If so, you may have experienced a non-life-threatening but nonetheless serious condition known as Lotion Emergency.
Lotion Emergency symptoms vary from person to person but often include the following:
Dry, dessicated sensation of the feet or hands
Tingling or prickling sensation of the palms or soles of the feet
Feelings of anxiety, unease, or sense of dread
Acute decrease in ability to focus
Irritability
Causes of Lotion Emergency include:
Dry, winter weather
Hand-washing
Reading the newspaper
Writing with chalk
The sound of another person filing their nails
Left untreated, a person experiencing Lotion Emergency may experience rage, severe anxiety, or a psychotic break.
There are no lab tests or doctor appointments needed to diagnose Lotion Emergency.
The most effective initial treatment is application of lotion, which may be found at most drug stores, department stores, and specialty retailers. Less effective treatments that may decrease symptoms until lotion can be found include chapstick, rubbing the palms together briskly while breathing warm air on them, and licking the hands.
Prevention includes application of lotion before, during, or immediately after a causatory event. It is recommended that those susceptible to Lotion Emergency carry a moisturizer with them at all times.
I experience Lotion Emergency on a daily basis; finally someone understands my pain!
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone!
ReplyDeleteI suffer from both lotion emergency and chapstick emergency. Causes of chapstick emergency include dry environment, eating, licking one's lips, blowing one's nose, and kissing.
ReplyDeleteAs with lotion emergency, there is no cure for chapstick emergency, however short-term treatments include applying lip balm (chapstick or pot variety), lip gloss, or petroleum jelly. May also be treated with cooking oil, lotion (especially those with a petroleum jelly base), lipstick, or squeezing lips together.
Ineffective treatments include licking lips (see causes), drinking water, and inflating balloons.