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Dry Hands

magicflute

Thinker
M
Joined
Aug 3, 2001
Messages
210
Ever since I developed diabetes, my hands have become progressibly dry, and less sensitive, to the point that sometimes it makes card handling very difficult. For someone like me who is a cardhandler this is very unfortunate. I have tried many remedies, but none have offered a good solutions. Most over the counter remedies I have tried do very little to help. Although I now only perform for friends or in an impromptu situation, it would be nice to alleviate this problem. The only partial solution I now use is to keep a moist towelette in my poquet while performing and moisten my hands frequently. Unfortunately, sometimes people think that I am using some kind of chemical in the towellette to change the color of the cards.... LOL
Can anyone suggest anything that might help?
 
There's a lotion called Lac-Hydrin that is available by prescription. The active ingredient is 12% ammonium lactate. I find it works pretty well for skin dryness.

edited to add: I am neither diabetic nor a conjurer, so it's hard for me to say how well this product would meet your needs. Might be worth asking your doctor about, though.
 
Try Cetaphil, you can find it at most supermarkets, and drug stores. Another option is Corn Huskers lotion.

I have also heard vagilsil mixed with a little bit of water in a spray bottle works well, haven't tried it though.
 
Thanks for your suggestions, I am already trying some. Although I had tried the Vagisil a while ago, but I had to stop the treatments cause every 29 days I would get bloated, cranky and abdominal cramps!
 
I'm not a diabetic , but I have dry skin. I spread a thin layer of carmex (yes the lip balm) on my hands at night and then wear plastic bags on my hands overnight.

it works for me....good luck

Virgil
 
I've seen some pretty heavy duty stuff called "Bag Balm" -----"for caked and bunched bags"
It's for cow's udders--some people use it on their hands.
 
When I have the problem of an excessively sweaty hands I wash them in cold, cold water. (Even in ice water if necessary.) The idea is that it makes the pores in your skin contract and stop sweating. The slight moisture on my hands left after towel drying is enough to give me a nice grip that isn't too slippery. It usually lasts long enough to get me through a given performance.

Just conjecture, but what if you took the opposite approach? Wash your hands in nice hot/warm water for a while to open the pores and stimulate perspiration. Apply a bit of your favorite moisturizer (as discussed above) and you ought to be in business again. No?
 
There are countless products for hydration, but some dermatologists will also prescribe a cortisone cream. Depending on the situation, this may be more effective than any hydrative lotion or cream.
 
Most of the remedies I try do not seem to last long enough. Even with the creams I find it necessary to keep a moist towel in my pocket to re-hydrate my hands every 5 minutes. I will try a rosin powder bag next and see how that works. I am just afraid that the rosin will gum-up the cards.
My biggest problem is can't get traction. So things like the 'slip', 'glide', palms, Elmsley counts, etc. are difficult. Since Diabetes neuropathy has made my hands insensitive, I cannot make the little correction on grips that we all make almost instinctibly. I can no longer do a pinky count, and doing a double lift requires that I peek to make sure I am doing it right. In the old days I could do these things by feel alone. So now I have to make sure I get good traction on the cards because I can't tell if I am doing it right or not.
I would like to thank everyone for their suggestions and you can be sure I will try them all and get back to you on them.
 
Try ThermaSeal. It's good stuff.
Ask Mike Close what he uses. He has impossibly dry hands, so much so that the tips of his fingers would crack. I know a while ago in Magic he raved about some knew lotion he'd found that really worked for him. I forget what it was, though.
 
At work, I wash my hands sometimes about 40 times a day. I use Lubriderm ointment (not the lotion, and the store brand or off-brand seems to work just as well) and sometimes Lanisoh cream. Lanisoh is just lanolin and it is marketed to breasfeeding women for use on chapped nipples. It is very thick and long lasting. Perhaps you would have better results with one of these products.
 
This might sound odd, but if the problem is dryness on the fingertips, you may be able to 'borrow' a little oil form the oilier skin around the nose and forehead areas. I have used this as 'emergency lip balm' while camping or hiking. It might be more natural looking to touch the face as opposed to a pocket or towelette.
 
Ca3799, since my problem is from diabetes, I am dry all over. If I am sweating a little bit, the I can borrow some mositure from my foreheadand it works rather well. Unfortunatelly, it is not frequently possible.
With everyone posting so many good suggestions it will take me time to try them all, but I will report any successes I come acress.
Thank you all!
 
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