Dry skin can affect any part of your body, usually at the most inconvenient times. While it is incredibly common, it can still be super frustrating and sometimes uncomfortable. This is especially true when dryness forms on the hands. Our sense of touch can be lessened, and nobody enjoys that harsh rough sensation. Thankfully, learning how to remove dry skin on hands is easy and can be done at home with simple techniques.
In this article, we’ll be covering the causes of dry skin on hands, some helpful solutions, and how you can prevent any problems in the future. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be on your way to getting gorgeous soft hands.
Let’s get started.
The symptoms of dry skin on hands
When it comes to removing dry skin on hands, it’s important to diagnose the problem correctly. While there are several medical conditions that can create dryness, most cases of dry hands are triggered by external factors that are easily controlled.
For the majority of people, dry skin on their hands is usually temporary. Additionally, your specific skin type, age, and general skin condition can all contribute to various levels of dryness. Remember, everyone is different, and we all experience skin issues uniquely.
Just for clarity, here are the most common symptoms of dry hands:
- Rough feeling skin
- Skin tightness
- Itchiness
- Peeling or scaling
- Red ruddy skin
- Cracks and lines
- Flaky and ashy skin
- Cuts and bleeding (in the most severe cases)
If you are displaying one or more of these symptoms, you are likely dealing with an annoying case of dry skin on your hands.
The causes of dry skin on hands
Dry skin can be stimulated by many different factors. The environment, your lifestyle, your work, and medical conditions can all heavily contribute.
Here are the most notable causes of dry skin. See which ones apply to you:
Environmental circumstances
The climate we exist in has a big impact on the quality of our skin. Whether it’s cold and windy, or hot and humid, the weather and general environment can cause a reaction in our skin. The level of pollution in the air, especially on your commute to and from work, also plays a big part. Low-humidity conditions in particular can dry out your hands and cause various symptoms to appear.
Too much scrubbing
We all want clean hands, but sometimes we can overdo it. During the Covid years, millions of people were furiously sanitizing their hands with harsh chemicals and ingredients multiple times a day. It will come as no surprise that this was a huge contributing factor to horribly dry skin on hands for many. Washing your hands too forcefully and too often can trigger a range of dryness, so take it easy.
Similarly, showering for too long with hot water can also have a detrimental effect on your skin. Keep shower times to a sensible length, and strategically place them to best incorporate your skincare routine.
Aging
Unfortunately for us all, aging is a part of life. As we get older, our skin naturally gets thinner and loses hydration. The skin also produces fewer natural oils that are used to retain water. These factors can lead to the skin becoming dry quicker and easier. None of us really want to think about getting older, but learning how to care for mature skin can help us avoid these common issues.
Skin conditions
A big cause of dry skin on hands is other related skin conditions. Issues such as eczema and acne in particular can create excessive dryness that can sometimes be very severe and painful. In this instance, it’s important to speak to a doctor or professional dermatologist for expert advice on treatment.
How to remove dry skin on hands
To solve your dry hands’ woes, we have a number of super helpful and easy remedies you can try at home. Some of them may appear to be obvious, but trust us, every tip here is included for a good reason.
Keep in mind that depending on the severity of the dry skin, each of these methods may vary in effectiveness. It’s always important to take into account your skin type, and overall skin condition, and understand that everyone is different and we all react to treatments in our own ways.
Without further ado, let’s discuss how to remove dry skin on hands:
Use moisturizer
The greatest aid in the battle against dry skin on hands is a good moisturizer. Using refreshing and nourishing ingredients, moisturizers help repair the skin’s natural barrier ensuring it can retain as much water as possible. Try and find moisturizers that contain awesome natural ingredients such as aloe vera, shea butter, and glycerin.
When our skin is properly hydrated, it regains vital elasticity and becomes much more durable and flexible. Moisturizers can loosen tightness, smooth dry and rough skin, and help you achieve lovely soft hands. Find a well-regarded moisturizer and use it 2-3 times a day, and the dryness should be cleared up in no time.
Avoid harsh chemicals
Some of our soaps, sanitizers, and other skincare products may contain quite powerful ingredients that not everyone can handle. If you have naturally dry or sensitive skin, these ingredients could make your issues worse.
For example, if you are already struggling with dry skin on your hands, it’s probably a good idea to avoid strong exfoliators, as their formula may irritate your skin. Also, swimming in a chlorinated pool for too long can cause your skin to dry up. This is because chlorine strips away your skin’s natural oils. If you’re planning on going for a dip soon, be sure to learn how to remove chlorine from your skin effectively.
Stay hydrated
Keeping your skin soft and smooth depends on a lot more than just using moisturizers. Keeping your body properly hydrated is key to healthier skin.
Make sure you are drinking enough water every day to stay hydrated. Also, eat more water-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables to help the process along. Most people go through life dehydrated and they don’t even know it. Do yourself a favor and drink more water while cutting back on alcohol and caffeine.
De-stress your life
Yes, being stressed can impact your skin. Stress is on the rise in our modern societies. Unfortunately, stress can be one of the most harmful things to our general health, and our skin isn’t spared. If you have a condition such as eczema, stress has been shown to amplify its symptoms.[1]
We know it’s definitely easier said than done, but try your best to chill out a bit! Life is too short to be consumed by trivial things.
Protect yourself from the environment
Excessive exposure to the sun can really harm your skin. Sunburns can sting, irritate, inflame, and peel the skin. This can lead to dark spots and dryness. Make sure to wear strong sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 whenever you go out on a sunny hot day.
If it’s cold and windy outside and you need to make the long journey to the office, wrap up! Wearing appropriate clothing and especially gloves can do wonders for preventing dry skin on the hands. What we’re saying here is to be smart. The environment can have a huge impact on your skin, so take it seriously.
When to see a doctor
If you have tried the tips above and are still suffering from dry skin on hands, you should consider talking to a doctor or professional dermatologist.
If you develop an infection, deep cuts, swelling, redness, and skin discoloration, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. This may be a sign of a deeper health issue. Keep your eyes open and always evaluate the state of your skin.
Conclusion
Learning how to remove dry skin from hands is easy and straightforward for most people. Dry skin affects us all in different ways, but with the simple methods we’ve listed today, you can do a lot of treatments and prevent dryness in the skin.
Stay hydrated, protect yourself from the environment, use moisturizers, and chill! Good luck.
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