Hi Why don't you try Aloes Barbadensis Miller
Theo

Chris Cochrane wrote:

What a great mail list! Thanks to all the folks who generously responded
re' my skin condition. You have offered more (and potentially more
effective!) alternatives to hand care than I had imagined were available.

The most unexpected response was from a bonsai entusiast that makes his own
"dynamite lavendar handlotion." He generously offered to send me some
halfway across the country. Thanks for that great offer. I need to develop
a renewable product for these battered hands.

How did bonsai enthusiasts from Florida to Canada learned about salves for
cow thingies? It appears that "Bag Balm" isn't available in Europe or Asia.
I found another praised product developed there, but also readily available
here.

I did LOTS of internet browsing after some surprising (to me) suggestions &
learned a bit which supported advice given in by IBCers.

The usually critical "eOpinions" site turned-out to list a series of
testamonials to "Bag Balm," unexpectedly in the product category "lip
gloss." This greasy stuff is used by many for a wide variety of uses
including diaper rashes, sunburn, & foot softening. An author facetiously
suggested it could be used along with duct tape for chainsaw accidents. The
country singer Shania Twain uses it as part of her skin care regimen. I
wondered if cows EVER get it as a treatment; then, I found an livestock
products vendor sells it in 4 1/2 pound pails. Since CraigC & more than one
physician read the list, I better add that it is not advised medically or
spiritually for human healings by the FDA.

No other product has quite the zealous following of "Bag Balm," but
Neutrogena Handcream "formulated for use by Norwegian fishermen" comes
close. A respondent to my handcare crisis noted her husband (a carpenter)
uses Udder Cream, Bag Balm and Cornhuskers. I found Cornhuskers lotion
(like Neutrogena Handcream) primarily relies on glycerin, and it is VERY
reasonable. Udder creams abound, but the Udderly Smooth cream product seems
most widely advertised & found even in my local Walmart-- unlike Bag Balm...
:-(. Utterly Smooth is water-based and does not stain fabrics; thus, it is
the choice of knitters & cross-stitchers for moisturizing-- in case you are
bonsai-ing seamstress... :-). A local saddlery store had "Udder Delight"
cream that dutifully described its use for livestock, but its ingredients
suggest a salon item and it was priced accordingly... :-(
.
Nurses wash their hands constantly, and I guess the drying action causes
similar problems to working in soil. One warned to not mix handlotion oils
with wearing latex gloves because the latex breaks down (you don't lubricate
condoms with oil for a similar reason). If latex breaks-down on oiled skin
you risk a dangerous latex allergy. Nina's suggested disposable nitrile
gloves seem a good answer. Nitrile gloves of 3 mils have superior tensile
strength and puncture resistance to 5 mil latex or PVC gloves.

My doctor thinks Eucerin cream improves skin dryness including severe
dryness of hands. I find that Eucerine cream has little, if any, effect.

I hope one of these suggestions works. Thanks for many responses on and off
the list.

Very best wishes,
Chris... C.Cochrane, , Richmond VA USA

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