Friday, July 29, 2011

A Child with Granny Hands: A Case of Hyperlinear Palms

I've been called many things and many names growing up. People would discuss my fishy skin right in front me as if I wasn't there. They would prod and stare at it and theorize how this came about. But thinking about all that name calling, amuses me now. It seemed to mystify people that someone like me can actually live with something like this.


I live in the tropics where certain afflictions particularly of the skin are attributed to some curse or folklore. Great, right?

Imagine me, being seven arguing I have Ichthyosis Vulgaris, a tongue-twister of a skin condition. But people can just simplify things and tell me stuff like I'm cursed. My hands are cursed. Well, I really have hyperlinear palms, imagine the sight of "granny-like" hands on a seven year-old. The adults can't get over it, they have crazy theories like:

1. I was born with the mark of bad luck. They call it Malas.
2. A palm reader once told me at the shocking sight of my hyperlinear palms, "You will live a complicated life filled with adventure, heartache and riches." Okay, I don't think blogging my life away is the adventure I had in mind. Now about those riches? Hmm...
3. Its your mother's fault, she craved nothing but fish throughout her pregnancy and my skin is the result of it. Locals refer to it as paglilihi, the act of strange food cravings by a pregnant woman that would result in a freaky baby. Hence, moi!
4. Your mother bathe you in too much isopropyl alcohol as a child that's why your skin is so dry.

Personally, my mom blamed herself a lot on the Ichthyosis Vulgaris, she thought it was these medications she took while she was pregnant with me that caused it. Or that she didn't take enough vitamins for me in the womb. I think the concept of genetics and how Icthyosis conditions are hereditary doesn't seem like the plain and simple truth to her. I wish she didn't have to blame herself so much, but my mom is on a different planet on her own anyway. We're not very close you see. And I really felt distant from her growing up. But, still I love you Mommy :)

Kids and teachers would call my hands outright disgusting or really ugly. Or why don't you see a doctor? Why don't you scrub it off? You're Eeew, etc. They would even call others in like their co-teachers and other kids just to see how ugly the lines on my hands were. As a result, my classmates wouldn't play with me. No one would touch my hands during school activities that required holding hands such as dancing or praying the Our Father. One kid cried so hard when the teacher forced him to hold my hand, he felt he would get the disease, so I did him a favor and told him we could just pretend to be holding hands or he could hold to my finger so the teacher won't scold him. So that was grade school for me in the Philippines, having Ichthyosis in this small part of the world is no piece of flake.






99 comments:

  1. i have the same thing my hands arent so bad, lines everywhere, and in the winter the back of my hands crack and look very old. But water and even lotion stings and causes it to be worse. I would joke with people and tell them the lines on my hands are so they can't finger print me and ill never get caught

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    1. Speaking of finger prints, I went to an embassy once to get my palms and fingers scanned so I could get a visa. I really held up the line on that one. The scanner couldn't pick it up for some reason, the machine was having a hard time reading my prints. My hand lines are really all over the place. So the whole thing took two hours and a lot of embassy staff grumbling.

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  2. I have the same thing. I always wondered why my hands looked different. Kids made fun of me too. I remember one boy was being pretty mean to me and I told him I had just taken a bath that's why they looked hat way. Lol! Ya I knew it was a lie but I was like 6 years old. I never knew this was a specific thing, I just thought I had ugly hands. It is comforting to know I'm not the only one though who has to deal with this.

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    1. Even I use to think the same when my frnds used to ask me about my unique skin I usually tell them some weird stories like I didnt open my hands for one year since I born so it developed wrinkles etc

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    2. I am 43 years old now and have 3 children, I have passed this to one of my girls, which makes me feel terrible. I found this my searching for why do my hands look like old lady hands...lol i too was made fun of as a child, as a teenager, everyone always asked why are your hands that way? did you just do a lot of dishes? they did not want to hold hands in a circle with me because they felt weird. my skin also flakes on my legs two times per year and i scrape it off with a knife. My husband and kids think i am crazy but if i do not do this it looks like snake skin. i am not glad all of you on here have this too, i am just glad i know this is a for real thing. my dads hands are wrinkled too. I guess i get it from him.

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    3. I have the same kind if skin,i suffered with this skin all my life,when I was in first grade the children wouldn't hold my hand they would take a hold of my hand then look down at them and wipe Thier hands like I had something catching, it would break my heart, growing up it was me and my brother with this skin,our dad had it,i would cry so much wanting to play with others children,then I became a teenager talking to boys I was so ashamed for them to hold my hand,my hands would crack and bleed and so does my feet um 60 now never had good treament for my skin,lotion just absorb into my skin and don't help ,i need help,

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    4. You need humidity... try a steam room then quick shower then slap on cream that contains UREA. Youll be amazed. Im 54 had ichtyosis since birth. Dry air central heating is a killer for me...scales bleeding flaking soreness... humidity and my skin is almost perfect

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    5. I'm only 12 years old, I have eczema and it causes me to have dry skin ALL over my body. My hands are also wrinkly/ pruny-ish, and both my hands and body can get very sore if I don't apply lotion after taking a bath/shower/going swimming, etc. I'm so unbelievablely insecure about them and don't know how to make them look normal, or even if I'm able to. I often don't like putting my hands on the table at school unless I'm with my best friends incase somebody points them out to me.

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    6. Hey I'm only 13 and I have this too... my skin is pretty scaly but not noticeable from first glance. It spread to basically every part of my body, my feet, hands, arms and legs. My hands are very wrinkled and dry, I have a lot of hyperlining on my hands, like a LOT. I've been super self conscious for years and I even cry about it because I just think im just weird. I hate it when theres a situation that requires my hands too. So im relieved im not the only person out there like this (phew) and maybe just maybe i could meet someone who has a similar condition like me, that'd be a really cool experience..

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    7. im 13 and have the same thing too!! ive always had exema and really dry skin and wrinkly hands and feet. My hands are always so dry lotion barely helps, as a kid i didn't even acknowledge it. But know i always get made fun of it. Its something that i cant help but people are just rude, Im so glad to know im not the only one lol.

