My MIL used the CVS brand of Vitamin E Moisturizing Oil. Rub it in well and couple of drops go a long way.

Another vote for O'Keefe's.

I like coconut oil and/or vaseline if they are in that condition.

I like Udderly Smooth, not greasy at all and very healing.

https://udderlysmooth.com/

I recently stumbled on Haitian black castor oil at Whole Foods. I'm not fond of the scent (I purchased the unscented, it almost smells burnt) and it's very thick and goopy but it sure does the trick. Overnight.

https://kreyolessence.com/pages/haitian-black-castor-oil-benefits

IF you are staying home and not out mucking about in public, you are probably overdoing it with the hand washing/ hand sanitizer routine. Remember that the virus isn't going to magically float into your home. It has to hitch a ride so, if you're keeping the barn door closed, so to speak, you don't need to go to extreme cleaning measures.

I go about my normal home routine & save the scrub & sanitizer routine for while I'm out in public and the minute that I walk in the door at home. (Door knobs etc. get disinfected then, too.)

When my hands get in rough shape, I like to use creamy petroleum jelly. Love the one from Dollar Tree (but it is lightly scented).

When my hands get in really rough shape, then I use plain old Vaseline or that Mary Kay moisturizer--thick combination of what seems to be bee's wax & petroleum jelly--it's pink--also lightly scented. The MK stuff is the best thing ever for chapped lips & raw noses when you have a cold. I apply to damp hands just before bed & wear cotton gloves. After getting frustrated w/ cheap cotton gloves, I invested in a pair of Malcolm's Miracle cotton gloves. Not cheap but they fit nicely & they're still on my hands when I wake up in the morning.

I have tried O'keefes working hands and wasn't all that impressed with it. The cheap dollar store creamy petroleum hand cream works better for me. I have psoriasis on my palms so my hands can get in really rough shape. Fortunately, I discovered by accident that avoiding gluten is the key to keeping the psoriasis in check. (Needless to say, I have tried a lot of different moisturizers...)

When my skin get really dry I use lanolin. I discovered it when I was nursing. They make if for nursing mothers but I am sure you could get it in a bigger tub that's not so expensive. Another product that I use is emu oil.

My hands dry out under usual circumstances AND I'm very sensitive to a lot of products. I use Palmolive for hand washing, because it is not as drying. For healing hands, I swear by Vaseline or aquafore (like Vaseline with a little extra oomph). I just work it in at night before bed. During the day I use unscented aveeno.

There are some great suggestions in this thread for high quality, healing products. Just as important, though, is that you apply the creams, ointments, or lotions several times a day. Certainly after every hand washing but in between, too.

A friend recommended Weleda Skin Food but I also second the recommendations for Neutrogena Hand Cream and the CeraVe in the tub.

I was going to say something like ci_lantro did. I'm confused as to why, if someone is following the stay-at-home orders, they wash hands so often? NOT trying to start an argument, I assure you. I'm just curious,

Call me old fashioned, but I think this (Corn Huskers Lotion)

works as well as, or better, than most of the more expensive and pricey modern day products. Not greasy at all, just feels good. It has a very light, clean scent, don't know if that would be too much for you or not.

Rusty

ETA: Not sure what happened, I put a picture of Corn huskers Lotion here, but it disappeared when I submitted it.

I find it helpful to apply lotion to damp skin.

I also am amazed at O'Keefe's Working Hands.

I've been using Body Bionix Relief Lotion, but I did not realize how expensive it is now. Kevin bought a couple of jars at a convention for a much reduced price, and he gave one to our sister and the other to me. It absorbs into the skin very quickly and is not greasy.

I've also been applying sunscreen every day before I go out to the pool, and this seems to condition my hands very well.

You can also look for products that are designed for cracked heels.

Very few of the things mentioned above do anything other than make my hands worse. The Weleda smells like grapefruit.

When I was younger back when girls could only wear skirts to school I had to walk cross country to go to school. Each year the area on the inside of my thighs would become so chapped that it would crack and bleed. By accident, dropped a piece of meat on my leg, I found that lamb fat, lanolin, would protect and heal the skin. It had to be real fat as I tried many of the so called pure lanolin's, Today's lamb is much younger than what is now sold but I had to put the fat through several renderings to get rid of the smell. Finally found something called Lady Esther Face Cream that did not feel like I was pouring acid on my legs.

If you do not find anything that works to remove most of the smell from chicken take the fat place in cold water then heat until hot. Allow to cool and remove the cake of fat from the surface. Repeat several times until most of the smell is gone.

My go to is Aquaphor ointment...I find o'keefes leaves a weird film. Couldn't stand it. I also like Nivea crème.

Thank you all! I sent for a couple of things to try and if they don't work, I'll make my way through the list until I find the perfect one for me. The desitin made a difference, but too much of a mess to repeat.

