Why does the skin on my hands dry and peel?

Dry skin on the hands tends to be more common in the winter when the skin is unable to retain moisture. As a result, hands dry out, become rough, and peel. Sometimes there may be a burning sensation, cracking, which can cause pain or bleeding.

Sometimes the cause of dry hands is dermatoses or spring vitamin deficiency.

The solution to the problem is proper hand care that improves regeneration and hydration. You need to use hand cream (for example, in the form of a serum) or restorative gloves. Homemade methods in the form of masks made from natural ingredients are suitable.

Causes of dry skin on hands

The causes of dry skin of the extremities are divided into 2 types: external and internal.

Causes

Dry skin and flaking can cause severe discomfort when performing everyday activities. When the skin gets too dry, it can lead not only to pain, but also to cracks and cause infection.

The reasons why the skin on your hands dries out are varied. A common culprit is external factors such as:

• Adverse weather conditions: low temperatures in winter, wind; in summer - ultraviolet rays;
• Using household cleaners and detergents without gloves;
• Taking too hot baths for a long time, which leads to the washing away of the protective layer of fat, which serves as a natural protection;
• Contact with cement mortar, wallpaper glue during repairs;
• Working with allergens and toxic substances;
• Washing hands with low-fat (laundry) soap;
• Neglect of hand skin care.

Recently, the causes of dry skin on the hands are:

Frequent hand washing;

Use of disinfectants;

Wearing disposable gloves.

Skin without a natural protective barrier is susceptible to damage. Often, aggressive disinfectants applied to a small damaged area turn into open wounds.

The cause of dry hand skin is also poor nutrition, in particular a lack of:

• Vitamins (A, C, E);
• Essential fatty acids (essential fatty acids).

Very dry skin can result from topical use of ointments containing retinoids and steroids.

Spring vitamin deficiency affects not only your well-being, but also the condition of the skin, including your hands.

Dry hand skin is not always the result of a cosmetic problem caused by improper care. The condition is also influenced by dermatological diseases, often having a genetic basis.

One of them is atopic dermatitis. This is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory dermatosis with characteristic morphology and localization. Characteristic signs of dermatosis:

• Redness;
• Severe itching, often leading to cracking of the skin.

The main cause of the disease is the improper structure and function of the epidermis. In this case, you should use appropriate emollients that moisturize, relieve inflammation and itching. Ignoring symptoms opens the door to the development of microorganisms.

Another chronic (non-infectious) disease is psoriasis. With psoriasis, abnormal keratinization of the epidermis occurs with the formation of scales.

Dry skin on the hands can be the result of internal factors, which include:

• Genetic diseases - disruption of the process of epidermal keratosis and damage to the hydrolipid layer of the skin (for example, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis);
• Hormonal disorders;
• Systemic diseases such as hypothyroidism, renal failure, diabetes mellitus;
• Skin aging caused by the “biological clock”;
• Dehydration caused by fever, diarrhea, or vomiting;
• Deficiency of ceramides - compounds that glue dead cells of the stratum corneum and ensure their adhesion to each other, thus reducing the evaporation of water from the epidermis.

Sometimes dry skin on the hands, especially accompanied by cracks in the palms and fingers, appears due to:

• Lack of vitamins;
• Metabolism problems;
• Fungal diseases.

Severely dry hands:

• Scented hygiene products;
• Alcohol;
• AHA acids;
• Retinoids.

Caring for dry hand skin

You can eliminate and prevent dry hands by acquiring healthy habits:

• protect your skin from adverse weather conditions: wear gloves in cold weather, apply sunscreen in hot weather;
• humidify indoor air in winter;
• organize proper skin care: use nourishing cream, masks, scrubs;
• clean your hands with gentle means, avoid harsh rubbing with a towel;
• wear rubber gloves when in contact with household chemicals;
• wash your hands when really necessary (before eating, after visiting the toilet);
• get rid of bad habits;
• choose clothes from natural materials.

Home remedies for dry hands

Additional care at home will speed up getting rid of xerosis:

• cream to eliminate dry skin of hands;
• special masks;
• ointments;
• paraffin therapy;
• properly selected vitamins;
• baths.

If measures taken on your own do not produce visible results, a visit to a dermatologist will be required.

Cream for very dry hands

There are 5 types of creams for dry hands:

• nutritious;
• moisturizing;
• medicinal;
• protective;
• anti-aging.