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  3. Well, Hello to all my Shar-pei hand sisters. My father had hyperlinear palms but he died when I was very young & I don't remember them save one faint memory of sitting in his lap around 2 years old and 'studying' them. Up until I was 22 or so, I was ashamed of my hands . Usually I got comments like "You've got really Wrinkled hands" ( duh!) or "What's WRONG with your hands?" At 22 I met a girl my age who had flown from Alaska to Georgia to attend a mutual friends funeral. When she shook my hand she grabbed it and said " Far out! You've got hands like mine!" ( yes, it was the '70's ) I made a comment about how embarrassing they were & she told me she liked hers, they make her unique. Later when my rude cousin asked her "what's wrong with your hands" I stuck mine out and said "Nothing, they look like mine!" That changed the way I felt about my Old Hands. I just started saying I was an Old Soul. Much later in my 40's when I was a home health nurse I had a blind patient tell me she remembered me because of my hands; that was kind of cute. In winter my skin cracks and is real painful. Everybody assumes I have dishpan hands or don't take care of them. Now in my 60's people can't guess my age; my hands look old but my face looks much younger. ( I'll take that trade-off!) Once I was told my hands looked like Naugahyde upholstery; without thinking I came back with," Nope, they're Shar-pei." By the way, my feet are just like my hands.

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    1. I grew up being called Witch Hands Williams and "Ewwww what's wrong with your hands" from little girls with noses wrinkled in disgust still haunts me. But, now nearing 50 I look 25 and scars have always just sloughed away after a few months. I'll take the trade off, too!

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    2. Even I like my hands it just unique when people asks me about it I ans them that bcoz I'm unique and sometimes it's cool to be unique

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  4. My daughter has been misdiagnosed. Her dermatologist said it was exema. I have never seen anyones exema look like her condition. I have just discovered this. She could sure stand seeing and meeting someone with the same skin condition. It has effected her life so much. People can be very cruel. Even some doctors are ignorant.

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    1. I was diagnosed with eczema too. I always thought thats what it was till ive gotten older. I do have eczema but its not just that and im not sure what it is.

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    2. I'm 45 years old and have 3 adult child who have the same condition. My hands and feet are wrinkled, I was made fun of as a child because my wrinkles. At times I just hated my life and blamed my dad. My children asked me why their hands look like old people, told them they will live longer. I love the skin I have and will continue to live the best life. My children will do the same. My dad is 81 years old with the wrinkle skin condition and still kicking, my late grandmother had it too and lived for 95 years. We are special people.

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  5. Hi all! I too have Ichthyosis, along with my older brother, my mom, and 2 of my aunts (mom's sister and dad's sister). So yeah, my brother and I got double-whammied with it running in both sides of the family.
    We tell people we are lizards when asked about our "odd" looking skin. Since my brother and I grew up with (and still have) various reptiles it kinda fits anyways :)
    I remember kids telling me that my hands felt funny but don't recall being hurt from insults or anything. I'm blown away at how rude and hurtful some people can be after reading this thread! Well, just so you know, you are BEAUTIFUL and I hope you have let go of the angry words; those people probably don't have anything nice to say nor do they have any manners!
    Through the years I've tried all kinds of lotions and soaps to remedy the itchy skin and FINALLY found a combination that works for me: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing body wash and Goldbond Ultimate Healing lotion. I know everyone is different but still wanted to share. The key is to take the time to apply enough lotion to soak in as opposed to just quickly applying. Also, the more you shower the more you strip the natural oils from your body so that's something to consider.

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    1. Hi how old are you? Im experiencing itchyosis too im 29 years old

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  6. I have this problem. My hands are nothing but deep lines and wrinkles. Palms and the top side. Feet are the same way. What can be done to fix this? Is there anything the dermatologist can do that will make my hands "normal"?

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  7. Hi Amber - i am the same as you tops and bottoms of my hands and feet. they actually were'nt that bad until after i had kids and its like it has tripled in terms of the amount of lines and dryness! i saw my dermatologist and he said that this will happen with pregnancy - makes me not want any more babies now. plus both my kids have it too. First child not so much and second child pretty bad - he has it worst than me poor thing! i was told that there is nothing you can do but moisturise all the time (which i do). I'd love to hear if others have any other ideas on maintaining it but i dont believe there is any way of making them look normal. I always think - if they look like this now then what will they look like at an old age! i hate it!!

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  8. My mom had it, I have it. I definitely remember being asked why I had "old lady hands" in elementary school. I'm almost 40 now and haven't worried much about them in years. I just figure I'm growing into them! One thing though is that because my mom had these unique hands as well, it's like I can see a part of her every day even though she has passed away.

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    1. I so understand how you feel. I remember when I was young being taunted by my 'old' hands and have never, until now, had a name for it. I thought I was alone. Seeing all these posts feel able to accept to it a little better. That's so sweet though you feel you can see your Mum in your hands

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  9. I am a 22 year old female who has grown up with this issue. I was teased and harassed harshly growing up. Among my peers , they do not seem to notice as much. The ones that do ask why my hands are dry I usually say its from lifting 💪. I live up North, so the climate is rough on skin. I have tried everything I can think of to help aid my condition. I have heard hormones may help or steroids. I have considered investing in acid that takes the first layer of skin off(the first layer is what is infected). Of course skin replaces itself completely every 28 days, so I would need to repeat. I'm hoping this will at least help some of the build up of skin. Thins I have found to help is bathing in cold water so I do not strip as much of the oils in my skin. Argon I find most effective since it is closest in relation to the natural oils we produce. I also have turned to baby wash instead of a lot of other soaps and shampoos. Products such as these, do not posses as many harsh phosphates that dry out skin more. I try to exfoliate often to reduce the skin build up and then always rehydrate. Its nice hearing others have similar issues , a lot of the time it feels like your kind of on your own. It can be terrorfying meeting new people with this issue. Often times I feel self conscious out on dates , I'm scared to death of a guy holding my hand! Or thinking of how I won't want to show anyone a ring on my hand if my hands look like this. It is my hope that someday someone finds a cure.

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    1. I have completely eliminated soap and only use non-sulfate shampoo once a week. If I'm smelly under the pits, I'll use either a apple cider vinegar dilution spray under my arms or Jason's Chamomile body wash, but only occasionally. Don't do the acid. Instead get Amlactin lotion and experiment with how often you use it. I mix alba organics lotion with olive oil then top it with Curel to seal it in. Getting sugar out of the diet helps A LOT! Tablespoon of olive oil once a day. Get rid of all your stuff that has excessive chemicals. Use Alba Organics sunscreen (the only one that doesn't burn my skin when it goes on).

