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Suggest Treatment For Dry And Chapped Skin

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Posted on Mon, 24 Feb 2014
Question: i work in a daycare and im always washing my hands.. my fingertips are dry and i get cuts on my thumbs near my nail. the tips of my thumbs are extremly painful and some times the small cuts bleed. what cream can i use. i was told something with "urea". i also had artificial nails on but not anymore. my fingertips also seem alittle swollen.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (47 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Moisturizer+Topical Steroid (mix 1:1 and apply) Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to XXXXXXX Extreme dryness can lead to chapping and cracking/fissuring of the skin of hands and feet. People who are atopic/allergic have a low water retentive capacity of the skin, which leads to increased trans-epidermal water loss into the atmosphere specially when the weather is dry and cold in winters. Repeated washing with soaps exacerbates the condition leading to painful cracks and fissures as is the case here. In such a situation it is advisable to apply a good moisturizer as frequently as possible. Moisturizers specially those which contain hygroscopic (attract water from the atmosphere and lock it into the skin) and keratoloytic agents like Ammonium lactate, Urea, Lactic acid and Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid are specially useful in such cases. Moisturizers should be applied as frequently as possible, and each time after washing hands with soap. I usually ask my patients who are severely affected by dry, scaly and cracked skin to mix (in equal proportions, 1:1) a potent topical steroid like clobetasol cream and moisturizer and apply at least twice daily. Once the condition improves with this combination, usually within 2-4 weeks, only moisturizers alone would suffice. Hope this helps you take care regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 hours later)
I have used Spectro E-Care and i have PMS-Clobetasol .05%. Can i use these together? How often should i put it on and should i mix them together??
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (13 hours later)
Brief Answer: Mix (1:1) and Apply Detailed Answer: Hi. Yes definitely, you can either mix in equal proportions and apply it twice daily OR you can also apply Spectra E-Care first and apply clobetasol cream over it after a gap of 15 mins, twice daily. regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Dry And Chapped Skin

Brief Answer: Moisturizer+Topical Steroid (mix 1:1 and apply) Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to XXXXXXX Extreme dryness can lead to chapping and cracking/fissuring of the skin of hands and feet. People who are atopic/allergic have a low water retentive capacity of the skin, which leads to increased trans-epidermal water loss into the atmosphere specially when the weather is dry and cold in winters. Repeated washing with soaps exacerbates the condition leading to painful cracks and fissures as is the case here. In such a situation it is advisable to apply a good moisturizer as frequently as possible. Moisturizers specially those which contain hygroscopic (attract water from the atmosphere and lock it into the skin) and keratoloytic agents like Ammonium lactate, Urea, Lactic acid and Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid are specially useful in such cases. Moisturizers should be applied as frequently as possible, and each time after washing hands with soap. I usually ask my patients who are severely affected by dry, scaly and cracked skin to mix (in equal proportions, 1:1) a potent topical steroid like clobetasol cream and moisturizer and apply at least twice daily. Once the condition improves with this combination, usually within 2-4 weeks, only moisturizers alone would suffice. Hope this helps you take care regards