
