About a Different Type of Second Sock Syndrome

Since I'm not a fan of the hyperbole, I'll just tell it straight: I'm this far away from purchasing a few pair of huge oven mitts and wearing them full time from today until April 14th a la George Castanza. (For those of you not in the know, George Castanza was on Seinfield and he got a hand modeling gig. He was so worried his hands would get hurt before a shoot that he started to wear oven mitts wherever he went.)

So, the oven mitts: My hands are so dry, and I'm not exaggerating, no matter how much salve I slather on, I still have hangnails and bumps and scratches and all manner of ugly things on them that I'm beginning to wonder if they'll have to hire a stunt knitter to stand in for me when I do that Knitting Daily TV show in April.

What to do? What to do? First, I have a couple hunks of a thumb missing due to some very unfortunate wart surgery I had years ago. I mean, the doctor, he literally removed one side of my thumb and part of the tip. Although you can't really tell it has been shortened unless I hold the two of my thumbs side by side (when a party is slow, I always pull out my thumbs for show and tell to liven things up), the memory of the whole debacle sometimes hits me like one of those ammonia carbonate things that seem to be taped up on every doctor's office wall. Come to think of it, the doctor who got carried away on my thumb had to snap one and wave it under my nose for fear I'd expire.

Second, for years, I've harbored a deep-seated resentment toward a particular in-law who claimed the water in California made her hands bleed. And now, as I face a session of hand close-ups, I'm beginning to wonder if she had a point and wasn't avoiding doing the dishes or touching anything in the kitchen after all.

Anyway.

BTW: I got about two seconds' worth of the Spring cleaning bug and decided to finally fish out all my singleton hand knit socks sprinkled throughout my two laundry baskets (I don't go down to the bottom that often to make sure I am cleaning a pair together) and, well, just look at them. I secretly knew they were all hidden there, but it wasn't until today that I felt awful for pretending I didn't have any hand-knit socks left to wear when I knew the real truth deep down, that I am too lazy to do laundry correctly.

Thing is, only half of my problem is solved: They've been in there for so long, I can't remember which ones are superwash and which ones aren't. I guess I'll have to hand wash all of them from now on.

P.S. I have a crappy camera.

Comments

[Georg]

Badger Balm is a wonder. I have to use it on my hands whenever I work with cotton.

[marycatharine]

I use Herbacin Kamille and this place is dry-o - bleeding has been known to happen. The downside is that it smells slightly of last years cinnamon hearts.

[dris]

I think Bliss has some fancy gloves and moisturizers -- maybe Sephora carries it? You could wear them at night. Throw some socks on to boot -- it'll make HWWV swoon.

[saranlap]

Wendy, I share your hand pain -- and believe me, it can get nasty during Central New York winters! First step, patch any 'cracks' with Neosporin and cover with a band-aid while you sleep. 2 nights of that, all better. Second, Bag Balm and a pair of cotton socks (additional bonus: puppet fun in bed!). Do that for a few nights and your hands will soften right up like a baby's bum. Bag Balm reeks, but it is totally hard core.

Lastly, manicure. A couple of weeks before your tv debut, go get one. Then another the following week and then one right beforehand. Your hands will look like George Castanza's.....

[elizabeth m]

My secret for hands: Eucerine (the creme, not the lotion). The really thick stuff. Smear it on at night. Rub until it kind of dries. In the morning, you'll see water bead up on your hands. In the worst of winter I do this every night.

[Julie]

In addition to one or more of the above suggestions, make sure you're drinking enough water. I finally figured out that my hands get really ratty whatever the season, when I haven't been drinking enough water.

[deb e]

oh my gawd - your little Rocko might be the cutest dog ever!

[Veronica]

I have really dry skin and I honestly think slathering your hands in aloe, placing bags over them and then sticking them into oven mitts might be the best thing.

If that's not feasible, I would take a bowl of hot water and a towel, and steam your hands as close to the time you will need to go to the studio.

[secrethandshake]

I have the same problem with my hands. They look disgusting, with hangnails on every finger. The only thing I've noticed working is Burts Bees Hand Repair Cream. I carry it around in my purse and put it on constantly. It's supposed to help to lotion your hands and then wear gloves at night--but I don't know anyone that desperate.

