Q. The skin around my nails becomes dry and rough, and within a few days the skin cracks open. I’ve found that using a nail file to smooth away the rough skin helps to avoid the cracking. If the cracks still appear I put on a dab of Polysporin and a bandage at night and the crack usually heals within a day or two.
A. Readers of this column have been offering remedies for split and cracked fingertips for years. Some of their favorites include instant glue or liquid bandage to seal the split. Others use ChapStick or a heavy-duty moisturizer. Rubber gloves can help protect hands from detergent, which is very drying.
