Bunny Safari on thu 11 nov 99
Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
Bunny Safari
Kit Shannon on fri 12 nov 99
Bag balm is great for throwing, it forms a protective seal around your
hands, and really helps with cuts. I haven't noticed any problems with
residue on the pots.
Just don't use it when glazing or handling bisque pots at all
anywhere your fingers touch will act just like wax resist.
-kit in alaska
Veena Raghavan on fri 12 nov 99
>Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
fingers. Major cracks that are painful<
Hi Bunny,
I too have this problem every winter. There were various
suggestions on Clayart about this. What I found helped me was rubbing
vinegar on my hands (stings a little, but it is certainly bearable), then
rubbing on Avon's Silicon Glove hand cream. I have not been able to find
Bag Balm in New York so far, but have heard that is very good.
Good luck and hope your hands heal soon.
All the best.
Veena
Veena Raghavan
75124.2520@compuserve.com
Gary & Carla Goldberg on fri 12 nov 99
Hi - The trick to using lotions is to NOT use a lotion made of petroleum
products. The base ingredient should be water, not oil.
If you use an oil based product, your skin figures out that you now have
more oil on your skin than it wants and will produce even less natural
oil. So you put on more lotion...your skin dries out more...put on more
lotion... You get the picture.
I'm pretty sure the bag balm is a petroleum product. I use Aveno hand
lotion. You can buy it at any grocery store. It's not cheap, but it
uses water as a base and has ground up oatmeal in it, which is often
used on rashes and other skin conditions.
Good Luck
Bunny Safari wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
> appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
> collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
> I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
> Bunny Safari
to Brian Ohlsen on fri 12 nov 99
I've used the "bag balm" or "udder balm", but it's always worked best at
night because it doesn't really soak all the way in. For fingers that are
really cracked, i'll coat them pretty heavily and put a rubber finger cot
over to keep the moisture in & keep the balm rom getting all over the bed.
Seems to help after a couple days. I also try to keep my hands moisturized
after every potting session with whatever lotion I can get. Been a few
months since any major crackage.
Brian Ohlsen
Cindy Strnad, Earthen Vessels Pottery on fri 12 nov 99
Bunny,
I believe the moisturizing agent in bag balm is lanolin, which comes from
the wool of sheep and shouldn't cause you any firing troubles. Check the jar
label to be sure, but as it is used on the udders of milk cows, I doubt it
contains a petroleum component.
For cracks on my heels, I find it effective to carefully trim away the hard
edges with sharp cuticle clippers after having soaked in a hot bath tub for
a while. This keeps the crack from continuing to deepen and allows it to
heal naturally.
It's hard news for a potter, but you may want to keep your hands relatively
dry until the cracks heal. Can you throw a few large pots a day and then
spend the rest of your time experimenting with some time-consuming
decorating technique you've been wanting to try? It's going to be very
difficult for your hands to heal if you keep them submerged for eight hours
or so a day.
Hope this helps a little, and that you soon have happy hands.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
Custer, SD
David W McDonald on fri 12 nov 99
I discovered a product years ago which has saved me so much pain during
the winter months when my skin cracks around the fingernails. It's called
"New Skin" and is a liquid bandage which comes in a one or two ounce
bottle and is applied with a small built in brush, much like fingernail
polish. It contains clove oil, and helps the skin to heal. It takes a
little patience to wait the 5 minutes or so for it to dry after
application, but the intense pain of those cracks disappears when the
liquid dries. I highly recommend it. Available at most drug stores near
the bandages. To your good health. David
On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 17:10:12 EST Bunny Safari writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
>Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm
>water
>far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
>fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
>appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
>thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
>alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this
>vast
>collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
>I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
>Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to
>the
>skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
>petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
>hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
>Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
>Bunny Safari
___________________________________________________________________
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Jeff Campana on fri 12 nov 99
Bunny,
Bag Balm is excellent. It not only prevents cracking, it also prevents
pruned fingers, and your fingers will clean up easier too. This "Bag Balm"
is merely the stuff farmers put on cows utters before putting on the
milking machines. I think you could find it almost anywhere cheaper than
at a pottery supply company. Maybe that's just because I'm from Wisconsin
and we can get that stuff at some gas stations. Also, i bought a bottle of
a product called "liquid gloves". It was excellent because it worked like
Rain-x. It filled in all the micro-pits in the skin surface, thus making
your hands sheet water (not bead, beading is caused by oil's surface
tension effects) making your hands impervious, and wears off every hour or
so. It had no greasy feel, and i even tried it at my high school job as a
dishwasher--8 hours of scrubbing dishes with no pruny hands!