PS I love that puppy

[Ev]

Or... every time you do any kind of cooking, lightly (lightly) coat your hands with evoo (extra virgin olive oil). It's great for your skin (face, too!), and it's cheaper than most hand creams and lotions; and it's something almost every kitchen has these days.

[Allison]

Use Kiehl's Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer at night before you go to bed. I also keep it in my purse and use on my cuticles during the day. It's like $25 for a 4 oz tube but so worth it.

[Wendy]

Allison! I just put some of that stuff on. Maybe I just need to put it on more often or something. I do love the Kiehl's.

[Susan]

And don't forget the gloves when you wash dishes or do any kind of water-related cleaning. For me, that factor is the single most important one if I have any hope of having less than horribly dry and miserable hands.

[rudee]

Rite Aid and CVS if you have them out there carry a product called Glysomed. It is miraculous and fairly inexpensive. Exfoliate first. Try to get a hot wax treatment and use this stuff. If all else fails, maybe you could get a hand double like they do when they want you to believe the actor playing the piano is really a gifted pianist when he/she isn't. BTW, when this show airs, I won't be looking at your hands, I'll be looking at the stitches. Promise.

[Lizbon]

Okay, I am only going to offer this advice because no one has yet mentioned it (though I've tried lots of the products recommended here, and they are all pretty good).

I find that no matter how much good goo I slather on my hands, it's futile without a humidifier in winter. Maybe that is not such a biggie in SoCal, but here the heated indoor air is the big culprit. And then of course, I also have to use the Badger, and the Farmer's Friend, and the Rosebud salve, and so on.

[Jenn]

I have funky thumbs too. My left thumb is half an inch shorter than the right thumb and I have no idea why. But it is fun to show them around at dull parties. ;)

Now I must start harassing my local PBS station so that they'll carry that knitting show.

[bettyc]

I'm a big fan of Aquaphor from Eucerin and Bag Balm.
(Yes, it's for cows' udders, but it works great!)

[Annabel]

After a long week of trying noxious chemicals on hard water scale in the bathrooms (4!) at the house my dad and his wife are getting ready to (try to) sell, my hands were so bad that I couldn't tension yarn - kept snagging like velcro. Yuck! One of my knitting buds recommended olive oil and sugar: mix a thick paste, rub on, gently rinse, and in my case, avoid the dog afterward. For some reason he liked that mix.

[Tammy]

Crappy camera or not... the dog is adorable!

[kathy b]

Never use a paper towel to dry your hands. Much too abrasive. Use a soft soft towel and pat dry only. THat's after you do the bag balm and vaseline with gloves for a few nights. Switch to a product like aveeno baby soap for awhile. If you feel like george, whose wearing the pirate shirt?

[ninja]

Not for nothing, but the pinkish-peachish sock? It reminds me of the exact shade/striping I have for one of mine made with Lorna's Laces. So that one, at least, should be machine washable. :)

[jenny]

crabtree & evelyn's Gardener's Hand Therapy!
i've used it daily for at least 15 years. it isn't greasy or gooey and you can knit immediately after rubbing it on. :)

[Christina]

Shea Butter and cotton gloves will solve your dry skin.

Stay away from the petroleum products and chemicals. NOW makes a shea butter salve that is 100% pure and very inexpensive; $7-8 or so. Works great and has very little fragrance.

[Gina]

I will slather my hands with Origins Reinventing the Heel Cream, put on rubber gloves and do the dishes. The heat from the water turns those rubber gloves into a mini-hand treatment. If you do this twice a day for the next few weeks, you won't believe the difference it makes.

[Diane]

Wendy:

I suffer from eczema and at times psoriasis. Working at yarn trade shows has made me very sensitive about how my hands look especially when they are cracked and very dry. Handling delicate yarns that get snagged in my dry skin is not very appealing.

A lace knitting designer shared her secret with me at TNNA in Long Beach - a product called "7 Days to Beautiful Hands" by Nailtek (no affiliation with this company). I found it at my local beauty supply store. There is both a skin polish and a hydrating creme that radically changed how my hands look. I highly recommend both products!

Diane