Groomers, What Do You Do About Cracked Hands.

[pesh]

Hi All

My hands are so sore, they're cracked from the cold days and dog washing. They're so bad at present I'm waking from the pain.

What do you use on your hands to prevent this?

Thx muchly

Sharon :D

[WreckitWhippet]

We used to use a barrier cream in the Canberra salon. Make sure you apply it before you arrive at work and well before you commence grooming. Look after your hands at every opportunity such as morning tea and lunch. We used an emu oil moisturiser or a paw paw. Treat you hands before going to bed as well.

I also found that I picked and choosed which shampoos suited me in the salon. There were a couple that I wouldn't use as they were hard on my hands and I let the owner know of this.

[persephone]

Can you use gloves when dog washing?

Not a groomer .. but when they are cracked and painful ... I often use something like paraderm plus ..with a local anaesthetic in ..to help sleep . Put in on ..add a thin layer of vaseline ..and gloves if you can bear them to sleep in . A few nights of this will help heal the cracks ....

then wear gloves at work as much as you can ..and use a non - scented moisturiser as often as possible.

I would also suggest rubbing in paw paw cream , covering with gloves , when you are watching TV or sleeping .....until it eases off ..then just paw paw cream every night ...?

I hate dry cracked knuckles in Winter

Oh..also , take Zinc and some extra vit C to help :)

*goes to get tablets * ;)

[Everythings Shiny]

I changed shampoos and moisturise my hands between grooms. My hands, especially my knuckles are prone to cracking.

ETA - I use dermaveen moisturiser - this was recommended to me by my mothers burns specialist to keep her hand moisturised. I also use Arton's ointment (can be hard to get but I get it from Pharmacy Direct) to help heal up any cracks.

Edited June 7, 2013 by Everythings Shiny

[Crisovar]

I use Dermcare Intensive vitamin E cream before and during the work day, and MooGoo Flufffy Shea Butter at night, generously apply whatever cream you choose to use at night and wear cotton gloves to bed till you get your hands under control.

It pays to try a few different shampoo brands too, I tried many before I was happy with both the way they brought the dogs coats up and the effect they had on my hands.

[BC Crazy]

I am not a groomer but suffer with extremely dry, cracked hands & feet. I also have very sensitive skin so smooth, moisturised skin is a constant battle for me to conquer.

I don't use any soap on my skin at all, apart from shampoo/conditioner. I use DermaDrate foot moisturiser from Chemist Wharehouse all the time. Every time I wash my hands if possible. I also use Aristocort

cream which I find very good. When my hands are really bad I smoother my hands in cream & wear cotton gloves to bed. I'm suppose to wear both cotton & rubber gloves not allowing my hand to get wet but

find it difficult to do as they annoy me. The thing I have also found to really benefit me is Swiss hair skin & nails vitamin supplement. Taken daily my skin has improved 100%. I started by taking 2 per

day for the first week or so to really kick myself off & then back to one a day.

I can sympathise with you as it is such a painful condition & with your hands in water all the time very difficult to control. Hope I was of some help to you.

Edited June 8, 2013 by BC Crazy

[Vehs]

Dr Scholls foot cream -I would use this on my hands straight after my shift when I was grooming 7 days a week along with cotton gloves at night

Also changing shampoos helped and using those little rubber scrubbers on dogs instead of your fingers and nails might help

[karly101]

I had really bad skin plus allergic dermatitis all over my hands from checmicals at work.

I used Moisturiser + cotton gloves + water proof gloves and whenever not near water take off to allow skin to breathe. I also took my own soap to work (ego).

Once my hands got better I religiously applied barrier cream. At the moment my allergies on my hands are good and I haven't needed to recently.

[pesh]

Thank you so much everyone, great info in there for me.

It's unbelievable how quick it happens, and when it does I definately know it's happened.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Not a groomer but using chlorhex handwash all day - my hands turn awful during winter.

I use moogoo milk wash for my hands at home and have taken it to work when bad on occasions. I also use akin unscented hand and cuticle moisturiser as it's soothing and no perfume means no extra irritants. :)

[BC Crazy]

I find Winter time the worst for my hands as well. Summer is the worst for my feet as I wear thongs a lot & they are a no no if you don't want cracked heels.