How do i get cracks on tips of thumb and index fingers to heal?

Lorraine
by Lorraine
MY tips of fingers crack and bleed in winter....I have tried everything.........any solution???????????????????

  17 answers
  • 2dogal 2dogal on Dec 30, 2017

    I think you need to go to a medical site - although this is a DIY site, it's really not for medical issues.

    I can tell you what I used to do when I lived in a cold, snow area and that was to not wash my hands as much, use plenty of moisturizing lotion after when I did wash them using cool water - not hot. And if they were real bad, I'd cover them with petroleum jelly like Vaseline and wear cotton gloves at night.

    • Lorraine Lorraine on Dec 31, 2017

      The Dr.'s don't know what causes this........my 3 brothers have the same thing every year...Dr. said the only thing that will heal the cracks is an Rx for steroid I have lot's to try and will return to this site to let everyone know what was the best Thanks

  • Sch13490768 Sch13490768 on Dec 30, 2017

    How do I healcracked fingers

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 30, 2017

    Have you tried Vaseline and gloves over night? Or nu skin liquid bandage? This might sound off..but how much water are you drinking daily? Not coffe not tea not soda pop. Water. ? You could be under hydrated.

    • Lorraine Lorraine on Dec 31, 2017

      will try nu skin liquid bandage......I drink lots of water thanks

  • Norma Norma on Dec 30, 2017

    If they are really cracked try either vaseline at night with gloves to keep the moisture in or Bag Balm. It is a cream used on cows utters for chafing. You can buy it most pharmacies or farm stores. It comes in a green square tin. Rub that on your hands with gloves at night. During the day get corn huskers lotion. Buy same place as Bag balm. Always dry hands well and reapply lotion every time you wash your hands. Best thing is ti start with these things early in the winter before cracks get in your hands. Good luck getting your fingers healed.

    • Lorraine Lorraine on Dec 31, 2017

      none of the others you mentioned worked......will try corn huskers solution thanks

  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 30, 2017

    Well out in the backwoods we use Bag & Balm, O'Keefes Working Hands, and Norweigan Hand Cream. Now I live in town I go to the Dollar Tree and buy the Creamy CocoButter lotion in the tube or Udderly Smooth Hand cream. The secret is to get a pair of cotton gloves and slather it on before bed and wear gloves to bed a night until they clear up. Add some lotion each time you wash your hands, I like the Palmer's Coco Butter in the pump bottle for this. And if your working outside, put some lotion on and gloves to work.

  • Dianacirce70 Dianacirce70 on Dec 30, 2017

    You could get cotton gloves and cost your hands in coconut oil, there is also a product called working hands that my husband uses in the cool weather to help his hands not crack

  • Penny King Penny King on Dec 30, 2017

    Bacitracin & band-aids at night.

  • try sleeping with your hands coated in Vaseline and covered in cotton gloves


  • Cathy Dillon Cathy Dillon on Dec 30, 2017

    I think the norwegian hand cream is good, Bacitracin, Bag balm/ bee balm/ udderly smooth/ regular vaseline.... all good.... but when it is serious I think the slather on at bedtime and sleeping in gloves is what really makes a difference. Do not delay! as it takes days for your hands to heal. I use fabric bandaids with bacitracin during the day. Another tip is that a cheap or old pair of socks can substitute for your night gloves. I have one pair that is stored in its own baggie just for this purpose. ALSO washing dishes really does me in so I bought myself a pair of the NICE long real Playtex gloves in a pretty color and I have been using them when it is going to be a fulll load of dishes.

    • Lorraine Lorraine on Dec 31, 2017

      Thank you I think I will get the stick with sponge on end to wash the dishes......this may help

  • Kat Kat on Dec 31, 2017

    Rescue Remedy cream! order online; my hands get horrible in winter, havent found 1 cream that works; so the rescue remedy came out with cream...heals everything!!! look up Bach flower remedies...rescue remedy is used by many rescue squads for trauma; comes in liquid, cream, capsule etc. It is made from 5 flowers, no drugs, WONT harm children, pets, anyone!!! it basically calms you, you dont feel any effects, just calmness. You can use liquid on skin, tongue, in food/drink; cream is used on skin only. Rub cream/or liquid on animals' paws, tips of ears, put liquid in their food/water...it will calm them down. DOESNT hurt them if they lick cream either. But this stuff works to heal too...cuts, burns, etc. just rub some on and heals quickly. So try cream on your hands..I always have it with me.

  • Cathy Dillon Cathy Dillon on Dec 31, 2017

    Definitely! The sponge on a stick is a good idea. If you hate wearing rubber gloves for dishes - I like to put some baby powder on the inside of the glove, which makes them less sweaty/ clingy on the inside . ( My daughter doesn't like the baby powder as much as I do, though) . I suppose you could put lotion on your hands inside rubber gloves as well. I really notice that doing the dishes ( with hot water and dawn dish soap) just strips everything off my skin and then I am susceptible to nasty cracks and a long and inconvenient healing process. I deliberately let the dishes pile up so it is worth it to get out the gloves.

    One additional thought - or two - Dry hands and outdoor gloves. Before going out i have often just washed my face or hands or refilled a water bottle or thermos.. so my hands are still technically a little bit wet. That is another disaster waiting to take it's toll on my skin. Wear your gloves outdoors. There are some cute gloves (cvs last year) that have special pads so you can still use your cell phone without removing the glove. Thin , and stretchy, not too expensive, and seems like a great idea.

    One more thought - for cleaning off the car when it snows. I bought two LARGE pairs of men's winter gloves ( home depot two pack i think) and I LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR- all year; so I have something handy when I need it to deal with the ice and snow or moving lumber or other nasty things. I have been very happy with this as gloves in my pockets are too delicate for these jobs.

  • Cathy Dillon Cathy Dillon on Dec 31, 2017

    I do have another tip. For a temporary albeit painful "fix" you can use clear nailpolish to 'close' a crack. It is NOT a Doctor recommended idea! But after the initial sting It seems to help. I learned this at the nail salon when she put a couple of dabs on my ragged cuticles. I think the idea is similar to the nu-skin product.

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Dec 31, 2017

    I have heard that vaselin

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Dec 31, 2017

    Sorry...if you cover your hand with a good cream and wear gloves all night it helps a lot. Usually winter is a bad time for the cracking of skin on your hands.

  • Tina worley Tina worley on Jan 01, 2018

    Castor oil. At night. At least 4 times.

  • Em Em on Sep 06, 2021

    I go thru the same thing. As soon as the split heals it cracks open again. It is usually in the same spots over and over. I keep my hands moisturized with cream with no chemicals, either goats milk hand cream or argon oil. When the split occurs and they are painful, I bought a box of finger cots for areas around the finger tips and apply an ointment like Foille (THE BEST HEALER AROUND) or neosporine type of salve and keep covered until the crack heals. I have tried nu skin and it helps but you have to keep applying. Otherwise weird areas that are hard to keep a bandaid on can be covered in vet wrap. That is the stuff the vets use that looks like gauze but sticks to itself. Put salve on cover with bandaid and wrap vet wrap to keep covered. You can get it online and is pretty inexpensive. It is wide like gauze so I often cut it into thin strips to do the job. You just wrap around and let it stick to itself.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 11, 2023

    I have used Vick's Vaporub, smelly, but it works. Put it on at night and put cotton gloves over your hands.