The skin on the back of the hand is very thin, its tissues contain few sebaceous glands and water, and therefore require special care and protection. The negative effects of external factors, such as low temperatures, ultraviolet rays and household chemicals, further degrease and dehydrate the skin. This leads to peeling, dryness and cracking.
Internal pathologies and poor nutrition have an equally detrimental effect on the condition of the skin. They contribute to metabolic disorders in the body, which primarily affects the skin of the hands.
Dry hand skin: causes
Vitamin deficiency, insufficient care, dry air and other stress factors negatively affect the condition of our skin. As for the hands, as a rule, all these negative influences are reflected first.
Hand washing with very hot water and aggressive sulfate products has a negative effect. Dry skin may bother you after using the wrong shower gel or liquid soap.
It is advisable to treat your hands with moisturizing and nourishing cream every time after contact with water. As for the choice of cream, it does not have to be expensive: there are very affordable products that cope well with their function. You can only understand whether a cream is right for you or not by trying it.
Proper hand care
Caring for rough hands involves ensuring that the skin is properly hydrated, as well as addressing factors that may contribute to worsening symptoms. There is often a need to change daily habits.
Experts advise:
- avoid frequent contact with hot water, detergents and other chemicals that can aggressively affect the surface of the skin;
- wear protective gloves during all work involving the use of chemicals;
- use cosmetics intended for allergy sufferers;
- After each hand washing you should use a good moisturizer;
- replace soap with a mild hand wash (the alkaline nature of soap has a very drying effect);
- avoid cosmetics containing alcohol and other substances that dry out the skin;
- use cosmetic gloves that intensively regenerate the epidermis.
Avoid using dryers or paper towels, which dry out your skin.
Diseases that cause dry skin
Unfortunately, dry hand skin can be caused by certain diseases. Creams and masks in this case will be ineffective. If you have very dry skin on your hands, you should consult your doctor. Here are some possible reasons:
- Allergic reaction. This manifestation can be caused by anything - from wearing rings made of the wrong alloy for you to food. A dermatologist will identify the problem, and tests can accurately determine what exactly causes such a reaction.
- Fungal disease. Unfortunately, dry hand skin, cracks and discomfort can be caused by a fungus. This option is especially likely if a person's feet are affected by this disease.
- Iron-deficiency anemia. This disease negatively affects the condition of the body as a whole, including the skin of the hands.
- Increased blood sugar. It's no secret that people with diabetes suffer from dry skin.
- Gastrointestinal diseases. If the body does not have the ability to fully absorb microelements from food, of course, a lack of vitamins will arise, and the poor condition of the epidermis will not take long to occur.
H&B Multi-Vitamin Treatment for nails and hands
- Action: moisturizing, softening the skin, lifting effect, strengthening nails - preventing their fragility and splitting. Neutralizes the harmful effects of detergents, protects against UV rays and nail fungi.
- Ingredients: vitamins A, E and B, olive oil, chamomile with aloe, Dead Sea minerals, tea tree oil, UV filters, sea buckthorn and shea butter, lavender and avocado, honey extract, D-panthenol, borage, tea tree leaves .
- Features: delicate structure, quick absorption, softening cuticles, does not leave a greasy film, improves skin structure.
- Manufacturer: Israel.
- Suitable for all skin types.
- Average price - 500 rub.
Myths about dry skin
1. A good cream is enough to cope with this problem.
In fact, any skin problem should be approached comprehensively. To completely get rid of dry skin and, as a result, prevent its aging, you should definitely pay attention to your diet, as well as use various procedures to deeply moisturize problem areas.
2. Moisturizing and nourishing hand creams are needed only for dry skin.
It is not true. In fact, all skin needs hydration. And the better the care is chosen, the more comfortable the sensations will be, the longer your hands will look young.
3. Dryness is caused only by a lack of water in the skin.
Actually this is not true. In addition to moisture, the skin needs sufficient fat secretion.
4. Dryness is a genetic predisposition.
Not at all necessary. This unpleasant phenomenon may well be caused by regular improper or insufficient care and a lack of vitamins and microelements.
Hand Cream Concentrated Hand Care
- Action: deep nourishment and softening of the skin, long-term preservation of its softness and velvety, rapid elimination of peeling, redness and “winter” allergies, softening of even the roughest and driest skin.
- Pleasant, unobtrusive aroma.
- Contains: antioxidants, micronutrients that penetrate deep into the epidermal cells and promote their rapid renewal, moisture-retaining components.
- Features: universal moisturizer, scented and unscented options, hypoallergenic, economical consumption.
- Cons: feeling of a sticky film for some time after applying the product, thick consistency.
- Manufacturer: France.
- The company is Neutrogena.
- Suitable for dry and normal skin.
- The average price is about 250-300 rubles.
Where to begin?
