Dry Hand OCD?

[DylanGM]

I'm not entirely sure how to explain this. I've had it my entire life, or for as long as I can remember. (I'm 17.)
I have searched for what it is so I can put a name on it many times, with no success. Just recently I found a forum post which relates very closely to what I have been experiencing.

So when I touch water, mainly with my hands but it happens on my feet too, I'll get a dry, unbearable feeling that makes me clench my fists. I'll be unable to touch anything rough, and the thought of it gives me goosebumps. Touching very soft blankets, or my hair releaves the feeling. So does touching water again, for as long as I keep my hands in it, and then I'll get the feeling again. I wouldn't necessarily call the feeling pain, but it's extremely uncomfortable. Enough to instinctively clench my fists, which seems to help.

So far, the only way to help it is to use lotion, and as a guy it seems a bit weird, but I always have lotion on me. If I don't have lotion, I have to wait it out.

From the 2nd quote below, he says "Anything dry touching teeth... this one drives me crazy where I have to rub my teeth with my fingers to get rid of the feeling it gives me."
I'm exactly the same way, thinking about it has my teeth feeling dry.

I'll quote what others said on the forum I found.

"Hi. My name is Ashley. I am 29. I have the exact same "compulsion" I guess we are calling it regarding my hands feeling dry. I never in a million years thought this would be something shared by another individual. I have the same obsession/dependence on lotions, and the same discomfort and even anxiety over hands (or even feet) that "feel" dry (whether they truly are or not). I have several surfaces I "can't" touch. The WORST of these is after I shower, and go to dry off. The feeling of a towel on my pruny hands makes me gag and get goosebumps all over. I either have to have my husband dry me off, or I wear latex gloves to dry off. I, too, get goosebumps even writing about this. Touching paper, clothing, PAPER TOWELS (shudder), really anything besides a smooth plastic or metal surface is bothersome to me. I know my hands cannot really be dry, as I moisturize constantly and do NOT overly wash my hands. I ball my fists up, and have also licked my palms to dissipate the "dry" feeling.
I have a history with extreme anxiety issues, since childhood. I don't know why I never attributed this odd behavior to something like anxiety (or OCD). I guess I just thought I was a weirdo with a weird phobia. Turns out I am not alone! Let us "dry handed" freaks unite! "

And

"I have this same problem but mine goes in different directions too. I'm curious if these things bother you...

Anything dry touching teeth... this one drives me crazy where I have to rub my teeth with my fingers to get rid of the feeling it gives me.

Thats really the worst one for me. I cannot touch anything dry with my feet or hands. As soon as I step out of the shower, I have to put lotion on my feet and hands because of the dryness. I'm actually having surgery tomorrow and they said that I have to shower the night before AND that morning and CANNOT put any type of moisturizer on. I'm thinking of skipping the shower just so that i dont have to go through the dry torture. "



If you could shed some light, tell me what this is, or anything, I would be much appreciated.

[Nikki_0203]

I honestly thought I was alone with this! You explained how I feel to a tee. If lotion is not readily available after my hands or feet get wet then I will avoid them getting wet. It actually makes me light headed if I accidentally touch something rough such as certain fabrics before letting the lotion soak in. I also get extreme chills just thinking about it. It’s so nice to see there are others and I’m not alone.

[antoinetflixac]

I genuinely almost cried reading this thread because I've suffered from this for 14 years. When I was little my parents told me I used to constantly spit on my hands and rub it in (obviously quite gross). My stepmum suggested hand cream a few years into this problem and it has developed into a strong OCD compulsion. It always has to be the exact same hand cream and I reapply once every few minutes or sometimes even more, meaning I go through 2+ tubes a week. I never leave the house or even the room without it, all my electronics break because they get clogged with cream and I can't use paper or touch a lot of other dry things. I wasn't officially diagnosed until I was about 15 (I'm almost 22 now) and was rediagnosed last week by a mental health charity as I've decided to start seeking help. My obsessions are more of a general anxiety than something specific so it's been really hard to fight against. My OCD has become so normal for me that it takes big things to get me to notice, like the handcream I use becoming unavailable at one point due to covid shipping issues or computers breaking from cream etc. My issues always seemed so specific and niche so seeing this is just crazy. Lots of love to you all and my deepest sadness for anyone going through the same because I know how awful it can get.

