I am a 25-year-old male, and I have a problem with dry knuckles and fingers. I don't have a problem with dry skin anywhere else, but my knuckles and fingers crack and itch they get so dry. Putting on petroleum jelly at night helps some. I put on lotion during the day but it doesn't help much. I live in San Francisco now, and didn't have this problem when I lived in Maryland where it is much more humid. In fact, I recently went back for three days to Maryland, and my hands were almost completely better by the time I came back. Would a humidifier at home and/or the office help at all? Is there some sort of great hand lotion that I can use during the day (that won't leave my skin greasy like petroleum jelly)? Or should I just schedule an appointment with my doctor?
posted by fourmajor on Jul 10, 2009 - 29 answers

Once upon a time I heard about a method of applying mathmatical operations (like multiplying 4 or 5-digit numbers together) using the knuckles of one's hands. Google has failed me. Did I imagine the whole thing? Assuming not, what is this called and how does it work?
posted by mezzanayne on Dec 26, 2008 - 6 answers

Knuckles: A few days ago I woke up with a bad grinding feeling in my right hand knuckles. [more inside]
posted by birdie birdington on Mar 24, 2008 - 3 answers

Every freaking joint in my body cracks, and I have a (pseudo-) neurotic need to do so on a daily basis. With the knuckles, it's just habit; with the neck and back, I genuinely feel very stiff unless I do so. Am I damaging my body in some way? Most of the advice I've heard on this issue has been from people with an agenda (i.e., they are annoyed by it) so I don't trust them.

Previously noted here, but didn't see the answer to my specific question.
posted by norm on Dec 16, 2004 - 41 answers