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  10. hi i have the same problem i'm 15 year old male and i never hear the end of it from people i talk to the worst one is "your hands are crusty" or "dont shake my hand id rather kill myself" and i guess it does make me happy that other people have this condition too but it kills me that i'm the only one in my high school with this skin problem, on top of that i get mad fun of on the daily cause of it and i feel awkward going to the school about it , even my principal asked how i "messed up my hands that bad" i have also heard from one of my teachers " you ever use lotions?" and its all the time. i use as very thick moisturizers and i have IV or All dry skin its very embarrassing and i think in the end it cant be fixed but i wish people were more aware of this skin condition. because when i have to explain to my best friend of 4 years why i hate my skin and hands they tell me its problem and i need to find out how to take care of it (this person is really nice, they even said they couldn't understand my pain and that they would if they could, this person wants to understand. so no i dont make bad friend decisions , cause he defends me too in public.) < i only said that so no one would think i choose bully friends and thats why, cause its not. kids these days are horrible

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    1. Same... I'm 14 years old and I'm a girl. I'm always trying to hide my hands. It really hurts when people are commenting on my hands or when they are making fun out of it. It does make me feel a little better to read this blog but in real life I'm still the only one with this problem and I just feel alone and different. I feel you, stay strong.

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    2. I'm a 15 year-old girl in high school as well. I've always been teased at school for having "old woman hands". I glad there are so many other people dealing with this, I always thought I was just weird. I think I get it from both sides of my family, but my dad has the same hands as me- which isn't really what you want to hear when you're a teenage girl. It sucks how cruel kids can be about something a minuscule as the skin on your hands. This might not apply to everyone, but I always feel like my hands look nicer when I've taken care of and painted my nails.

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    3. I went through the same thing in school. I cannot tell you the anxiety I felt if somebody noticed my hands. It was horrible. Just know that in your school years you are forced to cohabitate with compleat jerks who often are so insecure themselves they are looking for a Target. Yes, it sucks but it is true. I can't say that you will not always have to occasionally deal with the reality that you are different. The girls announcing "Let's get a mani pedi" still makes me sad, and I tend to stare enviously sometimes at others ladies pretty hands and feet. Oh the sandals I would wear!!! But time does bring far less importance to such things. I am in my 50s now and am beyond glad that my "Old hands" are assumed to be due to hard work and my age. The best thing they have given me is an awareness that it is important to teach kindness towards people's differences to your children.

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  11. For what it's worth. I have Ichthyosis. I have used basis soap and moisturised with baby magic lotion. I am a 65 year old male and have used this method Fo 57 years. I am constantly embarrassed in public by ignorant waitresses, check out people, ect announcing to everyone that I smell like a baby

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  12. can someone of you show me a photo of your hands(top of hands),ma son ,2 years old have ichthyosis and his hands and feet are so dry and wrinkled,i',m so disappointed and helpless

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  13. It's great to see this blog. Have only one met one person in real life outside of my sister and mom who have this. I have a mild case, did not get a "granny hands" comment until I was 11 and no skin cracking till I was 8. Handling the dry legs is more difficult - the teenage years were especially difficult when they cracked and bled fairly routinely. I tend to ornament my neck and my wrists and ignore my hands.

    I take the good with the bad, because my face is unaffected and I look younger than my siblings with normal skin. And I figure, if this is my cross to bear, well it's a very small one. Doesn't affect my longevity, and only requires about 5 minutes a day to treat.

    Also, one of my hobbies is lotion making. There are very few products commercially that work for true ichthyosis. And so many extra ingredients we may be sensitive to.

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    1. That's very interesting you make lotions, what works well for your ichthyosis ?

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  15. Its comforting coming across this publication, I have had this condition for my life time (in my late 20's). I have used several hand creams but condition remain the same, apart from my hands/palms and feet/soles the other part of my body skin remains soft and very tender. I have across Amlactin 12 alpha-hydroxy and Ammonium lactate 12 creams online, but I guess its for another skin related codition. if anyone has successfully treated this, kindly share the secret formula.

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  16. I too have the same problem, I'm 29 and too was teased and bullied at school ! The worst one for me was "chicken fingers" that really got me down ! I have really prominent lines like in the picture and them too underneath my feet. I too was told that I had eczema as a child and was prescribed things like, E45 oilatum bath soak etc but nothing ever got rid of it, that's when I knew there was some "different" about me to all the other kids at school! I was an alien with some short of disorder etc that wouldn't go away!
    I remember all the girls applying nail varnish and I would even consider it.
    Now older I've come to understand that I have to live with it, I'm now a nurse and always look at the bright side that I could always be worse I.e born with a facial doformaty etc.
    I am finally getting married next year to my soul mate but even now still I won't show my hands in front of him and I've said I won't be having any cameras on my hands on my wedding day as it's been drilled into me for years! But hey go I'm just happy there is an actual name for it and there's others like me :) just wish there were something I.e like a campaign or something so people are made more aware for those young ones so they too won't suffer what I did!

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    1. Hey. My mom pointed out to me once that my neighbor wore rings on every finger. Which I knew. She loved her diamonds. My mom then pointed out that she was missing half a finger on her right hand. I never noticed!

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  18. I'm a 15 year-old girl in high school as well. I've always been teased at school for having "old woman hands". I glad there are so many other people dealing with this, I always thought I was just weird. When I was younger it used to upset me to tears when people would pick on me for my hands. I would wear shirts and jackets to cover them. I've begun to come accustom to comments like "what's wrong with your hands?" "You have old lady hands" and my all-time favorite "Do you moisturize - like - ever?" It sucks how cruel people can be about something a minuscule as the skin on your hands. I think I get it from both sides of my family, but my dad has the same hands as me-which isn't really what you want to hear when you're a teenage girl. This might not apply to everyone, but I always feel like my hands look nicer when I've taken care of and painted my nails.

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  19. Bless you Macy, nice to see you feel confident in applying beauty products to make you feel better and please ignore vile comments others give you ! Feel confident in the skin your in Hun, that's what I always say ! It's the best way. We could always be a lot worse Hun :)

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  20. Omg I have the really the same experienced like you when i was young. My classmates always making a fuss and they used to call me chicken skin actually. As i saw the photo of your hand i have the same. I remember, when my teacher paired me to one little boy for a dance he doesnt wanna hold my hand. He used a little stick for us to hold on to like pretending were holding hands as he doesnt really want to touch my hand.

    Btw, It was in the philippines too.