Some brands of creams combine several functions at once; if necessary, products can be combined.

When choosing a cream for very dry hand skin, you need to pay attention to the composition; a good product will contain:

• glycerol;
• vegetable oils and extracts;
• vitamins;
• dexpanthenol;
• beeswax;
• hyaluronic acid.

The selected cream must have undamaged packaging and an unexpired shelf life. The product should not smell or separate. If the product is tightly closed and cannot be examined, then you should not buy a cream whose shelf life expires in 1-3 months.

It is better to choose medium-sized packaging with the product: large volumes are usually more economical, but there is a risk of not having time to use up the contents completely. The cream for dry hands should not contain too many preservatives; the presence of fragrances is undesirable (to avoid allergic reactions).

General rules for using creams for dry hands:

1. The products are applied with massage movements for better absorption.
2. You can strengthen the effect of the night cream by wearing cotton gloves before going to bed. This technique will create the effect of a nourishing mask.
3. Moisturizer should not be applied before leaving the house when it is cold outside. Moisture can form ice crystals and damage your skin.
4. Protective means are used 30 minutes before going outside or coming into contact with chemicals. A break in time allows the product to be better absorbed.

5 popular creams for very dry hand skin:

1. “Healer” with aloe helps restore the epidermis and heal damage. The main component of the product is aloin, which can cope with even advanced forms of xerosis.
2. “Zorka” with floralizin eliminates cracks and peeling. The composition of the cream provides complete nutrition to the skin.
3. "Radevit" with vitamins A, E, D heals damage. The product is suitable even for very sensitive skin.
4. “Velvet hands” with shea butter and avocado. The cream moisturizes and restores elasticity to the skin.
5. “Yaka” with citrus oil. The positive results from using the product are visible after the first applications.

Those who do not trust store-bought cosmetics can prepare a cream for dry hands themselves. Natural oils (olive, coconut), honey, glycerin, and essential oils are suitable for the base of a home remedy.

Cream for daily use can be made like this: mix 1 tbsp. l. butter, 1 tsp. honey and 1 tbsp. l. herbal decoction until smooth. The product prepared in this way can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days.

Masks for dry hand skin

Masks to combat xerosis are easy to prepare at home: you only need common products and a little time.

5 homemade masks to get rid of dry hands:

1. Honey is nutritious. Ingredients: honey - 15 g, egg yolk - 1 pc., olive oil - 25 g, 2-3 drops of lemon juice. The ingredients are mixed, applied to the skin, and left overnight under cotton gloves. The product is washed off with warm water.
2. Oatmeal is easy to make: finely ground flakes are brewed with hot milk or cream. Before use, cool the mixture to room temperature, leave it on your hands for 30 minutes, and wash it off with warm water.
3. Potato: peeled, boiled tubers will need to be crushed and mixed with a small amount of milk. The composition stays on the skin for 3 hours.
4. Mask from coltsfoot. Preparation: 2 tbsp. l. fresh leaves are washed, crushed, mixed with 200 ml of warm milk. The product is applied for 25 minutes, washed off with warm water.
5. Sour cream. You will need to grate one small carrot on a fine grater, add 3-4 tbsp. l. sour cream. The mixture is distributed on the hands in a thick layer, washed off with warm water after 20 minutes.

To successfully eliminate dry hands, masks should be done regularly, do not wash them off with soap, and use a nourishing cream after use.

Ointments for dry skin of hands

Ointments that can relieve dry hands can be purchased at the pharmacy:

• "Bepanthen" with pantothenic acid quickly heals damage;
• "Levomekol" helps restore tissue;
• “Boro Plus” removes inflammation, normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands;
• "Lamisil" is effective if xerosis appears due to fungal infections.

Ointments to combat dry hand skin can also be prepared at home:

1. Pink is a fast-acting remedy, the result is noticeable after the first use. Crushed rose petals are mixed with 1 tbsp. l. goose fat.
2. From calendula: 100 g of crushed flowers are diluted with 200 g of melted lard. The resulting mixture is heated in a water bath and cooled before use.
3. Salicylic ointment and glycerin are combined in equal proportions; the product is suitable for daily use.
4. Flour, honey, butter and vodka are mixed in equal parts. The resulting slurry is distributed on gauze and applied to the skin for 4 hours.
5. Plantain powder is diluted with 1 tsp. vegetable oil and 1 tbsp. l. Vaseline can be used every day.

Homemade ointments are stored in the refrigerator.

