Arb question on dry skin.

[Kosmik]

Hmmm don't really post much in this section but I think it's probably the most relevant. A lot of folks here are IT industry and am wondering if they suffer with the same thing. I'm a developer and I've noticed lately ( last year or so ), I'm getting dry skin/callouses/small blisters on the edges of my hands. The reason why I'm thinking this is related to my profession is that a natural position of rest for me, is to have my hands either on a keyboard or resting next to it, with the outer edges, especially the portion between the knuckle joint and the wrist, touching/rubbing my desk.

It's not severe but yesterday I broke one of the small blisters and tore the skins a bit and its obviously sensitive and now I'm rubbing it during the course of my daily routine so it's annoying me. Does anyone else suffer with the same affliction? I've done some research and there are articles about similar conditions but they look a lot worse and aren't as area focused as this. Some say it's athletes foot type fungi but like I say only on the edges and between those two joints is a bit specific.

 

[luxe]

Your inner prawn seeks escape.

 

[Kosmik]

lol

 

[Deleted member 148173]

I used to have them from working as an IT workshop technician. only way for you is to keep your hands moisturised and clean. Other times I'd just slap on a plaster with some cotton and anti-septic - helps a lot. I'm currently well into my first year doing HTML, product adding, product editing for an online shop and I cannot stress how much skin hygienic is very important to avoid infections - I used to get callouses but after soaking in a hot bath and some natural rock salt (you can buy from any grocery store) then scrub the skin on the palm side. Salt stops infections, pumice stone rubs old skin off and use a decent moisteriser afterwards. Problem solved.

Like you said, you broke a blister - first thing you get that blister soaked in some warm water and salt. The salt dries the blister out as well as disinfecting it - it works for me. Also use a pumice stone after soaking your hands - rub the hard skin gently over a few days and you'll notice some improvement in your skin texture.

For severe dry skin that shows signs of cracking - there's a good hand cream (Swiss, I think), my mom swears by it...

 

[Edduck]

sounds like eczema to me, my ex had very similar symptoms from too much hand washing. Before you try the pumice stone, you should try getting some hypo-allergenic soap and avoid detergents like handy andy and sunlight for a while and see if that makes a difference. Also clean your keyboard lots of nasties grow on there

 

[Kosmik]

I used to have them from working as an IT workshop technician. only way for you is to keep your hands moisturised and clean. Other times I'd just slap on a plaster with some cotton and anti-septic - helps a lot. I'm currently well into my first year doing HTML, product adding, product editing for an online shop and I cannot stress how much skin hygienic is very important to avoid infections - I used to get callouses but after soaking in a hot bath and some natural rock salt (you can buy from any grocery store) then scrub the skin on the palm side. Salt stops infections, pumice stone rubs old skin off and use a decent moisteriser afterwards. Problem solved.

Like you said, you broke a blister - first thing you get that blister soaked in some warm water and salt. The salt dries the blister out as well as disinfecting it - it works for me. Also use a pumice stone after soaking your hands - rub the hard skin gently over a few days and you'll notice some improvement in your skin texture.

For severe dry skin that shows signs of cracking - there's a good hand cream (Swiss, I think), my mom swears by it...

Hmmm, I don't know if it's hard enough for a pumice stone yet but I'll have to try creams. Thing I'm worried about is the creams aggravating any blisters that form, ie: make them bigger cause they now have more moisture to grow on. Sigh, looks like I'm going metro whether I like it or not

sounds like eczema to me, my ex had very similar symptoms from too much hand washing. Before you try the pumice stone, you should try getting some hypo-allergenic soap and avoid detergents like handy andy and sunlight for a while and see if that makes a difference. Also clean your keyboard lots of nasties grow on there

Thats similar to what I read but the pictures don't look right. Also haven't used detergents in years ( wife does most cleaning or maid/dishwasher ) . Yeah I know keyboards are terrible, I turn mine upside down every now and then and give it a good shake, sickening what can come out but the affected skin doesn't normally lie on the keyboard but my desk around it. Desk is a normal veneer desk and I keep my immediate ( keyboard , mouse ) area clean or else I get frustrated with space restrictions.

 

[MickZA]

... A lot of folks here are IT industry and am wondering if they suffer with the same thing

Don't think it's keyboard/mouse use related. I've been in the IT game for longer than I'm prepared to admit here and I've never come across this complaint before.

Possibly an allergy to the work surface?

 

[Kosmik]

Don't think it's keyboard/mouse use related. I've been in the IT game for longer than I'm prepared to admit here and I've never come across this complaint before.

Possibly an allergy to the work surface?

Could be, never had the problem in my previous employer and I've only noticed it after I moved but it's a plain veneer office desk, which is wiped daily.

Maybe it's the cleaning stuff the office lady uses? I'll ask in the morning.

 

[Deleted member 148173]

Could be, never had the problem in my previous employer and I've only noticed it after I moved but it's a plain veneer office desk, which is wiped daily.

Maybe it's the cleaning stuff the office lady uses? I'll ask in the morning.

