Dose anyone have this condition and if so do you use any kind of cream to help with it?

Hi Vicki - when my husband was first diagnosed with dermatomyositis several years ago, the split fingertips was one of his biggest problems - for whatever reason, his dermatomyositis went into remission approximately 1 1/2 years ago and the split fingers magically disappeared. (Now of course that would have been great had he not been recently diagnosed with antisynthetase and ILD). He really really suffered with it for years though - off the top of my head I remember him using a great deal of A&D ointment and plain old creamy vaseline moisturizing hand cream - he had a tube of each in his car and by his bedside. I believe he also used NuSkin - but I will ask him about this and get back to you. I also believe I read somewhere where someone was using some type of cream but I cannot find where I read this. I will keep searching. Regards Dee.

Hi Vicki I started a topic a few months ago, look under the header 'mechanics hands'. I had recently seen a dermatologist who helped with some steroid tape, and recommended some handcreams. Someone replied to the topic and said they used ?Udder cream?, I tried to find it but couldn't get it in the UK, but may be helpful to you. My azathioprine is not working at the moment and my fingers are splitting really badly despite the tape and loads of glycerine handcream. I find it really painful to do up buttons and have to wear unpowdered latex gloves for a lot of chores to keep my hands dry. I really hope you find something that works for you Alison

Thanks for your input into splitting skin on fingers.

Hi Vicki The only thing to stop the splitting and the cracking is to go into remission. My dermatologist prescribed Clobetasol 0.5% and Protopic 0.1% ointment this helped with the redness I don't use these as much now. She also said to use Urea cream to help with the skin thickining. I stoped useing it because it burned too much, but it help a little. The rheumatologist suggested Lachydrin lotion, ( I hope I spelled it right ). You can get it from the pharmacisit. I wash my hands about 20+ times a day,and this one seems to stay wih me longer than other hand lotions. I hope this helps you. Good Luck Cathy

Four years ago I had the mechanics hands. I was told it was psoriasis and I tried to medicated creams. The thing that I found that worked was plain old vasolene. Mine was so bad that I had a lot of sisures on my fingers and also a lot of skin thikening and peeling. Good luck finding somethinig that works. Jen

Hi all - just found the name of a cream that someone found helpful - Gerlan Hand Cream. It is made in Germany. Dee.

Just a note about my husband's split fingers and cracks. He is using something called O'Keeffe's Working Hands and it seems to be helping.

I have been taking cellcept for the last four months, and although my CK is fairly stable (although still a bit high) my hands are still splitting and rough. My consultant added plaquenil to my prescription with the view that it may help my skin. I understand it takes a while to get in the system, (although the upset tummy has kicked in straight away)...fingers crossed this works because I hate my hands the way they are. Still a slave to the steroid cream and tape at bedtime too, but this just seems to cure existing splits but not prevent more occuring. Hope everyone is doing ok Alison

Hi Vicki I've noticed that when my Raynauds gets worse the skin on my hands also gets worse. When my hands are really cold and then start to warm up I get black areas. This is due to a lack of circulation i've noticed this is always were my skin is split the most. You do need some topical treatment but you also need to improve the circulation as much as possible. I take Nifedipine 20mg daily for my Raynauds this helps. Ilioprost infusions are also thought to help. Hope you get sorted. Katrina x

Hi Katrina I used to take nifedipine 30mg twice a day until just before Christmas when it was stopped because I was getting palpitations, and started on amlodipine 5mg a day. My raynauds is rather weirdly only in my right index finger, but the splitting happens on any finger, although maybe my circulation is slower than the average person but just most severe in one finger. My consultant mentioned having more iloprost in the future, but i'm not keen as i found the infusions/side effects really unpleasant. I wear gloves when out, and unpowdered vinyl gloves when doing any chores or showering to keep them as dry as possible. My kids call my raynauds finger the ice finger! At least we are beginning to get some warmer days now which will help, the promise of spring is in the air... Take care Alison

I went through about 5 different prescripts, pills, creams, salves and nothing was working. I type for a living and let me tell you, there were days of pure agony during those years. Then one day a co-worker walked in my office and handed me a container of O'Keefe's Working Hands (www.okeeffescompany.com for those outside the US). This stuff is great. I've been doing so well with it, my doctors are recommending it to other patients that have dry skin problems. I tell everybody I know about how great it is. Give it a try. It starts working the first time you use it.

O'Keeffes don't ship to the UK sadly, but I have managed to find a brand new tub on eBay, so am looking forward to giving it a try, thanks for the tip, my fingers are so sore I am getting desparate!

Hi Alison How bizarre it is mainly my right index finger that is affected. The heart failure also makes my circulation rubbish. I managed to avoid the ilioprost infusions this winter it's the time factor involved I can't face. Your children sound as sympathetic as mine. Let me know how the hand cream goes. Katrina x

Alison, If you like the way the cream works, and can't find it online, you can always contact me and I can get it for you. The store I get it from is less than a mile from home, and I can ship it to you. I love this product, and it has done wonders for my hands, and I want it to help others as well. Good luck, and hang in there. Terry