Jeff Campana
Bunny Safari wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
> appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
> collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
> I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
> Bunny Safari
Mo and Les Beardsley on fri 12 nov 99
Bunny Safari wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
> appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
> collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
> I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
> Bunny Safari
Hi Bunny
Had trouble with hands from gardening and son Bruce suggested udder balm
available in feed stores. It is for cows but works great on hands and
sores.
I don't have any available to read the ingredients but you might check it
out. I don't
know if it would spoil clay
Regards
Maureen in Ladysmith B.C. where we are going to get our web feet pretty soon
as
the rain is awful.
Pottery by Dai on fri 12 nov 99
Hi, Bunny - Udder balm or bag balm is pretty good stuff, and any greasiness
will burn off in the bisque, I would imagine. I think the balm would do
more good after throwing, though, especially if you apply it before going to
bed (giving your bedroom a new ambience---the stuff I used was very aromatic
and "healthy" smelling). Re: throwing water---I read somewhere that you
shouldn't use warm water for throwing, as warm water softens the skin more
than cool water, thus making the skin less able to withstand the
abrasiveness of clay. I don't know if this is fact or fiction, but I've
always used cool water.
Dai in Kelowna, B.C.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bunny Safari
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Thursday, November 11, 1999 8:14 PM
Subject: Help for Cracked FIngers?
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
>Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
>far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
>fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
>appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
>thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
>alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
>collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
>I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
>Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
>skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
>petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
>hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
>Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
>Bunny Safari
Rod, Marian, and Holly Morris on fri 12 nov 99
Don't have any advice about ways to protect those cracked hands while
throwing, but I learned about 10% urea cream from an Australian friend. It
REALLY heals those cracks effectively. You get it in the drugstore.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bunny Safari
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 1999 5:10 PM
Subject: Help for Cracked FIngers?
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
> appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
> collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
> I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
> Bunny Safari
>
Anji Henderson on fri 12 nov 99
Bunny, Yes the bag balm is good, and I can't see where
the product would effect you firing.. I would also
suggest putting it on after throwing, as opposed to
before, so it can actually heal your hands. There is
also utter cream, and Farmers Friend I have found that
all are very similar, and would be cheaper, much
cheaper if you go to the source. These are items that
farmers use in the winter to help the hands from all
the abuse they give them, like milking the cows,
bailing the hay, sheering sheep, stuff like that. I
don't know what kind of area you are in but I suppose
Southern States is in a lot of areas now.. Try a feed
and farm animal supply first for the best price, then
a beauty supply for the next best price.. I have also
seen people use Vasoline, but I personally don't find
it works real well and every thing is slimy.
Anji
The one with many hats, 4H brat
--- Bunny Safari wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down
> buckets of warm water
> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks
> in the skin of my
> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing
> just doesn't seem so
> appealing after reading the post about the nasty
> microorganisms that
> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty
> moisturizers to try to
> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am
> hoping that this vast
> collection of knowledgable people will have some
> helpful advice.
>
> I have been reading about a product called "Bag
> Balm" from the Lee
> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would
> be rubbed in to the
> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am
> wondering if the
> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the
> thrown pots from my
> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
> Bunny Safari
>
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
Mike Gordon on fri 12 nov 99
Hi,
Bag Balm sort of smells! Its for cow udders, I guess they don't mind. I
don't think any lotion you use will affect the clay during bisque
firings. Try soaking your hands in warm water for 10 minutes, then pat
dry, put a lot of lotion on and let air dry. Also I put Neosporin on
the cracks and put a band aid over it for the nite, Mike
Joanne Van Bezooyen on fri 12 nov 99
When my hands start to dry out, I throw with disposable latex gloves. I
figure if surgeons can work intricately with them, I can certainly throw
pots! It works!
