Preventing Dry Hands: Your Essential Guide to Soft Winter Hands
By: Shahara Lum
The winter season is here, as are the concerns of cracked and dry hands, which are becoming common problems for many individuals experiencing these chilly days. The cold, dry air is a common factor when it comes to dry hands — stripping the skin of its natural moisture, leaving hands feeling irritated, rough, and chapped. However, various simple yet effective strategies for hydration and maintaining soft hands throughout the winter season exist.
What causes dry hands during the winter?
There are many causes of dry hands — low humidity, for example. During the winter, the air tends to be thinner and drier, reducing humidity levels. Unfortunately, low humidity can cause moisture to evaporate from the skin, resulting in dry and cracked hands. In addition, exposure to cold and harsh weather can exacerbate dryness more without proper protection, such as gloves.
Frequently washing your hands is another factor — increasing hand washing can lead to removing natural oils from the skin, stripping away the oil, and eventually causing dryness. Although people tend to wash their hands more frequently during the winter because of hygiene, use mild soap and warm water instead.
Effective prevention
Thankfully, there are simple preventions and treatments when it comes to getting rid of dry hands — using a moisturizer or hand cream regularly can help your hands replenish their lost moisture. As a result, it will create a protective barrier against unpleasant elements such as humidity and chilly air. Products that contain ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid can help deeply hydrate the skin. And if you suffer from parched hands, apply petroleum jelly liberally before bedtime — putting on gloves can also help lock in moisture better.
While most people despise using gloves during the winter, it is pretty foolish not to. Protecting your hands with gloves when going outside can shield your hands from the cold and wind. Hence, it reduces moisture loss and prevents unwanted chapping.
Switching to mild hand soaps is effective when it comes to dry hands. Gentler and moisturizing hand soaps are known to cleanse the hands without stripping the skin of their natural oils. It is also essential to avoid hot water because it can dry out the skin even more. Limiting bath time is also helpful — bathe no more than once a day and no longer than 10 minutes.
As always, don’t forget to stay hydrated. Drinking enough of water not only keeps you hydrated but also helps your skin, such as your hands, maintain hydration. Not drinking enough water can cause your skin to dry out — it is crucial to moisturize the external part of your body. Using a humidifier in your home can add more moisture to the hair — so if you have one, use it!
Choosing the right products for dry hands
When shopping for hand creams, look for ingredients with moisturizing properties and consider fragrance-free options. Like most products for the skin, fragrances can irritate, especially for those with sensitive skin. Opting for hypoallergenic or fragrance-free hand creams with shea butter or glycerin can minimize the risk of drier hands or skin reactions.
Look for hand creams with emollients that soften and smooth the skin, sealing in moisture and relieving dryness, itching, and scaling. Furthermore, emollients can provide long-lasting hydration without irritation and greasy residue if you have eczema, psoriasis, or dry or sensitive skin. Creating a protective layer allows your hands to soak the moisture and survive the winter season! Before making a purchase, you should always take the time to read customer reviews — feedback and real-life experiences from other users can offer helpful and knowledgeable insights.
Best products for dry hands
These products deliver antibacterial and softening effects — killing unwanted germs while hydrating. The products include must-have ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, aloe, and plant oils. Each product’s rich textured cream immediately soaks into the skin, making hands feel smooth and moist. The formulas are also designed to build collagen in the skin.
• Curél Extreme Dry Hand Relief Cream
• Vaseline Radiant X Deep Nourishment Hand Butter
• Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream
• Reserveage Hydrating Hand & Foot Cream
• Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
• Karité Crème Mains Nourishing Hand Cream
• L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
• Mary Kay Satin Hands Nourishing Shea Cream
Best products for dry and sensitive hands
• Aquaphor Healing Ointment
• Vaseline Original Healing Jelly
• CeraVe Healing Ointment
• Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream
• EltaMD So Silky Hand Créme
• Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
• Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream
• O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream
While creams are effective for sensitive and severely dry hands, ointments are also highly successful in preventing irritations — ingredients like jojoba oil and dimethicone can do the job well — especially if your hands long for that antioxidant repair.
Seek expert advice
Choosing the right moisturizer that has been tested and dermatologists recommended is crucial when selecting a hand cream. However, if you have severely sensitive skin or a skin condition, seeking advice from a dermatologist can allow you to gain valuable and personalized guidance based on your specific skin type and underlying skin concerns you may or may not have known before.
Researching, understanding your skin type, observing the most beneficial ingredients, or considering expert advice will allow you to purchase the perfect cream for your hands. Paying attention to product selection can lead to your hands and your skin’s overall health.
References:
-https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/prevent-
soothe-chapped-winter-hands
-https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-cope-with-dry-cracked-
hands-2223299
-https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-hands
-https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/itchy-dry-skin-this-
winter-these-tips-from-dermatologists-may-help-/2022/12
-https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty-products/best-lotions/
a25136153/best-hand-cream/
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