Paraffin therapy

Procedures with cosmetic paraffin are in demand in salons: the process is painless, does not take much time, and the condition of hands and nails improves after one session.

Paraffin therapy works in four directions at once:

1. Hands become soft and smooth thanks to the ability of cooling paraffin to cover the tissues under the skin.
2. Cleansing occurs due to increased lymph circulation: toxins are released from the skin and cannot get back due to the protective paraffin film.
3. Hands are well moisturized. The procedure increases body temperature, opens pores and gets rid of accumulated toxins. The paraffin film prevents moisture from escaping and re-absorption occurs.
4. Damaged skin is restored, cracks heal. The result is achieved due to the effect of heat on the capillaries: blood circulation accelerates, useful substances quickly enter the cells.

Paraffin therapy can be done at home. First you will need to buy everything you need for the procedure:

• cosmetic paraffin (2 kg is enough for one session);
• bath;
• fabric mittens;
• 2 plastic bags;
• scrub and hand cream.

Before starting the session, the paraffin must be melted; this can be done in a water bath. You will also need to prepare your hands: treat them with scrub and cream.

The home procedure takes place in 5 stages:

1. Warm paraffin is placed in the bath, and the brushes are lowered into it.
2. The time of one dive is 10 seconds, a total of 7 approaches will be needed. The break between dives is also 10 seconds.
3. During this time, the hands are covered with a thick paraffin layer, plastic bags are put on the hands, and gloves are placed on top.
4. After 25 minutes, the paraffin is removed.
5. It is advisable to complete the procedure with a hand massage.

If necessary, sessions can be performed 2-3 times a month. Paraffin therapy is contraindicated in diabetes, hypertension, allergies, and infectious diseases.

Vitamins for dry hands

Dry hand skin indicates a lack of certain vitamins:

• Vitamin C protects the skin from adverse effects and prevents premature aging;
• vitamin A rejuvenates the epidermis;
• E makes the skin elastic;
• vitamin H normalizes the functioning of blood vessels and capillaries;
• B vitamins help skin renew itself;
• Nicotinamide normalizes the oiliness of the skin.

At the pharmacy you can choose a suitable complex.

Baths for dry skin of hands

Baths to eliminate xerosis act quickly, the results last a long time. There are many options for the procedure, and it’s easy to organize useful sessions at home:

1. Honey bath: add 1 tbsp to 0.5 liters of hot milk. l. honey Keep your hands in the cooled product for 20 minutes.
2. Herbal: 2 tbsp. l. nettle and 1 tbsp. l. calendula is infused in 1 liter of hot water. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.
3. Medicinal: 1 tbsp. l. glycerin and 2 tsp. ammonia diluted with 2 tbsp. l. water. The bath takes 10 minutes.
4. Berry: chamomile and raspberry in equal proportions are infused, diluted with hot water, for 30 minutes. After both products are filtered, the resulting liquids are mixed. Session duration is 10 minutes.
5. Cereal: to 2 tbsp. l. 1 liter of oatmeal is added. boiling water, the mixture is heated over low heat for 5 minutes. The resulting product is filtered. The brushes are immersed in the liquid for 20 minutes.

Baths can be done once a week. For quick results, it is better to alternate the compositions.

Masks for flaky skin

If desired, you can combine it with hand baths to enhance the effect.

With chamomile

Take:

• 3 tablespoons wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons chamomile flowers
• 1 glass of water

Pour boiling water over chamomile. Let stand for 1-1.5 hours. Then strain. Add flour to the resulting infusion and stir. Pour in vegetable oil and stir.

Apply for half an hour. Rinse off with warm water.

Oatmeal-honey mask

Required:

• 3 tablespoons oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon honey

Mix all ingredients. Apply to hands. Keep for an hour. To prevent the mask from drying out quickly, cover it with a plastic bag or film.

Oil-honey mask

Mix:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon honey

Apply to the skin of your hands and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with water and lubricate with nourishing cream.

With honey and yolk

Required:

• 1 teaspoon flour
• 1 yolk
• 1 tablespoon honey

Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Apply to hands. Wear gloves or wrap with film. Wash off after 15-20 minutes.

Potato mask

Boil 2-3 potatoes. Mash by adding milk. Apply warm puree to your hands.

The skin on the fingers dries and cracks: reasons

The cause of dry and cracked skin only on the fingers is most often due to constant contact with chemicals. The problem in this case can be easily solved: just put on gloves before using aggressive substances and apply a nourishing cream after finishing work.

Sometimes the skin of the fingers cracks due to being outside for a long time in the heat or cold without using sunscreen or gloves.

If cracks in the skin extend from the fingers to the palm, accompanied by itching and burning, this may indicate internal diseases:

• allergies;
• fungal infections;
• hormonal changes;
• eczema;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Alarming symptoms are a reason to immediately visit a doctor.

Prevention measures

To preserve the attractive appearance of your skin for many years, you must follow these tips:

• It is recommended to wash your hands only in warm water. Too high a temperature leads to peeling, low temperature leads to loss of elasticity.
• Dry your hands only with clean towels made from natural soft fabrics.
• Every day before going to bed, lubricate the skin with moisturizing creams containing plant extracts, nourishing oils and vitamins.
• Every week it is recommended to make moisturizing masks using pharmaceutical or homemade products.
• Do not expose your hands to frost or wind. For protection, it is recommended to wear warm gloves.

By adhering to these rules, you can significantly improve the appearance of your skin and prevent excessive dryness and flaking.

The positive effect of cosmetic procedures will increase if you supplement them with proper nutrition and quality rest.

Irritation, cracking, peeling, redness are the eternal companions of those with dry skin. In this article you will learn why the skin on your fingers gets dry and how to fix it?

Increased dryness of the skin indicates insufficient hydration of the epidermis, the upper keratinized layer of the skin. If the skin layer begins to experience a lack of moisture, its consumption increases due to the lower, living skin layers. Plus, the protective qualities of the skin decrease, all this provokes diseases when bacteria penetrate.

Hand skin is dry and flaky

As a rule, those with dry skin get peeling hands due to insufficient care. Proper care will help remove flaking: constant use of nourishing creams, protection of brushes in hot and cold weather. In addition, dry skin precludes the use of cosmetics containing alcohol.

Hands can become dry and peeling due to certain diseases:

• intestinal and stomach problems;
• fungal diseases;
• dermatitis, eczema;
• disturbances in the functioning of the hormonal and endocrine systems.

If proper care does not improve the condition of your hands, you should consult a specialist.

Dry skin on the palms of the hands: causes

The palms are the part of the hand most susceptible to dryness. The problem usually arises from washing hands too often, using inappropriate cosmetics, or handling household chemicals without gloves. People working on construction sites or doing repairs often suffer from dry palms, the cause being exposure to various mixtures and dust. A course of antibiotics can also cause dry skin.

You can restore softness to your palms by using gentle cosmetics and protecting your skin with rubber gloves when working with harmful substances. To consolidate the result, it would be useful to regularly use a moisturizer.

Dry palms may indicate certain diseases: fungus, psoriasis, eczema, endocrine system problems. A dermatologist will help eliminate these diseases.

Which cream to choose

Caring for dry hands requires the selection of appropriate cosmetics. Such cosmetic products must contain ingredients that allow:

• Restore the hydrolipid membrane of the epidermis;
• Reduce transepidermal water loss.

A quality hand cream should contain:

• Fats that protect against drying out (glycerin, petroleum jelly, vegetable oils, paraffin);
• Vitamins for skin, such as vitamin A, E;
• Moisturizing components: urea, hyaluronic acid;
• Soothing components: allantoin, D-pantonol.

Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and protects against the adverse effects of external factors.

Vitamin A regulates cell renewal, improving regeneration.

Urea:

• Reduces symptoms of hyperkeratosis and dry skin,
• Accelerates the regeneration and reconstruction of the epidermis,
• Protects from external factors.

In professional products, its concentration can be up to 20 percent.

Hyaluronic acid binds water in the epidermis, protecting against drying out. Can be used in low temperatures without risk of hand cracking.

Allantoin:

• Has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect;
• Stimulates cell division, renewing the epidermis;
• Reduces flaking and redness.

D-panthenol relieves irritation and inflammation, improves lipid barrier function.

We have recommended special regenerating gloves for hand care, soaked in a healing liquid that contains carefully selected active ingredients, including:

• Urea;
• Hyaluronic acid;
• Shea Butter;
• Vitamins (A + E);
• Olive oil;
• Jojoba and lavender oil.

The heat generated when wearing gloves promotes deeper penetration of the active ingredients. Contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to the incoming components.

If the reason why your hands dry is due to working conditions, always have with you moisturizers that contain:

• Glycerol;
• Jojoba oil;
• Cocoa butter;
• Aloe.