Bunny Safari wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
> appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
> collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
> I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
> Bunny Safari
Erin Hayes on sat 13 nov 99
Hi All!
I swear by "Working Hands" cream, which is made in Bend, OR. We can get it a
Rite Aid drugstores here in the Northwest. I don't know about outside this
region.
Erin.
Nina Jones on sat 13 nov 99
------------------
In the winter I always use warm water to throw because my studio is unheated
(wish I could change that but =24=24=24 is way short). Spring, summer and =
fall I use
cool water. Other than the relief provided from occasionally rinsing my
slightly frozen fingers in the warm water, I haven't noticed any difference
between throwing with cool water and warm water.
Nina D. Jones
Southside Chicago - where it has been mercifully warm. Thank God since I =
don't
seem to have enough sense to stay out of the frozen studio every morning.
Love's too strong (is there something addictive in the clay? Some kind of
crack-like substance that seeps through the skin?).
=40 njones=40winston.com
=3E=3E=3E Pottery by Dai =3Cpotterybydai=40home.com=3E 11/12/99 10:56AM =
=3E=3E=3E
=3E=3E Re: throwing water---I read somewhere that you
shouldn't use warm water for throwing, as warm water softens the skin more
than cool water, thus making the skin less able to withstand the
abrasiveness of clay. I don't know if this is fact or fiction, but I've
always used cool water.
Dai in Kelowna, B.C.
Ilene Mahler on sat 13 nov 99
Use the bag balm when you sleep and also wear cotton gloves over the bag
balm when you sleep.and if you haVE A bed partner put it on after they fall
asleep as it stinks...Ilene in Conn
At 05:10 PM 11/11/1999 EST, Bunny Safari wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
>Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
>far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
>fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
>appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
>thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
>alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
>collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
>I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
>Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
>skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
>petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
>hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
>Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
>Bunny Safari
>
>
Charlie and Linda on sat 13 nov 99
Hey all
I got tired of smelling like an old heifer and laid off the bag balm. It
worked ok by left my hands feeling real greasy and all the neighborhood
calves were milling around the pottery with hopes of sucking on my
fingers! As exciting as this sounds in reality it's kinda sloppy what
with all the saliva and half-chewed grass mixed in....
The best "non greasy" fix for dry potter's hands can be found at
Wal-Mart. It's call Eucerin. It has urea in it. Yep, that is as in
urine but a lot more concentrated. The story that I was told goes that
urine/urea has healing properties and has been used in the past (and
maybe in the present) to promote external healing. I'll not go into
details but go ahead and try Eucerin and look on the label for the one
that has urea in it. It's around $8.00 for a small jar and is in the
cosmetics area.
Charlie
PS-The good folks at Wal-Mart have by now pegged me as a serious nut
case. What with me buying infant enema bottles because Steven Hill says
they are great to apply glaze/slip with. And hanging out in the
cosmetic section to get great hand cream. The hardest to explain is the
purchasing of women's nylons..... I swear it's to buff up the terra
sig!!!
Anthony Allison on sat 13 nov 99
Dear Fellow Clayart potters,
One winter my hands got so cracked that they were bleeding and hurt so bad i
could barely pick anything up or put my hands in my pocket. Yet I had to
throw anyway to fill orders and wet clay in open sores wasn't helping
maintain my normally cheerful attitude. It wasn't too long, out of
desperation, that I came up with the solution of cleaning my hands wery
well and then applying superglue to the cracks (instant calouses) . It kept
out the mud and reduced the pain factor a great deal. In the evenings i
applied a lot of bag balm and wore cotton gloves because the stuff is
greasy. My hands cleared up in about a month.
Warmest Regards,
Tony Allison
In Minnesota its so warm that tourists are still buying pots!!
-----Original Message-----
From: Rod, Marian, and Holly Morris
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Friday, November 12, 1999 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: Help for Cracked FIngers?
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Don't have any advice about ways to protect those cracked hands while
>throwing, but I learned about 10% urea cream from an Australian friend. It
>REALLY heals those cracks effectively. You get it in the drugstore.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Bunny Safari
>To:
>Sent: Thursday, November 11, 1999 5:10 PM
>Subject: Help for Cracked FIngers?