Probably. I had a strange case when I was working at a Spar as a cashier. Had to see the doctor 3 times, had blood tests done and nadda. Doctors including my mom thinks I may have had a bad reaction to cleaning chemicals cos after I left, the problem went away. Seriously, I had itchy palms and sometimes the itchiness was also extremely painful and inflamed with some swelling - it was so bad, I had to use a nail scrubber to get some relief.

 

[wrathex]

Hmmm don't really post much in this section but I think it's probably the most relevant. A lot of folks here are IT industry and am wondering if they suffer with the same thing. I'm a developer and I've noticed lately ( last year or so ), I'm getting dry skin/callouses/small blisters on the edges of my hands. The reason why I'm thinking this is related to my profession is that a natural position of rest for me, is to have my hands either on a keyboard or resting next to it, with the outer edges, especially the portion between the knuckle joint and the wrist, touching/rubbing my desk.

It's not severe but yesterday I broke one of the small blisters and tore the skins a bit and its obviously sensitive and now I'm rubbing it during the course of my daily routine so it's annoying me. Does anyone else suffer with the same affliction? I've done some research and there are articles about similar conditions but they look a lot worse and aren't as area focused as this. Some say it's athletes foot type fungi but like I say only on the edges and between those two joints is a bit specific.

Been a keyboard cowboy for over 2 decades, never heard of that or experienced that, I also suspect it could be cleaning chemicals (which could over a period of time corrode or blister the finger tips.

or something like this: source

I suffered for 1.5 yrs with this cycle of symptoms.
Skin would get red and harden on my fingertips and swell. Eventually, would crack.
No fluid - really a dry blister. Skin below was very new and tender.
Fingers would heal and then the cycle would begin again.

Went to a dermatologist who said it was exzema - which I really think is just a catch-all for skin ailments.

And - my fingers never itched.

Turns out the problem was one of the following
1) low thyroid
2) vitamin D definicency.

I have to indicate both because both were diagnosed at the same time via blood tests and I can't say which is responsible.

I am now taking Synthroid for my thryroid, eating calcium chews with vit. D, and also taking 1000 IUs vitamin D supplement (along with a good multi). My hands are on the mend. In addition, I was able to stop taking an antidepressant since depression can be a symptom of both low thyroid and vit. D deficiency - with a doctors supervision of course.

My abilitiy to think (I'm a programmer/analyst) and concentrate also improved. Read up on vitamin D deficiency. There's a lot in the new right now.

Go have it checked out..your hands maketh your bread .

 

[VioletF]

... wiped daily.

Maybe it's the cleaning stuff the office lady uses?

It's most likely contact dermatitis (a type of eczema), caused by this. ^

I've been getting something similar for years (edge of my hand and centre of my palm - mouse hand). I always carry hand cream / bee balm around with me and use it whenever my hands feel dry, which mostly keeps the symptoms at bay.

You could try wiping your own desk properly with a damp cloth (in those areas that you're likely to touch) after the cleaning lady's done, to see if it helps.

 

[Deleted member 148173]

source

Go have it checked out..your hands maketh your bread .

Sounds like it. I got myself a bottle of EnerMag Sport - since then, it's worked so well and I don't have issues at all. It's 100% natural. I used to have a terrible craving for peanut butter out of the jar and worst of all, salt in excessive amounts. The vitamins actually cured both cravings after I started taking them.

I clean my own desk every week - I usually use a spray bottle of Mr Muscle Kitchen Cleaner to clean the table. then I use Mr Min to polish it so that my mouse can glide smoothly as the table tends to become dirty after a week with using the mouse and when it's dirty, the mouse doesn't do its job properly.

Back on the subject, like I stated bout my mom's hand cream, it's a swiss remedy for extremely dry hands - Derma something, and I've used it a few times, it really really is good stuff - non-greasy too. I once read online about these derma products and they actually good for people with eczema and extreme dry skin. They have a full range from face creams, body creams, all the way to hand creams and foot creams.

 

[skoob]

I use Xeroderm cream or any such cream that contains Urea

 

[The_Assimilator]

I have full-body eczema and my skin was giving me grief after the cleaning lady went through her routine, so I just got her to stop cleaning my desk (she uses Mr. Min). Problem solved.

If you can't get them to not clean your desk (can happen in some corporate environments) you can try getting a thin (cotton) cloth to put under the areas of your desk that your hands touch.

 

[Ockie]

I use Xeroderm cream or any such cream that contains Urea

This is very good for your skin. As a cheap alternative...just use your own!

Not really related to the OP's prob I think...but as it is winter and my skin always gets extremely dry this time of year I have now started doing the following.

1. Put one bottle cap full of Vit E soluble bath oil in
2. Put one bottle cap of Tea Tree souluble bath oil in into bath
3. Chill in the bath while your skin sucks up the goodness.
4. I then rub a lekker generous squirt of 90% Aloe Vera gel on face till absorbed.
5. Finish off with some Camphor Aques Cream on face and arms.

 

[ange_mc]

Sounds like pompholyx eczema, needs steroid cream.
I get it from washing powder (have to wash hands carefully after using) and also from reading library books (on the inside edges of my thumbs.