How to get rid of rough dry patches on hands?

I have dark red patches on my palm of my hands and they itch and the skin will crack and pill like dead skin, and they will get really sore, It looks like it is really red under the skin and the skin just looks really dry.

• Answer:

  Sounds like what I have. The dermatologist calls it "contact dermatitis", which is just a fancy name for the crusty funk that develops when I put my hands in something I'm allergic to (namely tomatoes or anything citrus-y). For me it starts with a bunch of tiny blisters, which open up and dry out. That leads the skin to crack and peel, which hurts and itches at the same time. Check google images for some pictures of contact dermatitis. If it looks like what you have, you can talk to your doctor about cortizone shots or steroid creams (I use Elidel) to ease the itching and help your hands heal. You could also try an over the counter cortisone cream like Cort-aid, though the prescription ones are stronger the over the counter ones are much cheaper! Hope this helps!