AuntNanc

Sounds like you might have an eczema condition. Eczema can be made worse through excessive washing, chemical irritants (soaps, hairspray, etc.), stress, cold dry temps. I have it, too. It affects my knuckes especially. They itch like crazy. They enlarge, get dry, scaly, and crack open. When I scratch, they get seepy.

Start by making sure you keep your hands moisturized with a good lotion or cream... one containing Vitamin E and/or Shea Butter is great. Keep it as basic as possible, avoiding a lot of unnecessary things like perfumes. If your hands are really bad, a product I love is called BIAFINE. You have to get it from your pharmacist. It's an emulsion used to treat damaged tissue. A nurse recommended it to me for my eczema. It's a little costly -- about $20 for a tube. But I love it and use it when my condition gets really bad.

Read the ingredients in your lotions and soaps and shampoos... anything that will touch your hands. Avoid products that contain any preservatives ending in "parabens"... methylparabens, polypropylparabens, etc. Many people are sensitive to these and they can really irritate eczema if you are sensitive to them. Try wearing latex or vinyl gloves when you do your cleaning or anything where your hands may come into contact with irritants. But, be warned that even the vinyl gloves can irritate if worn too long. Always wear your gloves when going out in the winter.

Most importantly, you really should make an appt with your doctor or, better yet, a dermatologist, as he/she can prescribe better creams than you can buy over the counter. I use Triamcinolone Cream. Until you make your appt, try an OTC cortizone cream to calm the itching and inflammation. Let us know how it goes.