If work requires frequent hand washing, such as in a health care facility with a hand dryer, avoid excessive heat from hot air.

Dry hand skin during pregnancy

Expectant mothers often experience dry skin on their hands. Until 20 weeks of pregnancy, this should not be a cause for concern: the water entering the female body is used for the development of the fetus. Increasing the volume of fluid you drink will help eliminate the problem.

When your pregnancy is more than 20 weeks, and dry skin on your hands is still bothersome and accompanied by itching, you should immediately inform your doctor. Expectant mothers often encounter disruptions to the endocrine system; dry skin is one of the symptoms. Sometimes the trouble is caused by nervous tension; a pregnant woman should try to avoid stress, relax more and go for walks.

Dry skin on a child's fingers

In children, the skin on the fingers usually becomes dry due to long walks and frequent contact with water. In these cases, it is enough to treat your hands with a suitable baby cream.

If the skin not only dries, but also peels off your fingers, then health problems are likely:

• vitamin deficiency;
• allergy;
• metabolic disease;
• skin and infectious diseases.

Constantly peeling skin, itching and peeling of fingers signal the need to show the child to a specialist.

Nutrition

The right foods in your daily menu will help cope with dry skin:

• citrus fruits (in the absence of allergies) will restore elasticity and visual attractiveness to the skin;
• vegetables and fruits containing vitamin A (carrots, pumpkin, apricots) will renew epidermal cells;
• nuts will speed up the restoration of the skin;
• fermented milk products will remove toxins;
• fish and vegetable oils are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for natural hydration.

Products that are undesirable in the diet for dry skin:

• fried and salty foods;
• canned food and marinades;
• alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee.

Home Remedies

Dry skin on your hands can be treated with home remedies. There are many ingredients in the arsenal that will help eliminate peeling and heal cracks.

The scrub is not just for the face or body. Peeling dead epidermal cells on the hands is the first step towards restoring normal condition and eliminating dryness.

Ground suitable as an abrasive:

• Flax seed;
• Oatmeal;
• Coffee.

You can use water and natural yogurt as liquid ingredients. grated cucumber.

The frequency of the procedure is 1 time per week. The scrub ingredients should not irritate the skin, cause pain or discomfort.

After peeling, apply a mask to your hands. And rinse, nourishing cream.

Honey is an effective remedy against peeling of the palms, fingers, and back of the hands. Accelerates the healing of burns, as it contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compounds. Helps restore the epidermis.

All you need to do is apply honey to the damaged skin of your hands. You can mix equal amounts of honey, aloe vera and yogurt.

Baths soften the skin.

Fermented milk

You can use natural, no additives yogurt, kefir or whey. Warm up the serum and hold your hands for 15-20 minutes. After the procedure, lubricate with cream.

Potato

Potato broth relieves redness from exposure to frost, relieves peeling, and heals small cracks. Keep your hands in the warm broth for 20-30 minutes.

Oatmeal bath

Boil oatmeal. You can take more water, then drain the broth, cool to a comfortable temperature and hold your hands for 10-15 minutes.

Can be made in the form of liquid porridge. Puree the boiled oatmeal. Add olive or other oil. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes.

Seasonal care

Features of caring for dry skin depending on the time of year:

• in spring and autumn, hands especially need nutrition and hydration;
• In summer, the skin will need sunscreen and moisturizer if the climate is too dry;
• In winter, you should not forget to wear gloves before going outside and constantly use nourishing cream.

Hands, fingers and palms are vulnerable places that unmistakably reveal a person’s age and require careful treatment no less than the face. It’s easy to restore beauty to your hands and avoid dry skin: just organize proper care and get into the habit of choosing healthy products.

What to do preventive measures

Dry skin on the hands, although in most cases is not a dangerous condition, can be irritating and make life difficult from an aesthetic point of view. Red, dry, flaky skin is unsightly.

To minimize the causes of dryness:

• Apply moisturizing hand cream after each wash;
• When working around the house, in the country, or washing dishes, use protective gloves that will limit contact with aggressive substances;
• In frosty, windy weather, wear gloves or mittens and apply cream before going outside;
• In summer, use cosmetics containing protection against UV rays with a coefficient of at least 15;
• Reduce stress, since there is a direct connection between eczema and dryness, peeling of the epidermis on the arms, legs, and body;
• Take medications appropriate to the disease.