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  21. Hi everyone! I'm a 38-year old woman and I've had this for as long as I can remember. I too have the 'granny hands'.
    I don't know if this will help anyone but there are a couple of things I do in the hopes of mitigating the effects, I guess:
    1. I hide my hands a lot but i gesture a lot while speaking so hey! I get my nails done in the hope that it'll distract from the appearance. I hated wedding pics of my hands. My husband's hands look smoother than mine and he's 10 years older! Maddening!
    2. Luckily, it's not on my face
    3. I used to do monthly body peels in an effort to help to shed the dead skin cells. 20-30% salicylic acid peels and 20% glycolic peels every 3-4 months. Especially my legs, thighs, back.
    4. I mix a lot of the creams I use to moisturize with: coconut oil, almond oil. I also use creams with urea. 10-20% urea helps to soften especially during winter months.
    5. I also use my heavy cream concoctions and then wrap my legs and thighs in cling wrap either overnight or during the day if home. I wish it was easy to wrap my back!

    It sucks having this and even harder being a child or teen. I think it gets a little easier as you get older. It's also great if you have a solid supportive team who understands our condition but doesn't judge or recoil but most of all, eventually you've got to accept that it is what is and love yourself in spite of it. I hope it doesn't come across as flippant or preachy. This line of thinking definitely came with age and just going about my life. Good luck to my fellow 'granny hands'!

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  22. I am almost 70 and have had granny hands all of my life. Guess what? I have grown into them..my hands look old but I AM old now..I have taken pains to moisturize so my hands look the same as they did when I was 25...I use lanolin products..this sounds weird but I use lanolin products that nursing mom use on their nipples. I put it on my hands and feet after exfoliation...also a tip: don't wear loud nail polish or fancy rings..underplay your hands and call attention to your face..there are soooo many worse conditions to have...I know I was self conscious as a young woman ..but when I accentuated my assets ..I really forgot about my hands!

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  23. I also have 'granny like hands" I'm a 15 year old girl and have many problems with people at school asking me why my hands are like this. I feel very uncomfortable because no one in my school has this condition and I feel so outcast. I helps to know that other people have this to as it doesn't make me feel like I'm the only person with this daily struggle.

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  24. I also have "granny like hands", I'm a 15 year old teenage girl, and I'm the only person at my school with hands like mine. They are very wrinkly and when people notice them they just stare and ask why my hands are like that. I find this uncomfortable and want to hide them all the time so no one will notice them. I'm the cold weather they get worst and show up more wrinkles that I have on my hands. I felt outcast like no one else this, but then I found this site and made me realise I'm not the only one with this daily struggle.

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  25. Thank you so much for sharing. Through this blog I finally understood why my hands are so deeply lined. I'm 14 years old and I literally avoid giving high fives to people. People always say things like "wear some lotion" or "why are your hands so crusty". It's so frustrating but at least I know the condition I have now. I'm also very thankful that I'm not in any pain from this condition like many people are.

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  26. Omg I thought I was the only one with this problem. Reading all your comments and it feels good to know that there are people out there with the same issue as mine. Been bullied in school and made fun off. Hated my hands and feet. Never liked anyone touching my hands. Avoided it. I'm 26 now and not as fussed over it as before. But as still is a comfort to know I'm not a freak. There are people out there just like me ♥️

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  27. I too have the exact same type of hands as shown in the photograp its inherited from my maternals but I never took it as badluck though most people stare at me asked questions even thought of it as some kind of disease... But I had never let it get me.. I always brushed it off cause those people are never satisfied and felt happy with themselves even though they got normal hands and legs not like mine wrinkled and dry so they search happiness by gossiping about others weakness I don't think they are such people to even deserve our attention. These hands and legs even though they are like an old lady's hands... They are still mine these are very precious with the help of them I carry out my day to day activities... We are very lucky to have these hands and legs compared to those who do not have. These type of skin cannot be cured completely but it can be maintained through extreme care.. I have tried some natural remedies and my hands and legs are in good condition now quite smooth and clear. But you have to maintain it regularly:)

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  28. As a 62 year old woman who has dealt with this granny hand condition all her life and tried every expensive lotion, I have one simple and cheap suggestion for your hands and it works the best! First, soften and hydrate your hands by rinsing with warm water, then immediately massage in a little plain Vaseline all over your hands. Not too much Vaseline or you won't like it. Rub it in good. You will figure out the right amount of Vaseline for your hands. You can do this as often as you like but at least do this every night; I use a little extra Vaseline at night since I'll be in bed and won't be touching everything. Also, exfoliate your hands. A little sugar with a little water makes a great exfoliate. Just put a little spoonful of sugar in your palm, add just a little water and use it as you would soap to wash your hands. Use on palms and back of hands and in between your fingers; be sure to rinse thoroughly and follow immediately with the Vaseline and it will soak in nicely. Don't overdo the sugar scrub or you will irritate your hands. Be gentle, don't scrub too hard and only do 2 or 3 times a week. Just give this a try for a couple of weeks. It's easy, cheap, and you have nothing to lose. There is no "cure" but I think you will like the results!

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  30. You all have absolutely no idea how intensely this blog touched me.
    I am currently a 15 year old girl, and ever since I can remember, my hands were the first thing people noticed when they met me. And not in a good way.
    All the way since I started school, people treated me differently, called me names that still hurt me too much to even type or say, and overall acted like I was some kind of freak who had this horrible, contagious disease.
    I nearly committed suicide in my fifth grade as a result of it, my peers constantly bullied me because of my hands, and unfortunately, the teachers were just as bad, if not worse. The scumbags. I remember going home in tears nearly every day, but I would always hide my sadness in fear of bringing more unwanted attention to myself.
    Even in middle school, some of my friends teased me about it, and I don't think they realized just how unbelievably insecure I was (and still am) about my skin. I see all these other girls in school wearing short sleeved shirts, shorts and sandals, and I can't stop thinking on just how lucky they are. Heck, even the boys in my school have smoother skin than I do. I can't stop thinking: "Why me? Why did God choose me to saddle this skin with? Why didn't he make me normal, like all the other kids?" The only things I primarily wear are long sleeves lengthy enough to hide my hands, and if I wear t-shirts, I always wear sweaters despite the heat.
    I never show my hands to anyone, not even my closest friends. The only reason I haven't been bullied about my skin recently is because I moved from Houston to Dallas, and I never showed my hands to anyone.
    Literally the only thing standing in between me and being feircely bullied again, are sweaters.
    Take that away, and I don't think I'll be able to handle it any longer.
    I know I'm not ever going to be normal, and even though I act tough and have that infamous "I-don't-give-a-damn" personality so many people recognize me for, my skin is the one thing keeping me from being able to do things such as shake hands or even hold a drink out in the open without being eyeballed weirdly.
    I am aware that I'm much too young to be thinking about love, and in spite that I don't plan on having a relationship anytime soon, I still can't help but think about my future.
    I am going to eventually fall in love in my adulthood, and every time my thoughts wander to it, I'm certain that no one would ever want a person with skin like mine. Why would they?
    So I'll most likely remain alone for the rest of my life, and maybe if I get my dream job as a cartoon animator or author, I won't even have the time to worry about love. I've come to terms with that.
    After all, love is just an instinct to reproduce, right?
    Anyway, seeing all your comments is admittedly helping me a bit.
    Knowing that I'm not alone and that others have the same problem as I do, is relieving to say the least.
    Hopefully you all don't end up as depressed little anti-social oddballs like me and get to enjoy your lives, it astonishes me how confident you people are. I wish I had your kind of guts, it would certainly help me a lot.
    I would say something along the lines of "thank you for sharing your comments", but I don't believe it's appropriate.
    Why thank someone for something they're possibly insecure of? Why thank them for getting something off their chest? It's more awkward than anything else.(this is my opinion, yours might be different)
    But, you're all still very brave people for being able to handle your uniqueness. Hopefully, by some miracle, I'll someday be able to do the same.

