Dry hands – the four ways to treat dry skin on the hands
How To Make A Dry Skin Treatment – Just In Time For Winter
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From excessive handwashing during the pandemic to temperature changes, our hands are getting drier and drier by the day. Not sure what to do or what habits to stop? Express.co.uk chatted to the experts at Watermans to find out how to treat dry hands.
Dry hands won’t kill you, but they can be irritating and unsightly if left untreated.
The symptoms of dry hands can vary depending on the severity and cause of the irritation, but on top of dry skin, you may also experience redness, flaking, itchiness, cracked areas, a tight feeling, or a rough, scaly texture.
Dry hands have many triggers, ranging from medical issues to seasonal weather changes, and most of them have similar treatments options.
Over-washing your hands, especially during the autumn and winter months, is damaging to the skin on your hands.
Antibacterial products and hand sanitisers can cause the skin to lose moisture and dry out.
The experts at Watermans, who make antibacterial products, hand creams and hair products said: “As the weather turns colder, hands often feel dry and irritated.
“Why? Well, in cooler temperatures, the body struggles to retain moisture effectively, causing the skin to dry out.
“Dry air and low humidity often irritate the hands, as does central heating or air conditioners.
“Frequent fluctuations in temperature, like moving from warm to colder conditions quickly, can also cause dry skin.”
Regardless of the season, eczema and psoriasis are two common conditions that can cause dry and irritated hands.
Autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and lupus, sometimes affect blood circulation to the hands, which can increase the risk of dry, cracked and irritated skin.
Exposure to chemicals that cause burns or irritation is another key cause of dry hands.
Another common cause of dry skin on the hands is using the wrong skincare.
Applying a hand cream that doesn’t support the natural pH of the skin will irritate your hands, damage the skin’s protective barrier and impede moisture retention, the experts said.
The four ways to treat dry skin on the hands
While some causes of dry hands may be unavoidable, you can easily reduce dryness and promote hydration with a few simple hacks.
Wear gloves
In colder weather, protecting the hands from cold temperatures and wind will help the skin to retain moisture and keep dryness at bay.
The experts said: “Using gloves when cleaning or washing dishes is another great way to reduce exposure to water and chemicals that may irritate and dry out the hands.
“Using a fast-absorbing hand sanitiser can be a great alternative to excessive handwashing, for example, Watermans Clean Me hand sanitiser kills 99.9 percent of bacteria without leaving water or residue on the skin.”
Use cooler water
We all love a hot shower when the weather is cold, but hot water is not good for dry skin.
If taken often, hot showers and baths can dry out the skin and cause itchiness and irritation.
The team at Watermans advised: “When showering and washing the hands, use lukewarm water to avoid excessive moisture loss.”
Dry your hands properly
We often forget to dry our hands completely – but did you know that leaving water on the skin can worsen dryness?
When the water evaporates, the hands lose moisture and become drier.
Remember to dry your hands thoroughly after cleansing for softer, hydrated skin.
Moisturise
Much of our everyday lives can be harsh on the hands, from washing dishes to cleaning kitchen surfaces, so it’s important to regularly moisturise to lock in hydration and tackle irritation.
After hand washing or whenever the hands feel tight or dry, generously apply a hand cream for dry hands and massage into the skin.
Pick your moisturiser wisely and opt for a product (such as Watermans’ Moisture Me Hand Cream) that includes rich butter and oils like shea butter, cocoa butter, almond oil or cupuacu butter as ingredients.
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