Why are my hands so dry? Causes and tips

From a first handshake to a comforting hug, from a cheerful high-five to a romantic hand-in-hand stroll – our hands play a big part in how we connect and communicate with others. So, it’s not surprising that dry skin on hands is something we’d all like to avoid. Let’s dive hand-first into the why of dry hands and look at some helpful tips and tricks to look after your all-important arm attachments.

Causes and triggers of dry hands

If you’re someone who experiences dry hands, you’re certainly not alone! And that’s because the main culprits are things that affect a lot of people, a lot of the time – including where they live and what they do for work.

Environmental conditions

Something as simple as the weather or changing climates can cause dry hands! Cold air and low humidity in particular can lead to dry, chapped skin on your hands. Other environmental factors that can also play a role in drying out the skin on your hands include exposure to sunlight and use of indoor heating. 

Frequent handwashing

We all know the importance of good hand hygiene these days, especially in jobs where you’re in constant contact with other people, but did you know that frequent handwashing can dry out your skin too? Water can disrupt the skin’s natural oils and cause the skin to lose moisture – both of which affect how well the skin is doing its job as a protective barrier. Repeated use of harsh soaps can also cause disruption to skin oils and moisture content, and a rough, rubbing drying action may also irritate and exacerbate dry skin. Hand sanitisers, especially alcohol-based ones recommended to kill nasty germs, can also irritate and dry out skin and affect skin oils that are important for that protective skin barrier.

Exposure to chemicals or irritants

Contact with certain substances can dry out the skin – and your hands are often first in line when it comes to touching irritants such as detergents or solvents. For some people, even wearing latex gloves to protect their hands can cause irritation and dryness.

Main symptoms of dry skin on hands

For some, dry hands may just be a mild nuisance. For others, however, it can come with a range of bothersome symptoms. Symptoms of dry hands may include the following:

• Dry skin that feels tight, uncomfortable, or even sore
• Itchy, red, rough, scaly, or flaky skin
• Peeling or cracking areas of skin on the hands or fingers

When should I be concerned about dry hands?

It’s probably time to see your doctor if your dry hands persist despite regular, daily use of moisturiser (see below) or start to interfere with your work or other daily activities. Importantly, see your doctor if you experience any signs of infection (redness, swelling, pain), bleeding or oozing, blisters, or painful cracks.

Tips for managing dry skin on hands

Now that you know the answers to “why are my hands so dry?”, we can move on to “what can I do about my dry hands?”. There are some key tips that can help you manage dry hands when they pop up, as well as ways to avoid situations where dry hands could occur.

Apply moisturiser frequently

The ultimate dry hands remedy? Moisturiser. And lots of it! Keeping the skin on your hands moisturised is key to both managing and preventing dry hands. Apply a moisturiser to your hands multiple times throughout the day – especially after washing your hands – to help restore and lock in moisture. 

Make sure to massage the moisturiser all over your hands – front, back, between your fingers, and all the way down to your fingertips. Top tip: stash your favourite hand cream in your bag to help keep your hands hydrated on the go, wherever you are!

For a deeply nourishing but lightweight, non-greasy hand cream that absorbs easily into your skin, check out DermaVeen Extra Hydration Hand Cream. Specially formulated with colloidal oatmeal for dry to extra dry skin, it provides a protective barrier to leave dry, chapped hands noticeably softer and smoother.

Try overnight treatments

What’s a dry hands overnight treatment, you ask? Well, it’s a simple way to turbo boost your hand moisturisation routine. Simply slather on a nourishing hand moisturiser, such as DermaVeen Extra Hydration Hand Cream, just before bedtime, then pop on a pair of cotton gloves, socks, or other hand covering. This can help soothe and rehydrate dry or itchy hands.

Switch up your hand washing technique

Hand washing is an unavoidable – and rather important – part of daily life. But there are a few easy tweaks you can make to help protect your hands from getting too dry and scaly.

• Cool things down – switch out hot water for warm or even cold water, as hot water can dry out skin more than lower temperatures
• Gently does it – avoid harsh cleansers and soaps that can strip out natural oils and leave skin super dry, and avoid rough rubbing or drying that can irritate or damage dry skin
• Lock in that moisture – apply a moisturising hand cream immediately after washing and patting dry your hands to help seal in the moisture

For effective yet gentle cleansing that doesn’t strip natural moisture, try DermaVeen Extra Hydration Gentle Soap-Free Wash for dry to extra dry skin. It’s a  hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, soap-free, pH balanced wash formulated with colloidal oatmeal to fight dryness and restore the skin’s protective barrier. 

Protect your hands

One final tip is to take steps to protect your hands from things that could dry out your skin. So, think about wearing protective gloves if you need to do the dishes or are handling chemicals in the garden or as part of your job. Whether you wear gloves regularly for work or only on occasion around the house, remember to always gently wash your hands after removing your gloves and apply your hand cream straight after washing! And as the sun, wind, and cold dry air can also lead to dry hands, protect your hands with sunscreen and even gloves when venturing into the great outdoors.

Conclusion 

While dry hands can be bothersome, having a better understanding of causes and triggers goes a long way to helping you manage dry  skin on hands. Remember to use a good hand cream throughout the day to help restore dry skin as well as help protect your hands from dry skin in the first place.

Frequently asked questions