I have always been a hand washer, not too much has changed with corona - just a bit more diligent. I am not a germaphobe at all but was a hairdresser for many years and I think I got used to having my hands in water and clean all the time, so I cannot stand to have anything on my hands. Plus, just the usual washing before handling food or eating, after the bathroom, etc. I have never used hand sanitizers, ever. But when this all started, I was still picking my grandson up from school, so we'd both sanitize when getting back into the car. It took only a few days for my hands to turn to hamburger and they've not recovered, though I don't use sanitizer any more.

I wear disposable gloves when I go to the store and carefully peel them off before getting into my car so I don't have to sanitize my hands. I've been hanging them in the garage to decontaminate for a week or more, then I reuse them for shopping.

I've never been in the habit of using hand lotion, ever. I have a friend who every year would give me a tube of Mary Kay hand lotion, which I like well enough, but since I seldom used it, I have a lifetime supply. I tried that, but even it burned and stung.

So, thanks for the great suggestions - maybe I'll report back for others who might be looking for something, too.

gscience, you made me laugh...I think you may have read my "hamburger hands" a little too literally. Not a problem I'm having with mixing meat, lol.

eta: Rory, there is an emu product seller at our Farmer's market - I've never tried it, but I'll see if they are there this year (they are restricting vendors to food growers and soap makers) and try to get some.

Olychick--A lot of hand lotions have alcohol in them. You sure want to avoid those when your hands are raw.

Another vote for bar soap, which in our case is Irish Spring. We have a bar at every sink (including the kitchen). Each of us must wash our hands 15+ times a day. Our hands are not dried out or chapped.

I know there are bar soaps with what I'll call more skin cream in them (like Dove) and we can't stand those. It's like you can't rinse off the soap after washing.

Well, the scent of Irish spring makes it a no go for me. But I have used it as a deer deterrent in the garden, lol.

Why am I washing my hands?

Using the bathroom multiple times per day--drink coffee, water, etc.

Handling mail and packages

Cleaning up messes from kitty who is in final days, scooping litter boxes

Before cooking, cleaning up after cooking

Taking trash out to the trash totes

Picking up online grocery order once a week

Haha. We are very much anti-scent people, when it comes to colognes, perfume, room scents, incense, etc, so I get that. The scent is strongest when you first open the package and it can be so pungent that it can "odorize" our adjoining bedroom. After a few uses, the odor subsides significantly.

But I understand, it's not something with universal appeal. I like the scent, it's reminiscent of many bar soap products in Europe that we like and can't get here.

FWIW, I've found that the ubiquitous 'Softsoap' dries my skin horribly after just one wash. Diluted liquid castile does not. I mix approx. 1:3 or 1:4 liquid castile soap(lDr. Bronners or similar) with distilled water and put it in foaming dispensers and it works great.

And I make a balm with olive oil & beeswax that is very soothing. It's similar to Burt's Bees Gardener's hand balm, but a bit firmer.

I also washed my hands a lot before now, but have definitely stepped it up even more.

Lately, I've been using a few drops of jojoba oil, rubbed in after washing.

I have small tube of that Weleda skin food - it's mostly lanolin.

I swear by Curel. It does come unscented.

• Hydrates and relieves dry, sensitive skin
• Time-released hydration provides 24 hours of continuous relief
• Non-irritating, non-greasy and fast absorbing
• Dermatologist tested
• Fragrance free and hypoallergenic
• Gentle enough to use on face

CeraVe lotion is my facial mosturizer. Lots of water in this.

CeraVe cream (in a pump tub) is my after bath/shower routine -- all over me. Lots of water in this, too.

CeraVe ointment is my night-time hand routine -- active ingredient is "petrolatum" (another name for vaseline?). It also has mineral oil, parafin, and at least a dozen other ingredients, but water is next-to-last. A 3 oz. tube lasts for months. (I think of the female Russian spy in "The Americans" when I massage this into my hands! lol)

Why bar soap? Does it have better cleansing properties? Not as harsh on your hands? I always liked the scent of Ivory, but not a fan of the mushy bar in the soap dish.

Elmer J Fuddandblfenton, does Ivory rinse clean? Do you take off your rings when you wash your hands? Do you use a bar soap on your face?

I started using Aveeno Active Naturals Healing Ointment at night when I had problems with cracked fingertips (especially thumbs). In my case, the dermatologist emphasized the ointment, not the cream. It really made a difference.

I have used Irish Spring bar soap for face & hands as well. Funny thing is that at a makeup party years ago they were doing a big push on their soap products. We were asked to bring our usual soap bar to see how it stacked up against theirs for PH neutral properties. It turns out mine (Irish Spring) beat every other soap she tested it against. Surprised all of us!!! I'm not sure if that still holds true but having sensitive skin, any other soap causes me to either break out or have very dry itchy skin.

Carol, I've been using Dr. Bronner's as hand soap, too, in your proportions. Earlier in the shutdown, I forgot hand soap on my last shopping trip before my family started a self-quarantine. I really like it and find it less drying than typical soap.

