Avoiding Skin breaks & cellulitis

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moogie
moogie Member Posts: 499
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I was one of the cellulitis summer gals, and am trying to do things to avoid any skin breaks. I have really dry cuticles, hangnails---- and until this week had no good answer: standard measures did not work. I think I have hit upon a method which is working well for me:

1. Soak hands briefly in soapy water to soften cuticles.

2. Use Palmers cocoa butter stick , generously working the paste over cuticle areas. Let sit for butter to soften thru heat of skin.

3. Then gently push back cututicles. They move easier, and cleaner. Then I butter them up again at bedtime and sleep buttered up. My hands look better than they have looked in ages.

I think when doing this in the past I could have introduced small breaks in the skin, but the butter moves the cuticle with little effort. Also may help with hangnails. 

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  • cathy1968
    cathy1968 Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2012

    Thank you for the great ideas!

    I am still in the wrapping stage.  As if the finger and bulky arm bandaging aren't awkward enough, I'm finding I often have to put ordinary band-aids around my finger tips.  Without them, I get little skin snags above the cuticles.  They hurt like paper cuts and sometimes result in a tiny break in the skin - exactly what we're trying to avoid!!  My LE therapist said I probably always got them it's just that it's only now that I notice and fret about them, so having something new to try is very welcome!

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2012

    Cathy, KS1 had good luck with using a baby bottom balm, primarily zinc oxide--she's had to wrap daily and her cuticles were bleeding.

    I'lll try and find her post and bump it. I get ragged cuticles on my ring finger and it's always a concern.

    Sometimes I make my own "bandaids" by cutting a piece of larger telfa--non stick--pad (generic version is fine) and wrapping it around the finger with a dry 2X2 gauze folded over it, and then taped, so no adhesive gets on my finger.

    The little tricks we wish we didn't have to know....

    Kira

    I found her post in the "hats off to those who wrap" thread:May 1, 2012 12:23 PM KS1 wrote:

    I put diaper cream (zinc oxide) on the finger nailbeds throughout the day for 2 days, and it seems to have really helped. It was messy, and I had to throw the gauze away.

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  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited July 2012

    So I am not the only one. The zinc oxide sounds really good. Wearing a sleeve seems to make everything drier.My fingers are out, but they are as dry as everything else. Just bought VANICREAM LITE per Binney's suggestion and I like it a lot. Kira: the tip about your bandage is good for me too---adhesive makes my skin peel--even the sensitive kind of adhesive.

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  • cathy1968
    cathy1968 Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2012

    Kira - I have some zinc cream that I have used in a very thin layer on my arm prior to wrapping when my skin has been a little irritated.  Don't know why I didn't think of using it on my finger tips, that's a great idea on KS1's part, thanks for passing it on, Kira. 

    Glad to have two different things to try (i.e. the cocoa butter and the zinc oxide)...I'll each try at different times and observe...more to learn on this LE "adventure"!

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2012

    Great idea to use the zinc oxide on the arm.

    I use Vanicream, which is fragrance free and a bit thick, but the zinc oxide for inflammed areas is a great idea!

    Kira

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited July 2012

    Are any of these products useful as water barriers?  I'll be kayaking and camping for 5 days soon, so lots of in and out of water and some chance of extended time in wet clothing and compression sleeve (try though I might to get dry and stay dry).  To help prevent super-dry skin from constant water exposure, a thick lotion that acts as a water barrier could help.  I'm worried mostly about my hands, as I too have chronic dry, ragged cuticles.  I can reapply as often as needed.  Thoughts?

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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited July 2012

    I believe zinc oxide is a water barrier. I think that's why it's used for diaper cream It's also a sunblock. Think the combo is why lifeguards use it.



    I've been using it on a persistent leg ulcer where my brace rubs my skin. The turnaround is amazing. KS

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited July 2012

    Thank you, KS. I will test drive it in the water this weekend.

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