First of all, to relieve discomfort, you should use hand cream as soon as possible. After each contact with water and before each exit outside, this manipulation should be performed. If the situation is very advanced and you have very dry skin on your hands, then remember: the richer and more nutritious the cream, the better.
The problem of dryness must be dealt with from the inside. If excessive discomfort becomes especially disturbing in the winter-spring period, most likely the reason is vitamin deficiency. Taking a vitamin complex will help improve the situation. In addition to a balanced multivitamin complex, you can supplement your diet with liquid solutions of “youth” vitamins. These are retinol acetate, tocopherol acetate (vitamins A and E) and vitamin D. Creams are also perfectly enriched with oil solutions of these vitamins.
Please note that when combining the oral intake of several vitamins, you should consult a doctor so as not to accumulate an excess of them in the body.
Faberlic Zima
- Action: skin restoration, healing, nutrition. Quick elimination of “winter” allergies, “pimples”, peeling and redness. Retaining moisture in the epidermis. Improving blood microcirculation.
- Contains: raspberry seed oils, Novaftem-O2 oxygen complex, cocoa, shea butter.
- Features: budget cream, can be used as a base for makeup, does not clog pores, protects hands even after washing them.
- Cons: the scent is not for everyone.
- Manufacturer: Russia.
- Suitable for dry and sensitive skin. Winter version of the cream.
- Average price - 100-150 rubles.
Natural masks for dry hand skin
At home, you can deal with dry hand skin using some products. For example, vegetable sunflower oil helps a lot. It should be slightly warmed up to a comfortable temperature. Then your hands should be soaked in the oil for about 20 minutes, after which the remaining oil from the skin should be wiped off with a napkin.
Baths with olive oil will significantly improve the condition of your skin. To do this, you need to pour a tablespoon of oil into a small amount of warm boiled water and hold your hands in this mixture for half an hour.
Compresses made from mashed potatoes and baths of broth perfectly soften the skin.
If you prefer natural remedies when caring for yourself, you will certainly like the oatmeal mask for dry hands. Oatmeal is one of the few foods that contain hyaluronic acid. Any oil is added to the porridge, after which this mixture is applied to the hands.
Adding oil vitamins, honey and other additives will enhance the effect and healing effects of the product on the skin. Applying homemade mayonnaise prepared on the basis of any vegetable oil and eggs also helps greatly.
Natural animal fats, such as bear or badger, are very rich in vitamins. After all, these animals hibernate, and their body stores in reserve a balanced and powerful complex of all the microelements necessary for life.
If you have very dry hand skin, it makes sense to increase the duration of any procedure to one hour.
Causes and mechanism of appearance
The main factors that provoke dry hand skin are aggressive environmental influences. High or low temperature, strong wind, scorching sun - all these factors contribute to the disruption of the integrity of the hydrolipid mantle. As a result, the skin of the hands becomes dehydrated and less elastic; over time, peeling, severe tightness and even inflammation may appear.
Another, no less important factor is constant exposure to cleaning agents, detergents and disinfectants. This includes household products and substances that a person comes into contact with during work. Most often, the skin of the hands is dry and cracking among industrial workers, medical personnel, or representatives of cleaning services. The development mechanism is directly related to constant damage to the skin by chemicals. Surfactants (surfactants) in their composition destroy the natural skin barrier, which allows water to evaporate from the superficial and deep layers of the skin.
Some medical conditions can also cause dry, rough skin. These can be direct skin dermatoses (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, allergic dermatoses, skin fungus) or diseases of the digestive, endocrine, and nervous systems. They cause malfunction of the sebaceous glands and interfere with the absorption of nutrients.
Often, increased dryness or flaking of the hands is associated with hypovitaminosis due to poor nutrition, strict diets, abuse of flour and sweets, alcohol, coffee. Vitamin deficiency leads to disruption of metabolic processes in the body and skin.
To understand how to care for dry hands, and what to do if the skin of your hands peels and becomes rough, you need to understand the pathological processes occurring in the epidermis. The mechanism of development of hyperkeratosis is associated with a number of factors:
- Violation of the natural protective and barrier properties of the skin.
- Constant exposure to external factors.
- Changes in normal skin characteristics: turgor, extensibility and strength.
- Disruption of the processes of epidermal renewal and rejection of keratinized cells.
- Changes in the trophism of the skin.
All these processes influence to varying degrees the likelihood of occurrence and severity of problems, so you should take comprehensive care of dry skin on your hands.
Paraffin therapy - deep skin hydration
Many people know how much discomfort dry skin on the hands can cause. What to do in this case, you ask? A procedure loved by many - paraffin therapy - copes well with dryness. Contrary to the belief that this is a purely salon procedure, it is quite possible to carry it out at home yourself. To do this, you will definitely need special cosmetic paraffin, a couple of plastic bags, two towels and an unnecessary container or other container. Other devices, like a special bath and mittens, of course, make the procedure easier and more enjoyable, but you can easily do without them.
