3 Year Old's Dry, Itchy Hands

My oldest son had eczema (sp?) as a baby. I don't remember what we used (he's 13 now) back then. With how often he helps me with dishes and cleaning, his hands seem to be drying out (and cracking) again. (My kids wash their hands a lot as well because I have Celiac and they're not on a gluten free diet.) He's using the Arbonne Cleansing Gel to wash his hands and the Hand Cream and it cleared it up in a couple of days... no more bleeding. A friend of mine is using the Skin Reconditioning Oil on her daughter who also has eczema and has had success with it. Hope that helps...

My 2 1/2 year old has skin problems and I find that Aveeno works wonders for his skin. I also use the body weash on him when it gets really bad. At night I put it on him and put socks and his feet then sneak in while he sleeps and do his hands then put gloves on him ( other wise he takes the gloves off lol) I hope this helps.

I am not sure what I have when I wash my hands too much. But a nurse I worked with recommended Aveeno hand lotion and gave me a trial size bottle. Now that I use that I dont have dry, cracked, bleeding, pink scaly hands anymore.

Yes, try using Lanolin. Just ask the pharmacist. I usually use Purlan which I find in the baby bottle isle next to the breastpumps. The Lanolin is used to help heal cracked nipples. It is very thick so I put it on my kids hands(or feet) at night and then put socks over them or cotton gloves. Also I sometimes put a thin layer of lanolin on before bath as the heat helps the lanolin to sink into the skin.

Also you might have her use Dawn dishsoap to wash her hands. It is much gentler.

Hope this helps:)

My kids have this problem too especially int he winter months we find that aveno anti-itch cream and healing relief lotion works pretty well. Also try eucerin it works okay too. You might want to see if you can get teh daycare she is in to put the lotion on through out the day too also you might try cortizon cream. I know that anything you use can take a few days to make a big difference but reapplying whatever topical solution we try often through out the day will help

Try Neutrogena hand cream. I live by that stuff. My godmother was a mail lady and her hands and cuticles would be so dry and cracked through the winter months in Arkansas and she always used the Neutrogena. I think it works very well.

My 4-year old daughter just started preschool a couple of months ago, and I am having somewhat of the same problem. She also has very very sensitive skin, and I cant use anything with perfumes (not even the ones meant for babies). What I do use on her body and little cheeks, as well as, use it on myself, and love this stuff and works great. It is Avon Moisture Therapy Intensive and comes in a white and blue tube. You can, of course, order it from Avon, or there is an Avon discount store at 10743 W. Peoria ###-###-####) and they sell it for just under $2.00 a tube. It is a thick cream so you only use a little. I have been using this lotion for my hands, elbows, feet, etc. for about 15 years and have never found anything that works better. Hope this helps...good luck.

I, too, am a hand-washing freak, and used to suffer with dry, cracked, itchy and painful hands from the frequent washing. And I have a now 4 year old daughter who did too because I'm always on her about washing her hands. Well, once we switched to this hand soap called Green Tea & Coriander Hand Soap, we've had chap/pain/dry/cracked/etc.-free hands ever since. I LOVE this stuff! It also comes with lotion, even though the soap alone does the job. If you think bringing a separate soap in just for your daughter would work, then I'd highly recommend getting it. Also, it comes in a bottle with a pump that only allows you to dispense a small amount each time (it's concentrated), so that's another bonus, especially with little ones.

We have some of this problem at work--the soap in our restroom is very drying. We use lotion immediately after washing our hands--always--and that seems to help.

Hand and body soaps are designed to lift off oils and skin cells--that's how it picks up dirt & germs--so frequent washing even with a mild soap can be very drying to sensitive skin. If you have to wash with soap a lot, the only solution I know of is to put the moisture right back in.

If your child's skin can tolerate it (I would find out before making the request), perhaps the teacher would let her use a waterless sanitizer (purell comes to mind, but I'm sure there are others) instead of washing her hands. It would still sanitize her hands (so she couldn't spread germs, etc.) and it would still teach her that keeping clean is important, but it shouldn't take the natural oils away (because it's leave-on).

She would still have to actually wash her hands to clean up after finger painting or that type of thing, so it's not a perfect solution, but it might help.

When my daughters hands get like that I use good old fashioned
Vasoline. It works like a charm.
I put it on at night before she goes to bed and her hands on so much better by morning. Make sure your daughter is drinking the recommended amount of water every day. If she is dry on the inside, she will be on the outside too. Alot of people think that because the weather is cooling that they don't need as much water, but it is dryer in the winter. When I worked in the hospital, we saw more people for dehydration in the winter then in the summer.

The big problem with antibacterial soap is that it contains triclosan which is highly toxic and does exactly what you are describing: creates cuts on your hands. Try Trader Joe's liquid soap. It comes in pump form and it's great. I get cuts if I use any of those antibacterial soaps but not with this one.

my 12 year old has the driest hands!!! we finally started putting mentholatum on them at night and it was been the miracle cure for us. good luck!

I get the same problem during winter months. I use Mary Kay Satin Hands. The Emolliant Night Cream in the 3 part kit is awesome and I even use it on my little one's bottom when he gets diaper rash. Not to sound like a "saleswomen" but I am a consultant and started (don't sell very much at all) when I had my son. I washed my hands constantly and they were a mess!! It was the only thing that took care of the problem. My skin is also very sensitive (fair skin and red hair) It lasts long and only requires application every few days. Well worth the $.
Good Luck,
L.

Hi H.!

in my case, it has been me the one suffering from dry skin when the weather gets colder.
I've used Eucerin and it works really good and fast for me.

I hope it helps.

Angie

I have found that Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion is very good. It has 7 intensive Moisturizers with Vitamin A,C & E and its non-greasy. I have extremely dry hands and and my cuticles are sore alot from handling paper alot at work and it works wonders!!! I put a large amount on my hands at night and put on cotton gloves and leave them on all night and wow what a difference in the morning! Hope this helps!

I have found that AVON has remarkable lotion, there is one with oatmeal for itchy skin and there is another for intense moisture..I will have to look up the names, but they work wonders for me and my kids.

I had been struggling with eczema, and then stumbled upon a very natural remedy - cocconut oil! If you Google search eczema and coccount oil, you'll find lots of information about it. Find it a healthfood store - and use the purest one you can find. It goes a long way, and is great for other uses - which you can find online. There's not a strong odor with the pure brands, so you really don't even notice it. It's especially nice with babies because it doesn't matter if they lick it (if you put it on their hands or arms) unlike some meds or lotions. It's very salve-like, and lasts in-between washings, without feeling greasy when a small amount is used with water after washing hands - use it like lotion. Because it has natural anti-fungal/anti-bacterial properties, it also is great for those preschool germs!!!

Good luck!

Hi H.-
Every winter my little guy gets these dry, red patches on his cheeks and we use Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream. It has natural colloidal oatmeal in it. You can find it in the baby aisle and it is in a cream colored tube with a dark blue cover. This stuff works like a dream and is cheap (about $4) compared to a doctor's prescription! I would send a tube with her and keep one at home.
Good luck!

Try Burts Bee's baby line. It is all natural and works! You can find it at some Walgreen's or at www.burtbees.com. Take Care- Niki O

My first thought was since it is hands only, it is the antibacterial soap causing problem. I hate it whe companies mislead with healthy sounding names, and product really no different than others!
I'd lose that soap, and find a lotion that is hypoallergenic,as just washing so much can destroy skin...Also, is there anything else in the class, like play-do, or gak, or glue that may have components that she may be allergic to?
Hope you find the culprit and the cure.