Answer to Dry Scales?

[mom22wins]

Lately, Sammy has had dry scales on her underside and legs. You could feel them when you handled her. It started after I started using a ceramic heat emitter and I'm sure the carefresh and the wood enclosure doesn't help with the moisture level either. I tried a large pie plate of water and a humid hide but it didn't help.

Well, I had some Zoo Med Repti-Shedding Aid lying around so I rubbed some on her where the scales were starting to lift a little. It looks (and feels) like it really has helped. I've never had to use it as a shed aid but it sure has helped with her dry "skin". BTW, she is not due to shed for a while since she just did about a week ago. Anyway, I'm impressed.

Here are the ingredients:

Water
Solubilizing Hydrotrope
glycerin
jojoba oil
vitamin e

in an oil base.

Just wondering if anyone else has used something like this?

[Payday1897]

Yes I have used this on Rutherford before. It was one of the first few sheds he had with me and it took like a week to come off so i bought this and sprayed him and it worked. However since then, I buy him some sphegma? moss and stick it under his rock ramp and spray it till wet. I put it in there only a few days before sheds once he gets a touch white. He sheds all in 1 day this way with no tail or toe stick. Try introducing a humidity hide if he continues to have scale issues.

[Herptiles.net]

For dry skin, use Lubiderm!

lol, just kidding. For stuck sheds on patients I've used just plain old warm water soaks to loosen it up, or any type of generic lube you can get at the pharmacy that's glycerin based, mixed with warm water.

I'm sure it does the same as the Repti Shed Aid stuff but much, much cheaper (just don't tell the pharmacist the lube is for your lizard, that's guaranteed to get you a weird look). Besides, the whole vitamin E in skin applications (for humans or herps) does nothing. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble molecule that's too big to pass through the skin, and it doesn't really have any topical effect.

[Herptiles.net]

Oh, forgot to mention, the solubilizing hydrotope is probably there to keep the glycerin emulsified in the water, since they won't stay mixed. With the lube and warm water mix, just shake it up vigorously for a temporary but just as effective solution

[mom22wins]

Thanks for the info guys! (And the laughs. )

I wasn't having trouble with Sammy as far as shedding. She is not due to shed. She is just overly dry and her scales were starting to lift a bit.

Thanks for the ideas on lubing up my lizard! (I couldn't resist.)

That moss idea is cool. Maybe I'll do that.

[Hijinks]

Let us know how it goes! Ping has been having the same problem since the forced air heating came on. This isn't just during sheds. He spends time each day in his humid hide. That helps his dry belly a lot, but his legs and even his face become dry eventually. This past shed was difficult. Sorbolene cream has been mentioned a few times and I was thinking of trying that on his dried out little legs and toes: http://bluetongueskinks.net/forum/viewt ... =sorbolene

[Payday1897]

Another real simple set up for a humidity hide is a large enough Tupperware container and some wet paper towel. Just cut a large enough opening on one side, fill with a wet paper towel or two and then poke a bunch of holes on the lid and close. The moss idea works for me, but you may not have access to it or some moss types may be dangerous.

[Zach]

That's one of the reasons I don't like carefresh because it's so dry! When we used it for a few months, several of them got scratchy bellies...it's like a super absorber!

Some good suggestions here though...

[Fatal_S]

Carefresh is quite dry. Bet that would be very good for shingles though...

[aggiegirl]

Latte' has been a bit dryer than normal too. (I use aspen.) Before the cold weather, he would shed completely without me seeing or noticing much of a difference in his scales. Now, it seems that his belly feels rough several days before he sheds. No retained shed or anything but I know what you are talking about! It also seems that the interval between sheds is a bit longer (but of course he isn't growing as fast now either.) Wierd...

[Tattoo]

Mom ... I've tried the product you mentioned. I think it helped as well. I too would avoid Carefresh for the dryness factor. I'm guessing tis the season for dry scales. Bet it will abate when winter leaves. Wonder if in the wild winter means dry skin during brunation?

[Blotch]

yeah mini had dry scales too. All of my other guys are fine - but his seem really dry. He's also dark in colour, I figure he's gonna shed soon.

[Hijinks]

Here's a picture of some dry leg scales. Shed two days ago, spent a couple hours today in the humid hide -- and still this.
I saw Yesterday's News discussed in a thread a while back and I picked up a bag. I am going to try it out to see if it helps. The little pellets don't seem conducive to burrowing though. I don't like aspen because it gets everywhere and it doesn't control odors as well (and as some of you know I have a very stinky skinky).

[Zach]

Hijinkx, that almost looks like it could be the beginning of scalerot because it's TOO humid? Do you know what the humidity is and how much time he usually spends in the humid hide?

[Hijinks]

Oh man. I don't know what the humidity level is, but it's dry enough to have an affect on me (versus how it feels in the summer). I guess he goes in the humid hide from half an hour to three hours a day. All I know is that the belly scales feel very dry and rough if he doesn't spend time in there, and his arms are affected in much the same way -- but they stay rougher, I guess because there is less direct contact with the moist stuff. That's really what SCALE ROT looks like?

[Geoff Gates]

try gently rubbing liquid fabric softener/conditioner over the affected areas. (Yes. the stuff you put in washing machines.) I got that advice off a reptile vet years ago. Works a treat when there are shedding issues too.

[Leigh]

Latte' has been a bit dryer than normal too. (I use aspen.) Before the cold weather, he would shed completely without me seeing or noticing much of a difference in his scales. Now, it seems that his belly feels rough several days before he sheds. No retained shed or anything but I know what you are talking about! It also seems that the interval between sheds is a bit longer (but of course he isn't growing as fast now either.) Wierd...

not sure if you were aware that the older they get, the bigger the gap between sheds. Mines over two now and its about 7-8 weeks between sheddings.