>
>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>>
>> Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
>> far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
>> fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
>> appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
>> thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
>> alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
>> collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>>
>> I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
>> Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
>> skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
>> petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
>> hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>>
>> Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Bunny Safari
>>
>
joan&tom on sat 13 nov 99
Bunny,
My only advice is to PAY ATTENTION to those cracks. I did develop a very
nasty bacterial/fungal infection that required emergency surgery and being
on an IV pump for a week. Now I throw with latex gloves or, preferably,
finger cots. When they disintegrate in the middle of throwing, I get rid of
them and accordingly have a perennially inflamed finger - but I keep it
under control with soap/epsom salt soaks and antibacterial and antifungal
creams. A small price to pay . . . . I have used Aquaphor which is like
Bag Balm without any problems.
Another northerner, Joan in Alaska
-----Original Message-----
Rudy Bauer on sat 13 nov 99
Hydrous lanolin gooped into the cracks at night and before throwing has
helped me for eons.At 05:10 PM 11/11/99 -0500, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
>Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
>far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
>fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
>appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
>thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
>alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
>collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
>I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
>Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
>skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
>petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
>hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
>Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
>Bunny Safari
>
Lorraine Pierce on mon 15 nov 99
Hi, the quickest 'heal' I know of, and use, is to apply iodine to the cracked
skin, then use Bag Baum. The iodine takes the pain away very quickly. Really
works for me. Lori in New Port Richey Fl.
Rudy Bauer wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hydrous lanolin gooped into the cracks at night and before throwing has
> helped me for eons.At 05:10 PM 11/11/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
> >
> >Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
> >far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
> >fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
> >appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
> >thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
> >alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
> >collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
> >
> >I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
> >Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
> >skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
> >petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
> >hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
> >
> >Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
> >
> >Bunny Safari
> >
Christine Laginess on mon 15 nov 99
One thing which I finds really helps when your hands are raw and irritated is
to throw wearing surgical rubber gloves. It seems to work fine for me and it
allows me to throw with out the drag and without so much water. Give it a try
Christine
James Roche on mon 15 nov 99
Hello Charlie,
Should I mention this? Yes, no... erm, yes!
At 23:36 13/11/99 EST, Charlie and Linda wrote:
>The story that I was told goes that urine/urea has healing
properties and has been used in the past (and maybe in the
present) to promote external healing.
In Aruvedic medicine, it is recognized that drinking one's *own*
promotes healing. So add internal too... :)
I adore green tea, and it gets recycled ;) 125g of green tea
lasts about 4 years! The best thing is that you can't even
detect a change of colour...
*slurp* *guzzle*
James
Phyllis E. Tilton on tue 16 nov 99
It is time to put my .02 cents in. During my active practice as a pharmacist,
I was asked by many people, brick masons, farmers, potters, housewives, -- or
just anyone that tended to get dry skin. Retaining moisture in the skin is
the key. My quick recommendation was always to use a heavy ointment-could be
vaseline, lanolin, bag balm etc., after soaking the hands(doesn't hurt the
feet, either) in good warm water. Pat dry and immediately rub on the
ointment. Then, don a pair of cotton gloves--there are some very inexpensive
ones sold in pharmacies called 'Dermal Gloves'. (They are washable but will
shrink in the dryer.) Doing this at night, the moisture is retained in the
skin and the healing takes place. There are also some silicone 'glove'
products that are available in pharmacies that can protect while
throwing-altho, it seems to me that it would wear off quickly.
There are many hand lotions that will help the skin retain moisture. The 10%
urea lotion mentioned has a brand name for Carmol-10. Again, obtainaable from
your pharmacy. My understanding of it is that the urea has an effect on the
keratin layer of the skin thereby helping to retain moisture. Many other
products have glycerin or other ingredients that will attract and hold
moisture in the skin.
When using the New Skin on cuts or splits, make sure of the cleanliness so
that an anaerobic infection cannot start-however, I think that stuff does
react to moisture and will come off before an infection could start. There is
a band aid type product by 3M called Clean Seals that is remarkable in it's
protection of a cut or break in the skin. When applied to dry skin, they
really do seal. Will protect those knuckles or finger split areas.
Water heals. I sincerely hope some of this information will help.
