To derail this thread just a little further, a couple years ago I came down with what I understand to be some type of hand excema/psoriasis. It mainly affects my palms and after its initial itchy stage, it progresses into a dry, flaking, thickening of the affected tissue with frequent cracking and minor bleeding. it sucks because I am an artist by trade and all-around ass-kicking ninja who uses my hands on a daily basis.
Anyway, after finally seeing a dermatologist, I was prescribed a corticosteroid called clobetasol which I was instructed to apply twice a day for 3 weeks, cease for 1 week, then repeat. I personally decided to augment each application with a coating of "Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal Eczema Therapy" and then don a pair of nitrile gloves with the fingers cut off so I retain full tactile sensation and allow my hands to breathe a little, all while sealing-in the critical medicine & moisture. The dermatologist thought this was a genius strategy.
After about six months, it has almost completely cleared up and I'm at the point where I seldom have the need to apply the steroid, and instead only apply a little Aveeno and a glove when necessary -usually before I know I'm going to be putting my hands through some extraneous abuse.
These days there is virtually no more itching, cracking, or bleeding and I'm able to do what I need to do without impairment.
Sorry for the long-winded medical history but maybe it can help somebody mitigate their own situation.