Late to the party here but I noticed a real difference in my hands not being dry since I switched to Palmolive Soft Touch dish soap for washing dishes and replaced all my regular liquid hand soap in dispensers with moisturizing body wash with shea butter or similar. I seldom need to use hand cream now.

haha, that could work for me, except ALL my dishes go in the dishwasher! Do you think body wash has the "soap" ingredients needed to kill the corona virus? That's what I've worried about when thinking of using gentler things other than real soap to wash my hands.

Because you mentioned burning feeling,look for the ones that contain colloidal oatmeal to heal your skin barrier. (extra points if there's some ceramides or B5) These are often marketed for eczema which I don't have, I am just super sensitive. Love this one https://www.sephora.com/product/eczema-hand-repair-cream-P442842?icid2=products%20grid:p442842:product But Aveeno, Avene,Vaseline, La Roche Posay's Lipikar Eczema all have oatmeal creams without fragrance. And if you want to do a treatment, you could simply blend some oatmeal to a powder,make a slurry, and let your hands soak for about 15 minutes. Slight rinse, dab of oil. You should get some results pretty fast.

BTW, I hand wash dishes too and always wear gloves. Playtex gloves last the longest, IME. I also wear gloves when cleaning.

I’ve been using Dr Bronner’s castille soap in the kitchen and some sort of generic liquid soap in the bathroom. The hand cream that I like best is Aveeno Eczema Therapy. You can buy it from Amazon if you want to stay home.

P.S. I think hotel lotions are generally the worst! In general, I find them to be stinky, thin, and lacking in emollients.

Do you think body wash has the "soap" ingredients needed to kill the corona virus?

While soap disrupts the outer lipid layer of the virus, the main effect from washing your hands is that everything gets rinsed down the drain. And I believe most body washes have some soap in them in any case. If you're washing for the recommended amount of time, I don't think you need to worry about the exact ingredients.

Thanks for that info Bookwoman. And Hollybar, I have several products coming in the mail, but until then I'll try oatmeal!

Any type of soap will destroy the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.

This article actually recommends body washes since they are gentler on the hands.

NY Mag article

Definitely O’Keffee’s Working hands. Not greasy at all Their Happy Feet is great for cracked heals. Clear mine up in a few days.

I've been using a liquid sanitizer that contains not just aloe vera, but glycerin as well. My hands have never been so soft and smooth! If I use purell, my hands dry right out. I prefer the home made stuff.

hmmmm Debby, I have the ingredients to make sanitizer with glycerin; maybe I should try that, too.

Unscented Curel Ultra Healing Lotion works well and doesn't feel greasy.

I also have Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair - I don't like it because it leaves your hands feeling greasy.

Olychick, your hands will feel sticky for a few minutes after using the home made sanitizer, but it soaks in after maybe 2 minutes and the sticky feeling goes away and you'll see how soft and smooth your hands feel, especially your palms.

A suggestion.. gloves in gloves.

I wear a lot of gloves, from the good blue ones for toxic hot peppers down to doeskin that needs talcum powder to fit for the day. Health reasons, and also decades worth of reactment wearing gloves.

Around town as a set of gloves. Instead of subjecting your skin directly. Consider washing and sanitizing your hands with plastic/neo/latex on like it was your regular skin. Wash and sanitize your gloved hands just like you would your open skin hands.

Use/dispose of these gloves responsibly.

Thin cotton gloves are a godsend for lining those non permeable gloves and also helping lock in hamburger hand treatments during the day. Depending on how you use your cotton gloves with hand treatments, they can be washed and reused many times.

Beesneeds, I am just not a glove wearer. I hate rubber gloves for household chores; I never wash dishes by hand, so don't need for that. Growing up in a fairly mild climate, I never got in the habit of wearing gloves in the winter, but will if it's cold and I need to be outside more than just from house to car or car to some other building. I do love my heated steering wheel in the winter so I don't have to wear gloves when driving. I'll never be the person wearing gloves or socks to bed. I do wear garden gloves, mostly to keep my nails nice and stickers out of my skin.

I am slowly working my way through all,those tubes of fancy hand cream I received as gifts over the years. My favorite is L’Occitane. I have small sore on the back of my left hand that just won’t heal and is aggravated by hand sanitizer.

Well, I read through all of the comments and no one suggested what I am about to suggest. It sounds crazy, but 30 years ago had to take my son downtown to a huge teaching hospital because his eczema was SO bad his skin was weeping. (he actually has scarred skin from it). The pediatrician was at his wits end and sent us there for another opinion. So, big city dr, BIG huge bill, and his remedy? Plain old solid crisco or lard in small amounts daily. Not kidding. No, you won't smell like a french fry, and yes, it worked.

Olive oil. Just a tad and rub it in. You can always wipe off excess.

I like a little olive oil or coconut oil when I’m cooking but my hands are dry.

Besides the eczema cream I mentioned upthread, I also like Trader Joe’s Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream.