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Hand Care and Dry, Cracked Skin
Hand Care and Dry, Cracked Skin
BEAUTY · GLOBAL
Hand Care and Dry, Cracked Skin
Why hands suffer, choosing a cream, hand eczema and when to see a doctor
Hands are washed more than any other skin and protected less, which is why they are usually the first place a barrier problem shows.
Why they suffer
Frequent washing strips the lipids that hold moisture in. Detergents, hot water, cold weather and alcohol gels all add to it, which is why hand problems spike in winter and in jobs involving wet work.
Choosing a cream
Look for occlusives such as petrolatum or dimethicone to slow water loss, humectants such as glycerin or urea to draw water in, and emollients to smooth. A good hand cream contains all three.
Urea at around five to ten percent genuinely helps rough thickened skin. Fragrance-free is the useful label, since fragrance is among the leading causes of contact allergy.
Ointments work better than lotions for badly cracked skin, and greasier products applied at night under cotton gloves do the most.
Washing and gloves
Lukewarm rather than hot water, dry thoroughly including between fingers, and moisturise immediately afterwards. Gloves for washing up, cleaning and gardening prevent more damage than any cream repairs.
Cotton liners under rubber gloves stop sweating, which itself irritates.
Hand eczema
Common and treatable. Emollients used liberally and often are the foundation, and prescribed steroid ointments used correctly are safe and effective — under-treating is the more common problem.
Nails and cuticles
Cuticle oil daily keeps the nail plate flexible rather than brittle, and it is the single most useful habit for nail health. Push cuticles back gently rather than cutting them, since they are a seal against infection.
Gloves for washing up and cleaning protect nails as much as skin.
Sun
Hands get more cumulative sun than almost anywhere and show it first. Sunscreen on the backs of the hands, reapplied after washing, does more for how they age than any cream.
Reading an ingredient list
Ingredients are listed in descending order to one percent, so look for glycerin, urea, petrolatum or dimethicone near the top rather than a plant extract at the bottom.
Fragrance may appear as parfum, and essential oils are listed by their own names.
Patch testing
Apply anything new to the inner forearm daily for five to seven days rather than once, since allergic reactions are frequently delayed.
Keep a tube where you actually wash your hands, since that is what makes it happen.
When to see a doctor
Skin that is cracked and bleeding, weeping or crusting, which may be infected, or a rash that keeps returning. Persistent hand eczema may warrant patch testing to find an allergen.
Work-related skin problems should be reported to your employer.
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