[hmmmingbird]

Hi guys! I am glad you are all here. I have been searching for answers for this my whole life and my partner just stumbled on this forum. Literally everything posted here is spot on. I have had this since I was little. Clenched fists after shower, spat on my feet before I could put socks on (before I discovered lotion) avoided washing my hands because I didn’t have lotion... the dry things touching teeth... gah! i’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it and rub my teeth to make the feeling go away.... I know I’m not alone because my sister has the same problem with lotion on hands / feet especially after getting them wet. I worked as a dishwasher and cashier at the same time and unfortunately spat on my hands so much which I know is so gross but I can’t help it. This is real. My sister and I didn’t grow up together but we both still have the same lotion thing. I just want to say to anyone reading this you are not alone. I’ve had this for as long as I can remember. I’m wondering if certain sounds bother anyone too. For me, when a napkin touches a plate it bothers me so much and makes my skin crawl. It’s the same feeling I get when I touch certain things like paper without lotion or even if someone tries to hold my hand when I haven’t had lotion... This is so validating to know others struggle too.

[DahliaRose]

I can't believe I found others like me. As described, it's definitely like nails on a chalkboard for me, if I can't immediately slather lotion on my hands after washing...and terry cloth towels, ugh! I have had OCD as long as I can remember, but my compulsions have transformed or morphed from one to another. I have suffered from contamination OCD, which lead to excessive hand washing. When I was younger, I obviously didn't have the 'dry hands' version, since lotioning up was counterproductive to my obsessive handwashing rituals which dominated (despite dry, cracking, bleeding hands). I also suffered from emetophobia for MANY years, hence obsessive hand washing. At least over time the latter two abated, however,  morphed into this other equally intense compulsion. The age of three was mentioned above. I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was three, so safe to say that triggered a lot of my OCD and changed the circuits in my brain. However, over time, I noticed signs of OCD in close family members, so def a genetic factor. None of theirs seems to be like mine, more like hoarding etc. I commiserate with you all, nice to know I'm not alone, but I do wish us all relief.

Oh my, how is this for comic relief: as I was typing this before bed, I got my moisterized hands to a content level, but randomly a stink bug, snuck up (inside house) and doused me with its stink (I've had plenty of these bugs break into my home, but none were so bold to release their weapon). Very long story short, I just had to thoroughly scrub down my hands (cringe) and get the lotion balance right again

[Kaitlann_7]

I am the exact same way, but I will only use one certain brand of lotion, and if I don’t have it, I have an absolute conniption. I don’t know how to fix this compulsive behavior either, but it has been ongoing for as long as I can remember. I have to have my lotion right after a shower or right after I wash my hands. I used to never even touch towels and I would cringe when I had to pick up a piece of paper. For the longest time I thought it was just a weird thing that only I experienced, im glad I’m not the only one.

[Paxiled]

I guess I'd say, if this is your only obsession it's not a terrible one.  People have all kinds of habits.  The only downside would be if you're using a product that doesn't have healthful ingredients, as many are not very good for you.  I put on lip balm all the time.  I just don't worry about it.  It's just me.  The fact is, though, soap is drying, and lots of people apply lotion after a shower.  It's not actually a bad idea.

[specialmom]

Look up sensory integration disorder.  My son has this and wet hands causing extreme distress was an early sign. Everyone has sensory reactions that can be unpleasant but for him, he had fight or flight reactions.  Literally melted down.  Basically his nervous system sends faulty messages.  Water is a common one.  Let me know if you'd like more information,

[tootdoctor]

I have this too! All of my life. I started using my mum's Sorbolene hand cream when I was 5 and have never been able to stop. My older sister who is 15 years older than me says she had it too, but it went away because she never had moisturiser around and relied on saliva to keep her hands hydrated. It's nice to know there are others out there. I'm now 24 and I have finished countless bottles of all types of moisturiser. Worst period of time was moving from Australia to the UK and not being able to find an adequate replacement. I could barely sleep at night. Interestingly, when I take Lysergic acid diethylamide, I unconsciously put cream on but realise I don't need it anymore, and that my dryness has gone. Sadly that is an affect that cannot last!