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Thin skinned people

3

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
I know there are a few on here with thin skin like me. Last couple days I was working on my tractors.
Today I looked at my hands and arms they looked like I tried to stuff a wild cat in a burlap bag. I want to ask my doctor,to see if I can take something to make my skin tougher. Anyone take anything to help the skin be more tougher? Stan
 
I first thought this would be about those who take offense on some of the poster here. My problem is that my fingertip skin is slippery, hard to hold on to anything I can't wrap around. I have to use two hands on a spray can because it slips through when I press the tip. I'd love to hear any suggestions for that.
 
My kids call them ?Old Man? marks. I wear long sleeves year round but they still happen. Doesn?t take much for them to appear.
cvphoto42770.jpg
 
Wish I could help you Stan.
I am the same way.
You can tell if I have been working by looking at my hands.
I need to put a new window riser motor in my old Dodge truck.
Last time I did it, it looked like one of our local bears had tried to rip my arms below my elbows off.
Most of my friends my age are the same way.
My Doctor that got killed in a plane crash this summer would come to my shop to have me weld or work on something.
He wore gloves he bought somewhere and gave me a pack of them.
Here is a photo of them.
They work pretty good.
Richard in NW SC
cvphoto42771.jpg


cvphoto42772.jpg


cvphoto42773.jpg
 
Stan
My arms can't handle sunlight, give me a red rash so I have to wear long sleeves year around.
Menards sells a gardening glove that I use when working on anything. Keeps skin on hands.
Upside I can run gloves through laundry.

Use gloves when painting, changing oil, grease gun.
George.
 
I don't know of anything that will toughen up skin, it's just part of getting old.

I know the backs of my hands and arms bleed a lot easier than they used to.

Still won't do long sleeves or gloves around machinery, rather get a little bunged up than jerked in!

I never could wear gloves doing mechanic work or running machines. Jewelry, a watch, anything that gets snagged, wet with solvent, grease, conductive, just can't see taking the chance. Never have worn any kind of jewelry, it bugs me to no end!
 
When It's not a good project if I don't give blood. At least that's what I tell my wife when I come in the house dripping blood.

From USNEWS: "Dry skin, also known as xerosis, can affect anyone but it's especially common with aging, often showing up on the forearms and lower legs. Dry skin feels rough and looks flaky and dull. As dryness increases, fine cracks or fissures can form in the skin.

Itchiness, or pruritus, often goes along with dry skin. "If our skin gets dry, we itch and we scratch at it," Parsons says. "When we scratch, we traumatize the skin."

Moisturizing regularly with lotion helps prevent dry skin. Lotions containing alpha hydroxy acid, such as lactic acid or glycolic acid, may offer added protection, Parsons says.

Good moisturizing creams for dry skin include Vanicream, CeraVe and Cetaphil, according to the Mayo Clinic website. "
 
Maybe try the stretchy mechanics latex gloves? Might be just enough to help you out and still thin enough to do your work?
 
(quoted from post at 17:28:00 11/24/19) I first thought this would be about those who take offense on some of the poster here. My problem is that my fingertip skin is slippery, hard to hold on to anything I can't wrap around. I have to use two hands on a spray can because it slips through when I press the tip. I'd love to hear any suggestions for that.
Click to expand...
his product might work for slippery fingers. Rosin isopropyl alcohol on a cloth pad to wipe on skin.

https://torbot.com/product/skin-tac-adhesive-barrier/
 
I highly recommend latex mechanic gloves.Where I worked before retirement, they had a policy in the latter years that gloves should/must be worn for most tasks.They provided them of course as well as safety shoes,glasses, and uniforms with reflective stripes. At first there was a lot of resistance,but the latex are nice-they keep your hands clean(used motor oil is known carcinogen), and protected. If a glove tears yank it off and replace it,but they are actually quite durable. I actually reuse them a lot of the time. Also the mechanic leather type gloves are good too. I was surprised at the time that your dexterity is not too bad and got very used to them. Even with my slightly arthritic hands I can still start bolts or pick up things.Just one thing -there are different brands and quality- so choose accordingly.Also I don't like the ones with the Velcro strap on the wrist, just the slip on type of mechanic gloves(Mechanix brand I think). Napa has good latex gloves. An extra layer before you get a cut is a good thing, and so are non greasy hands. Mark.
 
Mike (NEOhio)

Rustoleum makes a clip on trigger can holder. It is not only easier to hold and spray, there are far fewer minigobs in the paint job that happen when you use fingers or gloves to press the top button. I think this fits a number of spray paint cans. They aren't very much and well worth the price.
 