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    1. Skylar I hope you see my reply. I am 29 now and have had these old, wrinkly hands my whole life, just like you. I remember being in high school thinking of the day I would possibly get married and how embarrassed I would be when my future husband would go to put a ring on my hand. I never held hands with any boyfriends, ever. I just said that I didn't like to hold hands when the real reason was I was embarrassed. I hid my hands all the time just like you do. Still to this day I hate them and even have some friends that laugh (I just laugh along with them). It sucks, I know. I just want to let you know that it may seem hard now to be confident, but one day you're going to realize that life is too short to worry about this. I am now engaged to someone who recognized my wrinkly hands and honestly does not care about them. I've expressed my insecurities about posting any photos showing my the ring on my hands and he genuinely doesn't care about them. I just want to tell you that I also thought no one would want me for my hands so there is hope to find someone that will love you and accept you for who you are. My last tip is that I've spent years trying to help my hands and what's helped me is using some vaseline before bed and using aquaphor during the day (after washing hands, etc). Hope this helps you! :)

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    2. Hi Skylar
      When I was 4 years old another child asked me why my hands had so many wrinkles. I had never really been aware of my hands. Skip forward. Lots of using hand cream, hiding my hands until I worked for the Australian Red Cross as a services coordinator within the health care service. One of my roles was to oversee a specialist service to assist clients wishing to learn how to use camouflage make up to cover and conceal a variety of skin conditions. Over the years i saw some amazing clients with post trauma burns/skin grafts/ post skin cancer/ birthmarks vitiligo just to name a few conditions. I am not trying to make light of any ones individual skin conditions or appearances. But in my own case I found working with these clients a truly amazing experience I got to see their insecurities and at times anguish but most importantly I experienced seeing how some personalities just refuse to accept a label or bullying and just ploughed on to get to where they wanted to be. So proud my old hands could be of service. Hang in there. Ps I don't wear any rings but boy do I do the best ever earrings

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  31. Very interesting reading these comments I as a kid suffered the same with this and would hide my hands. I new this was hereditary as my mother had it. My hands and feet would crack in winter and still do. I found using the wrong Soap or dish washing liquid really made it worse. As a teenager I got over it. I'm sure if your a girl you would feel more aware of it. But trust me a real guy would not careless! we all have something and this really is no game changer. As a kid I had a bad stutter and still do sometimes depends on the company I'm in. I also had a strange name Govinda growing up in a redneck County town I copped it all. My parents split when I was 6 and didn't see my mother till I was in my teens. I don't regret my messed up upbringing it made me a strong person that can handle anything. I'm now 40 and have two beautiful children and a beautiful wife. My point is don't sweat the small things its a first world problem do what you love and you will attract like minded incredible people that will inspire you in lifes journey. Peace out to my fellow people with hands that show you have a wise soul that's hard working and resilient to lifes ups and downs. Oh and don't forget to moisturise. Haha much love all!!!!X

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  32. Very interesting reading these comments I as a kid suffered the same with this and would hide my hands. I new this was hereditary as my mother had it. My hands and feet would crack in winter and still do. I found using the wrong Soap or dish washing liquid really made it worse. As a teenager I got over it. I'm sure if your a girl you would feel more aware of it. But trust me a real guy would not careless! we all have something and this really is no game changer. As a kid I had a bad stutter and still do sometimes depends on the company I'm in. I also had a strange name Govinda growing up in a redneck County town I copped it all. My parents split when I was 6 and didn't see my mother till I was in my teens. I don't regret my messed up upbringing it made me a strong person that can handle anything. I'm now 40 and have two beautiful children and a beautiful wife. My point is don't sweat the small things its a first world problem do what you love and you will attract like minded incredible people that will inspire you in lifes journey. Peace out to my fellow people with hands that show you have a wise soul that's hard working and resilient to lifes ups and downs. Oh and don't forget to moisturise. Haha much love all!!!!X

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  33. Same here. I'm 18 now but grew up being called granny hands. On top of that my right hand is also covered with blothchy eczema on the fingers. My brother kind of has them but I feel like his ones are less visible than mine cause he's lighter and I'm brown. I hate shaking peoples hands they automatically tell me I need to moisturizer more. If only they knew I've been sleeping with gloves over Vaseline glossed hands for so long (wich does help soften to be honest but doesn't not help the wrinkles). My brother told me that girl told him his hands feel like cheap leather. I was thinking of resorting to Botox at this point.

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  34. Wow. I just found out right now that whats on my legs for 27 years now is ichthyosis vulgaris. Yeah, I'd been through all of these experiences growing up. My mother has this and so is my little sister. Isn't it unfair that all of my 6 brothers don't have this kind of stuff in them? Well, every time my friends teased me about my legs having fish scales on them, I just joke about me being a mermaid turned human.. Haha, well thanks to this blog, I found similarity with everyone here.

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  35. I'm 13 and have 'granny hands'too.This blog really touched me.Its nice to know that there are other people who have this problem too. For as long as i can remember I've been made fun of for having ugly hands. No matter how hot it is outside i always wear sweaters to hide my hands.They look just like the one in the picture.And my feet are just as bad.But i'm the only one in my family who has hands like this that i know of.Sometimes i wonder why i was born in this body with these hands.Anyways, thanks for sharing your comments :)

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    1. Hang in there girl, wear em proud. Hands are for doing things, not for looking perfect. People are much more understanding once you get out of school too!

