cracked fingers-bag balm

[gypsyman]

Gettin into that time of year, outside temperature dropping and low humidity. I have a problem with cracked skin around my nails, wearing gloves and hauling wood and what not. Best stuff I've found is a product called Bag Balm. Made in Vermont, and comes in a little green can. It's made for cows udders, but found it to work the best in keeping my skin from cracking around my nails and the end of my fingers. Good stuff! gypsyman

[quickdtoo]

My Dad used it for years, swore by it, he died last year at 82, it used to contain mercury, so I've wondered if it ever contributed to his Alzheimer's.  But he spent his life as a mechanic, into all kinds of solvents, did a lot of welding, many things that may have contributed, the bag balm helped his cracked hands during his last 20yrs, wore soft cotton gloves after he applied it.

Tim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bag_Balm

[rockbilly]

I do jewelry work and keep my hand in water for long periods of time while cutting stones, as a ressult they were always chapped, cracked and sore.  My wife bought a quart of pure Shea butter, she then took a bottle of cheap hand lotion and heated and mixed the two togeather.  It made an amazing hand cream, I use it before getting my hands in the water and it has help prevent the problems I once had.  I also use it after washing my hands and before going out.  It doesn't leave a greasy feeling, the skin absorbs it rather quick.

[bobg]

   Bag Balm worked great. Was the only thing my wife could find that would help her hands.
      bobg

[95Road King]

My thumbs cracked bad every winter!! Started using hand cream with Shea Butter in it a few years ago. Best stuff I ever used!!

[GH1]

Bag balm is definately good stuff, although it is greasy. It's basically petrolatum with lanolin.  I like to use it underneath cotton gloves while I'm sleeping. 
GH1

[Sourdough]

I was a plumber for 40 years.  Always kept Bag Balm in my truck, and used it regulerly.  Other guys accused me of not doing a lot of work since my hands were not cracked during the winter.  They laughed when I told them about Bag Balm.  Oh Well their loss.

[oldandslow]

I used it for many years but switched to Udder Balm several years ago. It seems to work as well in my case without the grease.

[fr3db3ar]

I grew up on Bag Balm on the farm......cow's udder, human hands....same thing.

[Doug B.]

My wife and I used to use bag balm on our kids diaper rash. Cleared it up in a quick hurry.

[beadlescomb]

i agree with the bag balm when i was younger i worked for a brick layer and my hands stayed cracked open in the winter bag balm or corn huskers lotion is the best

[Redtail1949]

my dad loved bag balm..i have never used it.

[blind ear]

I have never used it but have heard Beudro's Butt Paste will heal difficult hands and skin. It is for baby's skin problems. A relativly new product Formulated by a pharmacist.

[Empty Quiver]

I've used vitamin E in the past, just open a capsule and squirt it out and rub it into skin. Don't know how it would compare to the Bag Balm. I was always pretty happy with the vit E, but don't have terribly dry skin problems.

[doncisler]

bag balm is good but greasy.  good line of products called "no crack hand cream" made by the dumont co. in wisconsin.

am RPh and sell both

[DEACONLLB]

Corn huskers lotian developed for fisherman who fish the north sea works great and not greasey but have also used bag balm for years also we kept it for our goats when we had milk goats.

Deaconllb