Hand Wash For Sore Hands Please

[Marijn]

can anyone give me recommendations for a hand wash for someone with very sensitive, sore, dry hands. Thank you

[woofgang]

do their hands get very dirty or it it for everyday use? Child, adult, older person? Why are the hands dry and sore?

[Marijn]

She has very sensitive skin anyway and she has two little ones who she needs to nappy-change. She does washing up, as she doesn't have a dishwasher, and other general houseworky things.

[vakayu]

Snowfire hand cream is excellent although pricey,available online.

[Marijn]

Thank you Vakayu, I will tell her about the hand cream. I am mainly looking for a handwash. Do they do that too?

[vakayu]

Sorry Marijn I'm not sure,I was thinking more of damage repair on sore hands,google it for more info.

[vakayu]

Hi again I was just thinking it is more of a barrier cream she would need for constant washing of hands as in the medical profession.

[Marijn]

I googled it, and it doesn't look like they do a handwash. But I will look into getting her the handcream anyway.

[vakayu]

Look at my last post above Marijn,if that is of any help.^^^^

[vegasmad]

Hemp soap/hand wash would be good as hemp is very healing for the skin. I think that the body shop does one.

[woofgang]

can I suggest that while her hands are healing she invests in a box of disposable gloves for changing babe? they are about 4 quid a box from chemists and you get quite a few in the box. Use gloves for washing up. For general handwashing she could try aqueous cream BP instead of soap cheaper by the tub than in a tube.
If she can do it (I can't) then using handcream (not lotion) at night and sleeping with cotton gloves on can help a lot.

[Marijn]

Thanks for all the useful info so far.

[Eve]

I was going to suggest gloves too, I've got them cheaper than that from pound/discount shops.

I have been getting really dry skin and cracking on my hands recently (arthritis related I think after swelling and being hot maybe). I like handwashes with things like milk and honey in them.

Could she bathe them in something like water with a pouch of oats in it? I just shove some porridge oats in a bit of old tights and tie it up and squeeze it out once in the water.

There are a few ranges for very dry skin in Boots and such. I was having a look while waiting for a prescription and there are all sorts of things by E45 and Oilatum for people with skin conditions and very dry skin.

Maybe when she has a bit of time (maybe after children in bed) she could bathe them then put on some nice cream and then put some soft cotton gloves on for a while.

[rsvp]

oatmeal is -imo - the best long term solution . keep a bowl of soaked porrige oats to hand (sorry about the pun) and immerse hands in the solution at very regular intervals - with a combination of always wearing rubber gloves when using any washing up liquid/detergent/cleaning product and avoiding as many chemicals as possible, you may get a bit of relief. Cleaning products contain scarey things as do beauty products so your skin is being exposed to all sorts of corrosive things

[Maydup]

We use Faith in Nature handwash which is natural and gentle. Alternatively tRy anything from Neal's Yard or something with an Aloe Vera base.

The one to avoid at all cost is Carex which rips the top off your skin!

[gingejbee]

Avoid anything that lathers/foams because that means there's soap (or more likely detergent) in it - and they remove oils from the skin surface - and that makes the skin even drier. Use something like aqueous cream on damp hands, rinse and dry gently. Finish off with a handcream containing 5% urea.
(Info from a dermatologist friend years ago - made a huge difference to my hands).

[Marijn]

Thank you everyone for all the useful info :-)

[woofgang]

aqueous is excellent stuff. Tubs are cheaper than tubes.