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  36. Never ever did I think I would see so many people with this! So glad I came across this too. It took me years to accept my hands...of course I got teased too, wore cutoff gloves and arm warmers all through high school to hide them. But now I kinda like them too! My hands made it so I never worried too hard about getting them dirty. I've made and fixed a lot of things with these hands. Now I'm a bartender and people look at them and ask me about my hands all the time (people drinking can be blunt like children). A quick explanation "I just have a super dry skin condition" usually works. Then sometimes I have to assure them that YES I HAVE tried lotion, lol. I live with a bottle of lotion nearby at all times, helps keep them from getting super scaly looking.
    It's just s part of our lives and another thing that makes us unique :)

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  37. Hey all, just seen there’s a Facebook group for us all about 800 or more in it all with same issues :) just type Ichthyosis vulgaris and it’s there I was going to suggest making a group too :) didn’t realise how many people have it

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    1. Thank you I found the FB group and yeah there's a lot of us out there :)

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  39. Hey, i'm glad I found your blog because it's nice to hear from all these people with the same condition. I don't have dry cracking skin all over my body but my shins have a scaly pattern but a smooth sheer texture over them with little to no leg hair, I also have really dry and cracked heels. It's really sad hearing about all the bullying and torment that people have gone through over something so small as old looking hands, you would think people could see past that sort of thing. Fortunately I always viewed my hands as something unique and cool and thought everyone elses hands were weird and too wet, I was lucky enough not to be bullied for it aside from a question here or there about them. My heart goes out to those struggling with a more severe case of this condition and the reactions that come with it. Know you're beautiful and your hands are just something that makes you special.

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  40. All of the replies from the 15 yr old girls really touched my heart. I am currently in minor tears just reflecting back on my experience as a 15 yr old girl with "old lady hands". I find it quite amazing how our classmates and educators have actually made some of the same exact comments to all of us. SMH. I am now 25 and I can tell you that I don't struggle nearly as much as I used to. Now when people happen to notice my hands, I actually hold my palm right out for them to stare at. The first bunch of times I did this were extremely uncomfortable because I had no idea what would come out of their mouth next. I do believe going out of my comfort zone and showing my hands off does shut my peers down. Meaning: I am strong enough to flaunt my flaws now what can you really say to make me feel bad?!?! Bye haters!
    As an adult woman, my biggest struggle with my palms/soles is maintaining hydration. I can't say I've tried everything because I know it takes a real special product so I don't waste my time and money with just anything. I definitely avoid anything scented or pigmented. I aim for products that don't have "water" listed as their first ingredient. I moisturize literally after every single shower. If I don't, I'll be just as miserable as how my skin feels, if anybody can relate to that!! I've recently beeen using Curel Hydra Therapy which I was skeptical about at first but the product works well for me and it's a major bonus that I'm saving 10 min following every shower. We all know how time consuming IV is.

    Stay strong my people! It feels great to know we are not the only ones dealing with this on a day to day basis. We are fortunate enough to have handfuls and handfuls (pun intended) of other amazing qualities that we are loved and cherished for!

    P.S.- I think I'll ALWAYS feel uncomfortable with anybody touching my hands or feet. I still feel nervous when my boyfriend of 4 yrs wants to hold my hand. I'll shy away but he grabs them anyway and he'll tell me he loves my hands because my hands are a part of me and that'll never change. That's the kind of love we need in our lives :)

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  41. Reading all of these comments have actually brought tears to my eyes.I also have wrinkled and dry hands and feet....Right now at 24 i don't mind having them,actually I am used to them....But I used to be very insecure about them back in high school and also primary...I remember one time i was touching my friend's neck, and she was like, quote "stop touching me with your dry (hard) hands." and she was very mad at me for touching her and yet i considered her my friend. She did that in front of so many people.Trust me guys it really broke me.Anyway we should all thank God for He has been gracious enough to have blessed us with hands, there are some people who wish they have even one hand. I count myself blessed because God saw it fit to give me something unique. We should all embrace our perfect imperfections.All of you have been an inspiration to me.

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  42. Oh my goodness! I am 53 years old and never knew that there were others (apart from one of my sons and one of my daughters and my Mum and brother) that had this???? I thought it was just my family’s thing. I am so happy!! I used to be called crocodile skin, witchy poo, and kids used to squeal when they had to touch my hands. When I was young I worked in a day care center during the school holidays and the little kids there used to pick on me about my hands. I have always hated them. I get my nails done professionally and the little Asian nail girls are always rubbing endkess amount of hand cream into my hands saying “your hands are dry you need to put cream on them”.....no shit really I think. Why didn’t I think of that! I have bad excema in other places on my body and really dry skin so never thought to have my hands and feet diagnosed separately but this all makes sense now! On the up-side I have really clever hands. I play piano and flute and have a go at several other instruments, I have really nice hand writing and I can paint and draw really well. My kids hate their hands but I have always told them that their hands are a mark of history, that all of their ancestors gave them the extra wrinkles and creases and they are hands handed down through generations.

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  43. Thank you for posting this, even just reading how other people have the same condition as me brings tears to my eyes. I thought I was the only one. I am now 21 turning 22 and luckily I have never been bullied but I did get the odd question. I too hate showing my feet and hand, but I'm learning to embrace them as I get older. And this post has boosted my confidence even more, so thank you.

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  44. I am a 32 year old woman that just recently discovered the medical name for my skin condition. I always thought I just had dry scaly skin I had no idea it is an inherited skin disease. I am the only one of 5 kids with this condition. I have old lady hands and feet. My legs are horrible as well. I didn’t grow up being teased but I always knew I was different. I’ve tried everything from lotions to creams. I am ashamed to show my hands, feet or legs around my boyfriend but he doesn’t seem to care. I am very insecure about my skin. My son inherited it too but he doesn’t seem to care being a boy. I would like to share some of my secrets... I use a coffee scrub with coconut oil In the tub or shower (works well) cera ve lotion for dry bumpy skin, hyaluronic acid body gel from bath and body works every day! Moisturize moisturize moisturize!!! I always thought I was the only person in the world with this condition I see I am not alone. God made us all very unique and he doesn’t make any mistakes and he didn’t make any when he designed each and every one of us! Love yourself there are people in the world that don’t have hands, legs, or feet and would die to have yours! Be grateful it could have been worse... be blessed everyone

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  45. I born with the same hands as you. I think is genetics as my father had the same hands. Even my daughter born with wrinkles on her hands. I went true horrible time when I was at school as others kids laughs at my hands calling them old Granny hands.I wish you all best. Just let you know you are not only one with this problem.

