The article will walk you through some of the easy and effective methods on how to treat and cure dry (sensitive) skin on hands.
We will also discuss some of the most common causes, symptoms and why they occur.
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Dryness & (Sensitivity) on hands:
Dry hands are a common problem all over the world. In fact, no matter what the climate is, all people suffer from dry skin on their hands for a variety of reasons.
It is one of the most vulnerable parts of our body. Due to our everyday activities, our hands are constantly exposed to germs and bacteria. The latter can indeed be a negative tool in our hands. 
Many don’t acknowledge the fact that the skin on our hands is one of the most sensitive places on the body.
According to experts, our hands are delicate because these parts of our body have a very high sweat gland. By nature, they tend to perspire more than other parts of the body. In addition, it’s not being protected as it should.
Not many people are aware of the causes. And with that being said, let’s now explore the most common causes of dry skin.
What Are the Main Causes?
The most common causes are:
- Weather due to loss of moisture in the air, especially in colder weathers.
- Exposure to chemicals: many products such as washing up liquid, hand wash, and laundry detergent contain harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin.
- Frequent handwashing (mainly due to workplace conditions and the situation of COVID-19). Constantly washing your hands can cause the skin to become dry and chapped.
- UV rays/light that causes premature ageing.
- Or medications can all dried out the hands. This is true in people that do suffer from additional skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis (conditions that cause skin irritation/inflammation). Or even people with diabetes or lupus that requires them to use medication that can cause dryness into the skin.
My dad for instance has diabetes and doesn’t necessarily suffer from dry-sensitive skin. Its hands however are dry out all the time given the many medications that he takes every day.
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Are There Any Other Causes?
Experts believe so and perhaps one of the dry hands is caused by the *loss of natural oils
and water in the body.
*Unbalanced diet, and alcohol gives a lack of proper intake to the body which can cause dry and flaky skin
*Improper skincare: If you use products that do not support your skin’s natural pH levels, you may lose moisture.
*Stress is also a major contributory factor of causing dry hands. Stress causes our bodies to produce more adrenaline, causing us to sweat more and dehydrate as we lose water more rapidly.
How Do You Know When It’s Dry? Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of dry hands vary depending on the severity and cause of the condition. There are however two main factors to take into consideration:
- Mild: The skin on your hands may appear red or feel itchy due to heightened sensitivity caused by dryness. Your hands might feel tight, parched, tight and sensitive. The skin on your hands may feel parched, tight, and sensitive.
It is most common found on the knuckles and wrists, but can also affect the palm, back of the hand, and fingers.
2. Severe: Extremely dry hands can be itchy and rough, with cracked and bleeding skin and scaly patches.
How to Prevent It?
Dry hands are something we cannot completely control. Some of the simplest ways to prevent it include:
- Regularly moisturizing. Moisturizing your hands a few times a day will help to redistribute the oils found in the skin and head in a positive way.
- Massaging your hands is something you can do every few days to help keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and supple.
- Consider what you eat! It is important to keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. You should also consume healthier food by adding more vegetables and fruits to your diet, as well as vitamins. I personally drink a lot of water throughout the day and eat a lot of bananas a few times a week!
- Avoid constantly rubbing your hand. The continual rubbing on our hands makes them look old and full of cracks. Although the scalp is a very dry place, it can further irritate the skin.
- Just like cold weather, avoid hand dryers that produce excessive heat (that causes further drying out of skin).
- Never wash the dishes or clean the house without protective gloves! And pay extra attention when cooking to avoid unwanted burns. Make sure you cover your skin when necessary and limit your exposure to water.
- Look after your nails! Many germs and bacteria hide in there so be wary of it and take precautions.
How to Treat & Cure It Properly? & What are the best remedies?
If you feel that dry skin on hands is a major issue in your life, you should consider treating and curing it.
And it might be true that sometimes the cause mightn’t be known, but it can easily be treated.
Experts suggest that the best remedy for dry skin on your hand is to treat it overnight with either a lotion or a moisturiser.
Home remedies like lotions, creams and even natural oils can also be used to cure dryness on your hands.
I cannot stress this enough, but make sure to drink plenty of water and eat healthy food!
Yes, guys, it’s as simple as that! Honestly, it’s pretty much the same as what we do to prevent it. I would highly recommend looking at those areas as common treatments and remedies.
What should you look for on a moisturiser?
Look for a moisturizer that contains aloe Vera, cocoa butter, jojoba oil and glycerin.
It will keep your hands smooth, supple, and far less irritated than they would be without a moisturiser. The Aveeno Hand Cream is one of the most recommended creams for dry sensitive hands.
But I personally use Nivea Soft Refreshing Moisturising Cream that contains Jojoba oil and vitamin E! I also use this version here and it lasts for months!
So far, I love it and I use it throughout the day to keep my hands hydrated and looking healthy. 🙂
Related:
*How to keep your hands hydrated during winter – the best advice
What to take from it?
As we have seen, the hand is a difficult place to take care of due to the continue external contact to the environment. And although the skin on the palm is thin, if it’s being exposed to pressure and friction from ‘outside’ it can provoke dryness.
And just like your face or body, our hands need basic care too since dry skin changes the appearance of your hands.
If nothing is working and infection or bleeding is occurring, you should consider seeking professional help (visit your doctor) to discuss the issue further.
So guys….
As a final note, let me highlight to you that having dry hands is something that is perfectly normal and very common.
You should only seek professional help when the situation gets out of hand and further complications can occur. Nevertheless, this is quite rare.
And you can simply treat it by moisturising it a few times a day, particularly at night. Don’t forget to use the extra precautions as we have reviewed!
