very hard skin on hands

i have very hard patches on my palms which crack all the time.have tried all sorts of creams had a patch test which was negative. the skin looks thick yellowydry and cracked. steriod cream hasn t worked very well . any idea s what this could be.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi
This s a case of xerosis or dried skin. In your case, this appears to be in its sever form. There is such a case as xerotic dermatitis. This form of dermatitis may lead to itchiness and thinning of the skin. A rash may or may not be present. Refrain from prolonged exposure to water. Avoid using soaps and lotions .Just use a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil when washing the hands. Also, use moisturizing cream to keep the hands from drying. Apply Vitamin E cream three times a day to keep the hands moisturized. Refrain from applying steroids at the moment as the skin condition does not seem to respond to this.