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What can I use for dry hands in cold weather?

By :STELLA BULENGO MD 0 comments
What can I use for dry hands in cold weather?

What can I use for dry hands in cold weather?

Winter months are here and your skin and hands are exposed to cold weather.  Our skin tends to dry and needs extra moisture in the winter months.  As the weather gets colder the skin notices changes with the temperature drop from the cold and wind, heated homes and cars and the low humidity tends to dry the skin and more so on the palms which lack (sebaceous glands) oil glands.

The stratum corneum is the top layer that protects the skin.  The low humidity combined with cold temperatures increase the fragility of the skin’s surface and cracking of the hands becomes an issue.  The hands therefore become dehydrated due to lack of water in the skin. Winter months are known to cause problems with dry hands: dryness, cracking, sensitivity, eczema, rashes and even bleeding hands. This can be painful and debilitating limiting an individual’s activities.  Open skin and cracked hands are susceptible to skin infections.   Consult with your dermatologist if the tips below do not help.

You may already have a hand care daily routine for the winter months-if so, that is great!

You can make a few adjustments for your skin and hand care during the winter months and avoid dry hand problems.

  • Hydrating and protecting the skin is important
  1. Switch your soap to a hydrating cleanser like Cerave hydrating cleanser, 

    RE-JUV® Hydrating Vitamin C Cleanser, Vanicream gentle wash or soap that help restore natural oils while cleansing impurities. Avoid frequent hand washing since this can deplete the skin of moisture.  If you need to frequently wash your hands apply an emollient soon after.

  1. Use a hypoallergenic ointment like Aquaphor healing ointment, Cerave ointment, Vanicream ointment or other natural emollient like cow balm, shea butter if the hands are severely dry and cracked. An old remedy that helps the skin on the hands absorb and retain moisture is initially wearing damp wet white cloth gloves after applying the ointment and wrapping the hands with saran wrap for 30 minutes on day 1 and 2.  Cracked skin can be treated with new-skin liquid bandage, Dermabond skin glue and if indicated a topical antibiotic prescribed by your dermatologist to prevent infection.
  1. Avoid working with caustic materials, chemicals or detergents. Wear protective gloves when washing dishes or cleaning.
  1. If the ointments are greasy and affecting daily activities, once the dryness and cracked skin on the hands are healed, a hydrating moisturizer for sensitive skin can be used frequently during the day. A few recommendations are: Cerave cream, Vanicream moisturizer or lite lotion, Eucerin cream, Cetaphil restoration lotion, Aveeno lotion.
  1. Consult with your dermatologist to exclude other skin conditions such as eczema, skin infections, infestations if the dry hand issues persist. Your dermatologist may prescribe recently developed non-steroidal topical medications that can be used in combination with over-the-counter emollients for faster healing.

 Author: Stella Bulengo, MD, FAAD, FASDP

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