Yesterday morning I let my dog out into the backyard to enjoy the beautiful sunshine we were gifted with. It didn't take long for him to "speak" to the neighbors, who were also outside enjoying the nice weather. As the barking continued I went outside to corral him back in thinking I would do this in a subtle way to keep from drawing any attention to myself since I was clearly not dressed for any outside activities. So I tried to snap my fingers and nothing happened! My fingers just glided off one another as if coated with Teflon. I tried again and again with still no luck. I had lost my snap! I couldn't believe it. But it was true, and I knew why. I suffer from various skin issues and the one that causes me the most aggravation is Eczema on my hands. The inflammation from this condition has caused my fingers tips to become so smooth that I am unable to snap my fingers anymore.
One treatment for this skin condition includes a very expensive emollient hand cream that is a mild steroid. This tube of cream is 100 grams for $825.00. With a special discount card from my doctor I was able to purchase it for $50.00 through my health insurance. That was over a year ago and the tube is now expired. It worked pretty well although it is very greasy and it takes quite awhile for the emollient to absorb through the skin. Keeping lots of hand cream around also helps, especially after you wash your hands. Yet, during the Christmas season I found that both of these methods were detrimental to handling holiday decor, wrapping gifts or even reading a magazine due to the residue they leave behind. Thus, I developed the bleeding and painful cracks that come with this skin disease. Lack of moisture cream plus cold weather was the perfect recipe for a painful outbreak. I take all responsibility, truly I do. One nice thing, however, is that my husband chips in to do all of the housework when I have bleeding fissures on my hands. I know what you're thinking. Of course I don't let this happen on purpose just to get his help around the house! It's just comforting to know that he's there to lend a hand - no pun intended.
In all honesty, this is not a joking matter. It is painful and it affects many people. One short term solution is to apply a first aid antibiotic cream to the cracked tissue before bedtime to promote healing and to avoid a skin infection. Always moisturize your hands after each washing. The key is keeping your skin moist. It also helps to see a dermatologist. I'll definitely schedule an appointment soon.
What about the barking dog, you say? Well, fortunately my lips work just fine and I was able to whistle him back in. I think the whistle startled him somewhat because he quickly ceased his noise and came running. Unfortunately, the neighbors also heard the loud whistle and all eyes turned toward me - dressed inappropriately for any outdoor activity.