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  46. I can understand anybody feels bad about wrinkled hands, feet I also have flaky skin it has always been hard I have been made fun of all my life I had a teacher in 4th grade ask why I wasn't pretty like my sisters and my sister would show my hands to everybody look how old her hands are I always hid my hands under my legs if I had to take off my clothes around others I would cry because the flakes were every where I always wanted to know how it felt to have soft beautiful skin it still matters I'm 66 and feel no body could look at me I have three handsome sons and 10 grandkids so happy they never got this condition

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  47. I found this article this weekend and have been reading each and every comment. We have been so alone in this challenging journey and I am glad to find all of you guys. It's so comforting to know that you are not alone in this fight. I am overwhelmed after reading all of your experiences.
    My dorsum(back) of the hand, and dorsum(top) of the foot are extremely wrinkly like a 70 year old. I'm a 34 year man and I've had this for as long as I can remember(I can remember as back as 4th grade). I don’t experience physical pain but it used to pain me within…During my childhood, I have cried numerous number of times in closed rooms, bathrooms.
    I never discussed this issue with anyone in my life not even my family members. I always thought I am the only person with this issue because I never came across anyone with the same issue. I don’t know if I inherited or developed this issue. Though I have noticed none of my siblings or cousin have this condition.
    I too had faced my share of bullying in schools, public embarrassments, name calling and to add to that I indulged in self pettiness, spending hours looking into my wrinkly skin after each bath. I used to stare enviously sometimes at others friends pretty and young hands and feet.
    During schooling, few friends have noticed my wrinkly hands and to embarrass me publicly or to win over an argument will always resort to challenging me - can you forward and show us your hands (in front of groups)? …my heart used to come to my mouth…I used to sweat…and I hardly managed to give sad, helpless, not my fault look smile to them.
    I was so scared during my childhood that every time I fall sick I used to think I am going to die - I thought maybe I am suffering from cancer or some other terminal disease.
    It badly affected my self-esteem, confidence, turned me into introvert person, caused lots of anxieties and at times depression, extreme insecurities during my first relationship.
    The first 25 years were horrible and painful to live with this condition, at time I hated myself and my life, few random thoughts of suicide ran through my mind when I was between 16-20. School and college life was terrible.
    But I didn’t let it impact my studies and I directed all my energy into studies. I worked extremely hard all my childhood.Fortunately I did very well with my education and landed up a very good paying job.
    When I look back, lot of my life choices, habits and behaviors were influenced by this condition - I never approached any girl till the age of 22, the way I write using pens - to ensure I don’t expose my wrinkly hands to naked hands I developed a very different style of holding pen since my childhood - I still hold pens in a way such that my knuckles don’t point to the ceiling but are parallel to the floor so that minimum skins are visible to people eyes(people do notice that i have weird way of holding a pen), I wear long loose full sleeves so that while typing on keyboards I can cover the top of my hands with my sleeves(people used to ask me why do I always wear full sleeves even in summer and not tees), hold the steering wheel from below while driving, get conscious while doing push-ups and make sure no one is noticing my hands, don’t wear nice fancy watches for the fear of drawing attention to my hands, don’t wear my rings to avoid people asking me to show the ring etc.
    I am married to my beautiful wife and we are planning a baby now and I really hope I don’t pass on this defect to my babies. Please God please…
    The best thing this condition have given me is to stay grounded & being humble. Living with such a condition made me learn the priorities in life, better manage stress - identify things to stress about and reject things not to stress about, don’t hurt others, respect people privacy, not to be judgmental etc.
    Life is not bad but the journey gets really tough with issues like this…. Thanks for reading.

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  48. Wow! At the age of 45 I have found my people!!!! I have had “granny hands” my whole life and people still constantly comment on it and I’m still quite shy about it. I’m so glad I found this!

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  49. I have this, too! I noticed my hands were wrinkly in 2nd grade, and have felt insecure about them my whole life. I often wonder how often people notice them, because in my head literally everyone is thinking about them. It's so cool to find a community of us.

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  50. I HAD SAME CONDITION BUT AM HAPPY TO SEE THAT ITS NOT JUST SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME, AT LEAST NOW I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER PPL WITH SAME CONDITIONS I AM PROUD OF MY SKIN AND I WILL DO I CAN TO IMPROVE IT. THANKS GUYS FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES .

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  51. **Recommending a product: Dermal Therapy Alpha Hydroxy Lotion. I have had Icthyosis Vulgaris my whole life, which was always misdiagnosed as Eczema, and never had any success with all the various lotions over the years. I would just end up using whatever worked the best at the time, and dealing with my constantly itchy, dry, flaky, scaly skin. I too have "grandma hands," and during a visit to a dermatologist for acne issues, she actually grabbed my hand and said to her colleague "look at this Icthyosis Vulgaris!" I was in my twenties and had never heard of that condition, and it was life changing to finally realize why my skin was so different and that there actually are other people with skin like mine! I started reading forums like this and stumbled upon one that mentioned this lotion: Dermal Therapy Alpha Hydroxy Lotion. The levels of urea and alpha hydroxy acids make all the difference in naturally shedding the dead skin so it doesn't build up scales, or remain as flakes. I thought why not, I've tried everything else. I've been using it for a couple years now, and it has made a SIGNIFICANT difference for me, so I wanted to share this in case it helps someone else on here. I have no affiliation with the product. It hasn't really changed anything with my hands, but the rest of my body has NO FLAKES, is soft to the touch, and doesn't itch, as long as I apply this daily after my shower. There is no cure for my skin condition, but this makes it so much more livable. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive at $27 per 16 oz bottle currently on Amazon (plus shipping), but one bottle lasts me 2 to 3 months, and I use it daily on my entire body, so it may last longer for others. I hope this helps someone. Thanks everyone for sharing, it helps! :)

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  52. I’m 13 right now and Idk if I have it but I think I do my hands have always been really wrinkly and and have heaps of lines and people at school call them old lady hands my friends say ew what’s wrong with your hands I just say idk but it’s makes me really sad. My mum just says it’s bc I don’t I don’t moisturise Them enough

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  53. I'm 44 years old and I have this and so does 3 of my siblings, some of my cousins, and 2 of my children. This stems mostly from my father's side. It's an autosomal recessive gene. I have wrinkly hands and feet and the palms and soles are harder and dryer than "normal". I have done research and came upon Wrinkly Skin Syndrome. There's mild versions of it. I didn't think of Ichthyosis Vulgaris because I don't have the bleeding and scaly skin but I'll keep researching it. I am really happy to have found this post.

