When the cold weather comes my hands often suffer. The cold air and dry heat are a recipe for dry cracked hands in the winter. Healing dry cracked hands in the winter can be easier than you thought. Read on to see tips on healing and even preventing dry cracked hands in the winter.
Why Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc on Your Hands
Between kids and work my hands are constantly in water. While washing your hands often is great for cold and flu season it’s not so great for my hands. Washing our hands a lot takes away our skin’s natural oils leaving them unprotected. Which leads to dry, cracked, irritated hands. Our skin barrier is key to keeping our hands safe. It’s made of proteins, lipids, and oils. Some people are more prone dry skin then others.
But we can work on healing dry cracked hands in the winter. The right skincare can keep our hands healthy. We’ll look at why our hands get dry, the best moisturizers, and how to take care of cracked skin remedies.
OTHER FACTORS
As we age, our skin gets thinner and drier, making it harder to handle winter. The combination of cold dry air and wet damp hands from washing is a recipe for disaster. Water evaporates fast in cold air, taking away our skin’s oils. This leaves our skin dry and weak. Indoor heaters make it even drier. Wind and sun can also harm our hands. Even using strong soaps makes it worse.
With all these harsh elements to battle it’s no wonder our hands can become dry and painful. But we can protect them. I’ll share some winter skincare tips to keep your hands healthy and soft this winter.
Healing Dry Cracked Hands in the Winter: Essential Treatment Methods
When our hands get cold and dry, they become very irritated and cracked. This can hurt and even bleed. But there are ways to make our hands healthy and look good again.
Immediate Relief Solutions
For fast relief, use thick moisturizers with emollients and humectants. Emollients like lanolin and jojoba oil make the skin smooth. Humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid bring moisture in. For extra protection, try products with dimethicone, cocoa butter, or beeswax.
Put these creams on your hands often, especially before bed. Wear cotton gloves at night to keep the moisture in.
Professional Treatment Options
If your hands are very dry and cracked, see a dermatologist. They can find out why your hands are dry and suggest prescription treatments. This might include creams to reduce swelling or special hand masks.
It’s important to take care of your hands, especially in winter. Use both quick fixes and long-term solutions to keep your hands soft and strong.
Best Moisturizers and Ingredients for Winter Hand Care
Winter’s cold air makes my hands dry and sore. I’ve found great moisturizers and ingredients to help. They keep my skin hydrated and calm.
| Product | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream | 2oz | $5.99 |
| L’Occitane Hand Cream | Mini | $13 |
| L’Occitane Hand Cream | Standard | $24 – $29 |
| Kiehl’s Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion | 8.4oz | $37 |
| Jo Malone London Nectarine Blossom & Honey Body & Hand Lotion | 8.5oz | $68 |
| Aveda hand relief™ Night Renewal Serum | 1oz | $37 |
| La Mer the Rejuvenating Hand Serum | 3.4oz | $115 |
As you can see there are quite a few options to choose from. Finding the right cream for you may take some trial and error but, getting some reliefe for your digits will surely be worth the effort.
It’s important to use your chosen moisturizer often, especially after washing your hands. By doing this, I keep my hands soft and healthy all winter.
Daily Prevention Strategies for Healthy Winter Hands
Hand Washing Best Practices
Washing your hands right is key to avoiding dry hands in winter. Use mild, fragrance-free soap or substitutes. Make sure the water is warm, not hot. I know the first thing you want to do while washing your hands in the winter is get those freezing cold fingers under some nice hot water but don’t. Hot water will only dry out your hands more and make them worse. After washing make sure you dry your hands completely. Leaving your hands damp will cause more cracking and painful irritation. Moisturize your hands right after washing. This keeps moisture in and stops dryness. If you wash your hands a lot, try alcohol-based sanitizers. They’re gentler than soap and water.
Environmental Protection Methods
- Wear insulated gloves or mittens outside. This keeps your hands warm and protected from wind. Indoor.
- Humidifiers helps keep the air and your skin moist.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This keeps your skin, including your hands, healthy.
- Take short, warm showers to keep your skin’s oils.
- Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. This protects your hands from UV rays.
- liquid band aids instead of regular this keeps the adhesive from irritating your skin further.
Road to Healing
Hopefully some of these cracked skin remedies helps in healing and or preventing dry hands this winter. I used to suffer every year with dry irritated hands. Luckily it would not something I’d have to deal with every year. With these tips and tricks healing dry cracked hands in the winter is completely possible. Adapting a new winter skincare routine is the key to soothing irritated hands. No more cracked skin and burning irritation for me. Let me know if you have other methods that worked for you. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