So, the entire pack of paraffin is melted in an unnecessary container in a water bath. While the piece in our container turns into a homogeneous liquid mass, thoroughly scrub the skin of your hands with a scrub for several minutes. This way you will get rid of dead skin particles and allow the nutrients to work harder during the procedure.
When the mixture is completely melted, grease your hands with your favorite cream, then dip them in paraffin. Of course, before immersing your hands entirely, try to see if the temperature of the composition is comfortable to avoid burns. Keep your hands in the paraffin for 10 seconds, then take them out, let the resulting film “set” for a few seconds, then lower them into the composition again. Such dives can be done up to 7 times. Before the last time, bring your fingers together tightly, as a result you should get a very dense layer of paraffin. Then you need to put the bags on your hands and wrap them in towels for 20–30 minutes. During this time, the skin receives deep hydration and nutrition. Blood circulation and metabolic processes are accelerated, the applied cream is intensively absorbed. The sweat released in such “greenhouse” conditions is absorbed back, while all impurities and toxins remain on the paraffin. In addition to the fact that dry hand skin will no longer bother you, this procedure allows you to perfectly care for your cuticles, strengthen your nails and accelerate their growth.
At the end, the paraffin films are removed from the hands and thrown away, and the remaining composition remains in the container until the next time.
Natura Siberica Protection and nutrition
- Action: deep nutrition, protection from cold and other factors, active moisturizing, increasing skin elasticity.
- Light, pleasant herbal aroma.
- Contains: Rhodiola rosea, D-panthenol, Daurian rosehip (oil), Siberian moss.
- Features: organic highly effective cream, can be used on hands and body, low cost, completely absorbed, does not leave stickiness.
- Cons: it takes quite a long time to absorb - it will take at least 15 minutes.
- Manufacturer: Russia.
- Suitable for all skin types.
- Average price - 150-160 rubles.
Extra care
Dry skin on your fingers and palms may be caused by not using protective gloves when working around the house. Make it a rule: they should be worn not only when using obvious aggressive chemicals (for example, when washing a toilet, oven, bathtub). For any everyday work around the house that involves contact with cleaning agents and detergents, it is advisable to wear such gloves.
Always dry your hands and do not let them dry on their own. And before going out in the sun, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to this dry and aging area.
Be sure to exfoliate your hands with a scrub 2-3 times a week. You shouldn't do this more often, but moderate exfoliation never harms the skin. After this manipulation, always apply a nourishing cream.
Popular cosmetics for dry hands
In order not to bring the situation to a severe stage of dryness and cracking, you need to constantly care for your skin, even if there are no complaints. To do this, you need to purchase skincare products, which you should have both at home and in your purse or at work, in order to eliminate unpleasant tightness, which can cause cracks, as soon as necessary.
Today you can find many good cosmetics for hand skin care in stores and pharmacies.
The first thing you should choose is soap. The best option is the liquid form, which contains more glycerin and emollients than the lump form. Some manufacturers even produce special soap for washing hands that cares for their delicate skin: “Velvet Hands”, “Nevskaya Kosmetika”, “Dr. Sante" and others.
If you just can’t get used to the liquid form of detergents, then you need to choose a soap that is closer in pH level to human skin. It should contain less alkali, these include Lanolin soap, Glycerin soap, Vaseline soap, and cream soap. All these options are produced by the Nevskaya Cosmetics brand. A huge advantage is the absence of preservatives, dyes and flavors, a small composition that includes useful elements and a very low cost.
The second important component of care is hand cream. Creams are:
- moisturizing;
- nutritious;
- protective;
- from skin aging;
- softening.
By trial and error, you need to choose the most suitable option; different creams can be used at different times of the year.
The most popular brands producing hand creams:
- "Velvet hands";
- "Nevskaya Cosmetics";
- “One Hundred Beauty Recipes” and competitor “Clean Line”;
- Neutrogena;
- "Garnier"
- "Nivea"
- "Natura Siberika";
- "Home Doctor";
- "Biocon";
- "Green Pharmacy"
When choosing hand cream, first of all pay attention to the composition. It is desirable that it does not contain, at least in the first positions, petroleum products, flavors and dyes. The composition must contain oils, panthenol, allantoin, softening and irritating components.
Dr.Scheller Protection and recovery
- Action: restoration of skin elasticity, protection against sagging and negative external factors, deep nutrition. Elimination of irritation and “pimples”, damage and redness. Moisturizing, restoring elasticity. Regenerating properties.
- Light pleasant aroma.
- Contains: natural oat extract, panthenol.
- Features: quick elimination of redness, reflection of UV rays, prevention of skin aging, ideal protection against frost (glove effect), no greasy film.
- Cons: long absorption.
- Manufacturer: Germany.
- Designed for dry skin.
- Average price - 150-170 rubles.