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  54. For a long time I thought I was the only one with this problem,

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  55. I have this skin problem as well. I'm 47 yrs old and didn't realize till now how common this was. I have always been so embarrassed by my dried up skin and my wrinkled hands. When I was in high school I used to tell other kids that my hands had been burned as a child and that's why they looked so wrinkly. A few years ago I was shopping on ebay and found a severe dry skin cream homemade by a lady whose husband had skin problems. A mermaid's grace is the brand she calls her cream by. I was very skeptical but had tried everything else under the sun so I bought some. I have to say that it's very good lotion. Although nothing will take this skin condition away this lotion can help keep you a little more comfortable.
    God bless each one of you that our living with problem .

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  56. i’m 16 and have had this problem my whole life as well. My mom has it as well but not as severe. But mine feel like rubber? My hands are extremely wrinkled to the point they hurt but i also excessively sweat from them. This making them rubbery, also causing my hands to prune up making the wrinkles worse. Any help?

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  57. I am 22 years old I also have the same skin problem my hands and feet ate wrinkled in addition to this i also have flaking skin on my full body it is very embarrassing mostly in the cold season i have to keep applying lotions. All people around me have normal skin and I feel only I am the unlucky one with this type of skin.is there any cure for this?

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  58. Omg...I’m very happy guys .. I’m not alone ������...Mine got to the point that I hated my parents to have transferred dis to me...But I ask that God forgive me ...Thanks guys for adding to my confidence.... Anyone in Nigeria hit me on WhatsApp maybe we can hang out +2347015202210

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  59. Ohhh ..so many I have the same problem..was made fun everytime..I have a beautiful face but when people notice my palms and feet ...they are just so weird..hard skina and wrinkles all over..like an old woman .there is no treatment..just avoid sugar ..keep moisturizing and scrubbing..do not use soap at all..we need to stay hydrated all the time....

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  60. I understand you, nobody knows anything about it. I also have atopic dermatitis so my hands are full of lines and also of bubbles and red rushes just like my face. My mouth and my nose are always dry. I remember one time we were doing a play at school and I held the hand of a girl and she looked at me and said “ Why are your hands so weird? They’re disgusting”. I was so disgusted of myself. Everyone, even my closer friend, are disgusted when I accidentally touch them nowadays. In winter my legs are so dry that they seem snowing literally. I use a battle of 300 grams of lotion in a month plus a lot of creams with cortisone and so on. But we can do it. We’re not ugly or disgusting. We’re fucking beautiful. And fuck people who are disgusted of us. Fuck them.

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  61. I think I have this too is it hard to grip objects fingers feel dry and smooth?

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  62. I think I have this is it hard to grip objects because fingers feel slick and smooth?

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  63. I thought I was alone all this time. I'm 24, and my skin dries whenever the weather is too cold. Sometimes I am shy in hand shaking.

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  64. I thought I was alone all this time. I'm 24, and my skin dries whenever the weather is too cold. Sometimes I am shy in hand shaking.

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  65. I am so happy to finaly have found my people! The A-derma xeraConfort lotion helped me a LOT. My hands are still wrinkly, but less dry, and the rest of the body is much better. It is the only one that has helped.

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  66. I am 34, and oddly enough I never knew there was a name for my condition. I was always diagnosed with eczema, or just 'extreme dry skin' I always new that it was more than that because of the way my hands and feet look. Dry skin doesn't cause deep wrinkles.
    I was always too embarrassed to ask too many questions and just tried to hide my hands. I feel extreme love for everyone on here. We are beautiful and Unique and wonderful people!
    Question,..does anyone else with this have deeper lines on their lips?. I was made fun of my entire childhood for ' granny hands, but my lips where always brought to my attention as well, comments like, "omg you need chapstick!" Or, people assuming I'm constantly dehydrated because my lips look so dry and have more prominent lines than normal. Even though I don't go anywhere without my chapstick and lotion it seems to help very little. Applying chapstick is a nervous tick now, I put chapstick on probably 20 times a day.
    Regardless, I feel so relieved to know there are people like me that have lived with these issues. And there is a name for it! My mother has the same hands and out of 4 children she had, me and my little brother inherited the burden. I have 2 children, and they both have normal skin, thank God.
    One of my tricks/tips that my mother passed on to me is after rinsing off the soap While still in the shower, rub baby oil on wet skin (to seal in the moisture) then rinse and dry off normally and apply eucerin lotions. Be careful though baby oil can leave the tub/shower very slippery, so I always wash the tub out with dish soap afterwards so my kiddos don't jump in after me and bust their bum...
    Thank you everyone for your comments and advice! God bless!

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    1. Thank you for sharing your story. It's funny, I remember my motherinlaw looked at my lips one day and said, my God woman, put on some chapstick. Haha. I guess they were looking wrinkly. I used to carry chapstick on a necklace as a child but obviously stopped later on because it wasn't "cool" when I got older. I might just try the baby oil thing, I hadn't thought of that. The main thing is sealing in that moisture because our skin barrier is compromised. I hope you and your fam are well.

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  67. Hello friends. I thought I was alone on this and it is oddly comforting to know I'm not. It's strange, no one ever commented (to my face) about my hands growing up, but they would ask if I shaved my arms (I obviously did not.) I think they were too busy making fun of my unruly curly hair to notice my wrinkly hands. As you all know, this condition causes a very awkward childhood that I'm content to leave behind. One of the reasons I left Ohio is because the cold weather would result in the most painful open and bleeding cracks in my feet.The humidity and warmth in NC is very helpful but I can def tell a difference on days with low humidity. Eucerin and Vaseline has proven to be wonderful for me, because my feet are constantly an issue, including my nails. It is not fun to live this way, but it could always be worse. I try and be grateful for everything else that works right in my body, haha. It's funny how most of us are addicted to chapstick, I hope you have all tried the little Vaseline chapstick, which is another godsend. Highly recommend!

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  68. Your hands look exactly like mine :) they're aged and wrinkled since I was born.

    I don't like how they look but learned to accept by time.

    Of course through my life, many people make fun of it.

    But there was a time when I was in high school, my best friend (and she still nowadays!) told me that "once you're so talented at drawing and painting, that maybe an artist's hands"

    I know that theory not really related to the reality xD

    But those words really helped me.

    Even not beautiful as others' these still my hands.

    And they can create beautiful things to this world.

    Even with wrinkles still be able to hold someone's hands and keep them warm.

    And people who love you will never hesitate to hold them back.

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