How to get rid of dry skin on hands

What causes dry skin on hands?

Frequent washing, cold dry air and working with chemicals can leave hands dry. Repeated exposure to water, soap and detergents can damage the skin's protective outer layer, removing oils and letting more water escape. Dryness with persistent itching, burning, swelling or blisters can also be hand eczema, an inflammatory skin condition that needs more than moisturizer alone.23

How to moisturize cracked hands

1. 1Wash with soap and lukewarm running water for at least 20 seconds. Clean the backs of your hands, between your fingers and around your nails, then rinse thoroughly.
2. 2Gently pat with a clean towel, leaving the skin slightly damp rather than dripping wet.
3. 3Apply hand cream or ointment immediately. Spread it over your hands, including your fingertips and nails.
4. 4Reapply whenever your hands feel dry throughout the day. After using hand sanitizer, let the sanitizer dry before applying moisturizer.

Regular moisturizer use can soften scaling skin, relieve discomfort and help prevent further cracks. If you have hand eczema, dry thoroughly between your fingers and beneath rings rather than leaving water trapped there. Remove rings before washing and moisturizing if you have dyshidrotic eczema, the form associated with intensely itchy hand blisters.235

What skincare helps very dry hands?

Start with a thick cream or ointment labeled fragrance free and dye free. Mineral oil or petrolatum are useful options for dry, chapped hands. Petrolatum, also called petroleum jelly, helps hold existing moisture in the skin; glycerin and urea attract water. For diagnosed dyshidrotic eczema, choose a cream or ointment rather than a lotion.135

Moisturizer softens skin and helps it hold water; the job description is less ambitious than most skincare advertising. Its effects are short lived, so frequent application matters. Greasier preparations generally provide the strongest moisturizing effect, but a less oily option can be easier to use during the day.36

Choose a moisturizer you are willing to use regularly, because an untouched tub is mostly bathroom furniture. The least expensive option that works and feels acceptable is enough. Try one new product at a time so you can identify the cause if irritation develops. Change products if a moisturizer causes stinging or irritation.36

If you use a prescription hand cream, follow your clinician's layering instructions. Some medicines need to go on before moisturizer. Check whether a product contains an active medicine such as hydrocortisone rather than treating every cream as something to apply freely.3

How to prevent dry hands from frequent washing

Keep necessary handwashing, especially before eating and after using the bathroom. Ordinary soap is sufficient for most people; antibacterial soap is not more effective at preventing illness. Choose a gentle, fragrance free soap and moisturize after washing. When soap and water are unavailable, use sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, then moisturize once it dries.134

For hand eczema, wear suitable protective gloves during dishwashing, cleaning and other wet work. Cotton gloves beneath waterproof gloves help reduce irritation. Keep gloves clean and intact, and avoid wearing them for prolonged periods: sweating inside gloves aggravates dermatitis. Cotton gloves alone can help with irritating dry work.25

When do dry hands need medical help?

See a clinician if dryness persists despite this routine, cracks do not heal, or you develop a rash, ongoing itching or irritation. Hand eczema can need prescription treatment, and allergy testing can identify triggers. Redness can be harder to see on darker skin, so also pay attention to swelling, scaling and changes in texture.1237

Seek urgent medical care for a rash with fever, red streaks, yellow or green discharge, rapid spreading, significant pain or warmth.3