Phyllis Tilton
Daisypet@aol.com
April Pauley Mink on tue 16 nov 99
For those looking for bag balm and finding it elusive, go to your local farm
supply store. This is a product that originated as a salve for cow's udders.
It is great stuff. There is a similar product sold in saddlery stores called
"Corona" that is used for cuts, abrasions, etc. in horses. Good luck.
Farmgirl in SC
Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on tue 16 nov 99
When yogis recycle their "precious bodily fluids" in the morning, they knew/know
what they are doing. During the night, when you are asleep, the body produces
lots of serotonin...the "feel good" hormone. And, guess where it goes in the
morning when you wake up? Yep, you guessed it....think of all the serotonin
re-uptake inhibitors that wouldn't be needed if we all did what the yogis
do/did.
Personally, I take my zoloft every morning.
Sandy
-----Original Message-----
From: James Roche [SMTP:j.roche@bigfoot.com]
Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 3:07 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Help for Cracked FIngers?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hello Charlie,
Should I mention this? Yes, no... erm, yes!
At 23:36 13/11/99 EST, Charlie and Linda wrote:
>The story that I was told goes that urine/urea has healing
properties and has been used in the past (and maybe in the
present) to promote external healing.
In Aruvedic medicine, it is recognized that drinking one's *own*
promotes healing. So add internal too... :)
I adore green tea, and it gets recycled ;) 125g of green tea
lasts about 4 years! The best thing is that you can't even
detect a change of colour...
*slurp* *guzzle*
James
Carla DeMello on tue 16 nov 99
Bag Balm is great! I've used it for years- first for milking cows on cold
winter mornings, and later for throwing pots. Of course the bag balm didn't
rub off on freshly thrown pots and I only use it when throwing,or doing
anything where my hands are immersed in water- not trimming. Anyway,
everything burns off in the bisque firing- no problems ever! I did find
that while Bag Balm prevented cracking and possibly healed my hands, it was
best if I was very diligent about applying other hand creams as often as I
could even when not throwing, then keep on using Bag Balm to protect them.
Good luck!
Carla
At 05:10 PM 11/11/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Greetings fellow Clay enthusiasts,
>
>Thanks to the chilly Canadian climate cooling down buckets of warm water
>far too quickly, I have started to develope cracks in the skin of my
>fingers. Major cracks that are painful! Throwing just doesn't seem so
>appealing after reading the post about the nasty microorganisms that
>thrive in our buckets. I have used heavy duty moisturizers to try to
>alliviate the dry skin but to no avail. Thus I am hoping that this vast
>collection of knowledgable people will have some helpful advice.
>
>I have been reading about a product called "Bag Balm" from the Lee
>Valley Tools catalog. I imagine that the blam would be rubbed in to the
>skin prior to throwing. Sounds great but I am wondering if the
>petroleum content in the balm would stay on the thrown pots from my
>hands and cause a major problem in the firings.
>
>Can anyone offer advice? Thanks in advance.
>
>Bunny Safari
Jinjer Stanton on wed 17 nov 99
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Christine (and all others using rubber (latex) gloves. Consistent use of
these gloves can lead to latex allergies which can be
life-threatening--particularly should you ever need surgery. I feel that
the other suggestions that have been made would be infinitely safer.
On that note, when I worked at my uncles canoe livery, I got that kind
of nasty cracks. We always had a big bottle of Cornhusker's Lotion
around. Soothing and protective.
Peace,
Jinjer
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
One thing which I finds really helps when your hands are raw and
irritated is
to throw wearing surgical rubber gloves. It seems to work fine for me
and it
allows me to throw with out the drag and without so much water. Give it
a try
Christine
Kathy Stecker on fri 19 nov 99
Christine you're right it's amazing how well you can throw with even the
heavier gloves . I have a wonderful videotape of me instructing my 75 year
old Aunt how to use the wheel. She couldn't remove about 5 rings from her
swollen hands and about 10 gold chain bracelets. I gave her fair warning
about it and then had her put on a pair of long dish washing gloves. Now, I'm
not going to stretch to say that she threw well- but she had a wonderful time
and was pleased with herself . And it is a treasured memory for both of us.
Now after reading CLAYART,and looking at the I can't stand them pots- I'm off
to apply the hammer to them. I don't like to waste but it's only dirt after
all!
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone-Kathy Stecker
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