Avoid Petroleum and Alcohol Based Lotion and Cream. I have always suffered from dry skin. In winter I especially struggle with chapped, dry, cracked skin on my hands. Several years ago, I worked in a day care center. Since that time, I have experienced terrible outbreaks of rash and eczema. My skin is scaly, flaky and oozes a clear, sticky liquid.

I had the rash diagnosed, just in case it might be ring worm or impetigo. The doctor cleared me of any contagious skin rash, pronouncing it eczema. He advised that I stop washing my hands so frequently. He suggested that I use hand sanitizers. Anyone who has suffered with dry skin knows that the alcohol based hand sanitizers will send you through the roof when applied to chapped skin. I reminded the doctor that hand sanitizers are alcohol based to dry quickly and that as such they exacerbate dry skin. His only comment was ‘Oh. yeah, that’s right’. No help there.

The doctor also recommended hydro-cortisone. Cortisone is a steroidal product, so I’m not comfortable with it to begin with. Out of desperation, I tried hydro-cortisone, just for some relief. The hydro-cortisone only made me skin worse. I tried all over the counter hand lotions as well. My hands continued to grow more and more painful and broken out.

I had read about the dangers of petroleum-based skin products. Petroleum is of course the same substance as that found in gasoline and crude oil. I could find no hand lotion that did not contain petroleum or alcohol. I began to explore some of the organic hand lotions. I realize that this sounds like a pretty obvious solution. But my hands seem to react to organic products as well. The rash got worse with colloidal oatmeal and other herbal products.

I tried Kiss My Face hand lotion with vitamin E and olive oil. I used this lotion exclusively. At night, I also used Burt’s Bees hand salve. Both products contain no petroleum, parabens (paraffin wax) or alcohol. Neither company tests their products on animals. Both products were soothing and healing. The eczema on my hands has cleared up completely for the first time in three years. I am so thankful. There are other quality organic companies also, such as Jason’s and Tom’s of Maine.

If you suffer from eczema, try one of the organic hand salves or lotions. It was a miracle cure for me! For more healthy living tips, visit me at www.healthhelp4u.blogspot.com. For tips on natural style and beauty visit me at www.diystyle.blogspot.com.