1. Watch Water Exposure

Fingertip splits occur because your hands are so dry. One thing that can cause your hands to be drier in the winter is the amount of water exposure they have where you’re probably washing your hands more than normal. Try using hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands so often. Use your dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand. When you do have your hands in water, dial the temp back from hot to warm.

2. Wash Your Hands Gently

What you use to wash your hands with matters greatly. Choose a gentle hand soap instead of one that’s harsh on your hands. A lot of antibacterial soaps can be harsh. Go for one that offers moisturizing benefits. And while you want to wash them well, don’t be too rough in your scrubbing technique.

3. Use Hand Lotion Often

Hand lotion can be very helpful in keeping your hands moisturized in the winter. Hand lotion helps replace some of the moisture that winter saps out of your hands. There are many great brands to choose from. What matters most is finding one that you like enough to use. It’s a good idea to keep hand lotion stashed where you can easily grab it such as your purse, desk and nightstand.

4. Wear a Band-Aid during the Day

It’s a good idea to wear a band-aid over your fingertip split during the day. This helps to keep it protected from other germs that could get in since it’s an open cut in your skin. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream to your fingertip split before you put on a band-aid. At night, it’s a good idea to let your fingertip split have some air and go without a band-aid. This can help it to heal faster.

5. Try a Liquid Bandage

I’ve had some success with using liquid bandages on fingertip splits. Liquid bandages work a bit like superglue. They seal up the cut so that it’ll heal. The key to using a liquid bandage correctly is to make sure that you only apply it to a clean cut. Wash your fingertip split well before you use the liquid bandage.

6. Wear Gloves

Harsh winter air is not a friend to your hands. It’s drying and can zap the moisture out of them. Make it a habit to wear gloves when you’re going to be outdoors. This is a small thing that can pay off big. You know what they say; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

7. Call Your Doctor

I know, I know. You may think that fingertip splits are nothing to call your doctor over but they really can help you. I ended up talking to my doctor about mine and they gave me a prescription that’s made a tremendous difference in the number of fingertip splits I get and how long they last. You could also wait until you’re in to see your doctor for another reason and talk to them about it then. Either way, this may be the solution you need.

These are 7 tips to help you deal with fingertip splits. Have you found any solution to this problem? I’d love to hear what works for you.