Home remedies for dry hands

What should I do after every handwash?

1. 1Wash with lukewarm water and a mild soap. Wash for at least 20 seconds, including between your fingers and around your nails. Rinse thoroughly.
2. 2Pat your hands with a clean towel rather than rubbing them. Leave the skin slightly damp, or let your hands air dry until slightly damp.
3. 3Apply hand cream or ointment immediately. Spread it over your hands, including your fingertips and around your nails.

Keep washing whenever hygiene requires it. Dry hands are a reason to change how you wash and moisturize, not to skip necessary handwashing. Avoid unnecessary time with your hands in water, such as repeated rinsing that serves no cleaning purpose. Hot water and frequent washing can remove the natural oils that help keep your skin comfortable.145

Which moisturizer should I choose?

Look for fragrance free and dye free labeling. Thick creams or ointments containing mineral oil or petrolatum tend to feel less irritating on dry, chapped skin. These often come in tubes or tubs rather than pump bottles. A daytime cream is less greasy than an ointment, which is useful when your next task involves touching anything.34

How often should I moisturize?

Apply moisturizer after each wash and whenever your hands feel dry or tight. Aim for at least three or four applications a day, with more as needed. Smooth the product gently over your skin rather than rubbing hard. You can use a cream during the day and an ointment at night instead of asking one texture to suit every task.3

Keep small tubes or pots at home and work so moisturizer is available after washing, rather than becoming another item you remember only after leaving the room.3

What can I do overnight?

A thick ointment such as plain petroleum jelly is a bedtime option. For severe dryness, an overnight wet glove treatment is another home approach:2

1. 1Before bed, apply a thick ointment to your hands.
2. 2Put on damp white cotton gloves, then cover them with a dry pair of white cotton gloves.
3. 3Remove both pairs in the morning and apply a fresh layer of moisturizer.

Keep away from flames, fire and cigarettes when using moisturizers. Product residue on gloves, clothing or bedding makes those fabrics catch fire more easily, even with paraffin free products. Washing does not remove all the residue.3

How do I stop chores and weather drying my hands?

Wear gloves when washing dishes or cleaning rather than leaving your hands exposed to water and household cleaners. For people with dyshidrotic eczema, cotton gloves under waterproof gloves help prevent irritation during wet work; cotton gloves alone suit dry tasks. Put the gloves on before starting the job. Cotton gloves alone are not the wet work option.16

Limit exposure to extreme cold, wind and excessive sun. In a dry home, keeping the air humid can help; a bedroom humidifier is an option at night. Continue applying moisturizer regularly in a dry climate. Changing the air does not replace the moisturizer you apply directly to your hands.17

What if I need hand sanitizer?

When soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Let the sanitizer dry, then immediately apply cream or ointment. Sanitizer can dry the skin, so switching to it is not a dry hand remedy. Wash with soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty. If you have eczema and sanitizer triggers flares, ask your dermatologist to help choose one.146

What changes if I have hand eczema?

If you have diagnosed dyshidrotic eczema, choose a fragrance free cream or ointment rather than lotion, which can worsen this condition. Remove rings before washing, moisturizing and sleeping. Water trapped beneath a ring can trigger a flare. Use a mild, fragrance free cleanser and avoid antibacterial or deodorant soaps. Avoid scratching, overheating and known irritants or allergens. A dermatologist can help identify triggers when the cause is unclear.6

What if I use a prescription cream or get irritation?

Leave 20 to 30 minutes between moisturizer and a steroid cream or another skin treatment. Ask your doctor which to apply first. If a moisturizer causes burning or stinging that persists for several days, speak to a pharmacist, nurse or doctor about changing it. For products in tubs, use a clean spoon or spatula to reduce contamination.3

When should I get medical help?

Contact a healthcare professional if your hands do not improve with regular moisturizing and gentler washing, or if severe dryness causes cracking or pain. Some people need a prescription cream or ointment. Dryness caused by an underlying skin condition needs treatment for that condition as well. A new eczema type rash also warrants assessment rather than repeated trials of home treatments.1245

What is the best remedy for dry hands?

For dry, chapped hands, start with a thick fragrance free cream or ointment applied to slightly damp skin after washing. Choose a cream if greasiness makes daytime use difficult, and an ointment for very dry skin or bedtime. If a thin lotion has not helped, switching texture is a practical next step before continuing with the same product.345