My wife showed me a few zip up type sleeve that are on line. Said that was going to be my Christmas present. Will report back after the holidays.
 
Alot of people mentioning gloves. The best mechanic type glove I have found is made by Milwaukee. They come in different cut protection levels. I use the level one( least protection but more flexibility). The beat thing is they are designed to allow you to to use touch screens.
 
Dr told as we age skin gets thinner. Thus we bruise and bleed easier. Said to try Vitamin B12. Can't say I see much or any improvement after 3 months of daily B12.
 
One thing my wife and I found out. If you walk 4 to 6 miles a day the skin condition becomes better. It still is not like when you were 30, but it noticeably improves. We generally divide this up into two sessions about 4-8 hours apart. For us the tipping point is 6 miles. This takes about two hours. It generally has to be done at least 4 times a week and takes about 3 months for any benefits to show.

The reason. Increased peripheral blood circulation. Some of our age spots, etc become markedly lighter. We also feel much better.
 
(quoted from post at 14:20:32 11/24/19) I know there are a few on here with thin skin like me. Last couple days I was working on my tractors.
Today I looked at my hands and arms they looked like I tried to stuff a wild cat in a burlap bag. I want to ask my doctor,to see if I can take something to make my skin tougher. Anyone take anything to help the skin be more tougher? Stan
Click to expand...
I just turned 53. I dont work as much as I use to so I probably have lost some callous. I noticed that my hands and shins are all tore up. I have been bumping my left shin and it takes forever to heal. Working on cars and tractors and my hands are all chewed up. Also noticed my fingers are dry and cant hold onto things. I'm to young to be this old!
 
It's not that our skin is thin, it's lost its elasticity. I've gotten to the point where when someone tells me I'm bleeding I tell them that's how you know I have been working. Like most everything else about old age it sucks but it is what it is.
 
I have had that problem for several years. In short sleeves I draw blood several times a week on my hands and arms tending to horses. The horses get pushy with each other getting to their hanging dishes. I loose my balance brush against the wall and draw a little blood or get blood under the skin. If a rope slides over the back of my hand it pulls skin off. I keep big bans-aide on hand a have one slapped on most of the time. I had one on my elbow that I didn't know about when I was with Dixie at one of her PT appointments at the hospital and one of the nurses spotted it and came out and washed the chair down when I got up.
 

The solvent type cleaners dry your skin. Minimize the use of it with the use of mechanics latex gloves. I Don't wear gloves often but when I am getting into anything greasy or oily I put them on.
 
Gloves and lotion. I like a driver style glove usually the Harbour Frieght ones. Hardy is the name. They last as long as any I've ever had. A nice thick lotion helps also. Several brands have formulations for dry skin. O'Keefes is very good.
 
Biotin. Swanson Vitamins sells it, and Vit. E and other things. Gives you nicer nails (fingers and toes) too. It's out in the shop but I have a green "tin" of super hand cream...been on the market for half a century they say, sells at the farm store. Udder cream works great too.....farm stores carry it too.

On the knit gloves dipped in plastic on the palm side, HF has them by the dozen pair in a package for a song. I started using them and for what they cost, they are toss away. Great for fishing too, easy to hold the fish, resists fin punctures too.
 
Thanks for that link.
Doc wore them when running his tractor and Bush Hog and when working on tractors and his 53 Dodge half ton he restored and anywhere else he was wrenching.
Needed to keep his hands in good shape for his Doctor's office work.
Richard
 
Thin skin and thin blood is what I have had for years. Takes nothing to tear the skin on the back of my hands when working on anything so I wear gloves or mitts whenever possible. The back of my hand got caught between the rock trap lever and frame of the combine as I was closing it. No big deal when wearing gloves but I wasn't. It didn't hurt a bit but I was dripping blood for a while running the combine. A big band aid patch from my SIL stopped it bleeding and I left it on for days. Its a month ago now and healed up just fine. Always wear gloves is what I have to keep reminding myself.
 
I came home from work many times with a paper towel over a cut and taped down with black tape. When I was young about 65 years ago I stuck a nail all the way through my foot. My grandma pulled it out and soaked my foot in kerosene for a while and never had a problem with it. Older we get the easier to bruise and bleed.
 
I have the same problem. Either bleeding or blood spots under the skin from the slightest bump or scratch. My doctor said it's the price we pay for having English/Irish/Scandinavian heritage.
 
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