How to heal and prevent dry hands

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Tran Van Sang - Dermatologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Dry hands are a fairly common problem and cause a lot of trouble for people with dry hands. There are many causes of dry hands. Here are some causes and ways to avoid this situation.

1. What to do with dry hands?

In most cases, dry skin on hands is the result of environmental factors such as weather, frequent hand washing, chemical exposure, and certain medical conditions. dry hands. Here are the measures to improve dry hands that you can choose from.
1.1 Keep your hands moisturized To keep your hands moisturized, use a good quality moisturizer and apply it to your hands several times a day. Moisturizing creams and lotions work to restore moisture and maintain essential moisture in the skin.
1.2 Wear gloves If your hands are often soaked in water, for example when washing dishes. You should consider wearing gloves while doing tasks that involve a lot of water and detergents. Gloves work to prevent water from stripping your skin of its natural oils.
1.3 Reducing stress It may sound unrelated, but there may be a small link between stress and eczema. So, if your hands are dry from eczema, take some time to take care of yourself and to de-stress.
1.4 Consider medication In case you have severe eczema, you may need medication to heal your skin. Your doctor may prescribe steroids to be applied to the skin or even antibiotics to treat it by mouth.
1.5. Ask your doctor about UV light therapy In some cases of severe psoriasis, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy can also help the skin heal itself. However, in this case, you should talk to your doctor before trying any type of UV therapy.

1.6. Overnight Treatment One of the best ways to improve dry hands is to apply a lotion or moisturizer at night. Oil-based lotions or moisturizers like Vaseline work well in this treatment. After applying the cream, you should wear gloves or soft socks. As it will help the moisturizer be more fully absorbed into the skin and you will wake up with hands as smooth as baby's skin.
1.7. Apply hydrocortisone cream In some cases, dry skin can get worse and cause a condition called dermatitis. In these cases, lotions containing
hydrocortisone may be effective. Hydrocortisone is a substance that can help soothe irritated skin. For very dry and scaly skin, your doctor may recommend using special lotions that contain lactic acid or urea. These creams will help keep your hands dry and get rid of the flakes.
1.8. Use a specific moisturizer To deeply moisturize hands, choose a moisturizer that can be used on animals. Products like the Bag Balm, are designed to help heal cracks in cow udders. These moisturizers are able to penetrate the skin and help the skin retain moisture very well.

2. How to prevent dry hands

If your hands are dry due to work events, it's a good idea to carry a small bottle of lotion with you so you can reapply your moisturizer throughout the day. Be sure to use moisturizers that contain ingredients like: glycerin, jojoba oil, avocado, cocoa, and aloe vera.
If your job requires frequent handwashing with hand sanitizer, such as hospital or restaurant staff. If lotion is available at work next to hand sanitizer, use it often. You should also avoid hand drying with extreme heat because high heat can dry out your skin just as it can in cold weather.

3. What causes your hands to be dry?

3.1 Dryness of the hands due to the weather In cold weather, the skin of the hands often becomes dry. Because when the weather changes, especially when the weather is cold or dry, the air does not have much moisture, which will make the skin of your hands dry.
3.2 Dry hands due to workplace conditions Workplace conditions can also cause dry hands. People with jobs that require a lot of hand washing, such as nurses, doctors or teachers, often have dry hands. Factory workers or hairdressers from frequent exposure to chemicals or other harsh irritants also cause the skin of their hands to become drier.
3.3 Dry hands due to health conditions Some health conditions can also lead to dry hands or put them at risk of getting dry hands more often. For example, people with autoimmune disorders, such as diabetes, may have reduced blood flow to the hands. This makes their hands more easily irritated. Eczema and psoriasis are two inflammatory skin conditions that cause dry, flaky, and chapped hands.

4. When should you seek help?

If the dry skin on your hands is caused by eczema or another skin condition, it can lead to complications like infection or even deformed nails if left untreated. Some of the following symptoms can indicate serious health problems:
Change in skin color Bleeding Skin becomes red Swollen skin.

If dry hands do not improve with treatment or care and if you have any of the above symptoms, you should seek medical help. In most cases, dry skin on the hands is quite common. They can often be easily treated with a moisturizer. But if the treatments or care you've been using don't work. Consider seeking help from a medical professional.
Article referenced source: healthline.com