How to Treat Dry and Cracked Hands

What Causes Dry Hands?

Dry hands can have more than one cause, and working out what is behind yours makes it easier to choose the right fix.

Aging

As we get older, the skin produces less oil. It becomes thinner and less flexible, which is why dryness and fine lines tend to become more noticeable with age.

Cold, Dry Weather

Your skin depends on moisture to keep its protective barrier strong. In colder months the air holds less humidity, and that dry air draws water out of your skin, leaving your hands rough and tight.

Frequent Hand Washing

Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways to avoid getting sick. Doing it over and over, though, rinses away the natural oils that keep skin soft, and dryness follows.

Harsh Soaps and Sanitizers

Strong soaps and hand sanitizers pull oil and moisture out of the skin and weaken its barrier. A mild soap and a sanitizer made with moisturizing ingredients are much gentler on your hands.

Eczema

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, causes red, dry, irritated skin. It disrupts the skin's barrier and leaves it more sensitive than usual. Eczema is common and not contagious, but it can be very uncomfortable, and a dermatologist is the right person to diagnose and treat it.

Symptoms of Dry Hands

Dry hands do not look the same on everyone. Common signs include:

• A tight feeling, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
• Skin that looks and feels rough
• Itching that keeps coming back
• Flaking, scaling or peeling, from mild to severe
• Fine lines or small cracks
• A gray or ashy appearance
• Redness
• Deep cracks that may bleed

How to Treat Dry, Cracked Hands at Home

Preventing dryness is ideal, but not every trigger is within your control. When your hands are already dry or cracked, these steps can help them recover.

Moisturize Several Times a Day

Apply moisturizer to your hands, and to the rest of your body, several times a day to replace the moisture your skin is missing. Look for a cream or lotion made specifically for dry skin. A heavier, more intensive moisturizer usually works faster than a light lotion.

Give Your Hands an Overnight Treatment

Before bed, apply a generous layer of a rich moisturizer or hand cream, then cover your hands with gloves or socks and leave it on overnight. For many people this helps the skin hold on to moisture, so their hands feel smoother and softer by morning.

Wear Gloves

Gloves shield your hands from the cold temperatures and harsh wind that dry them out. They also help when your hands spend a lot of time in water. Washing dishes, for example, can strip away natural oils, so wearing gloves at the sink makes a difference.

Switch to a Gentle Soap

Many soaps remove the skin's natural oils along with the dirt. If your hands are dry, choose a mild, moisturizing soap instead.

Try Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera is known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why many people reach for it when their skin is dry. Smooth the gel over clean hands, ideally right after a shower, when it can help lock in moisture.

Use a Humidifier

When the air is dry, your skin loses moisture faster and can start to itch. A humidifier adds moisture back into the air at home, which helps both prevent and ease dry, itchy skin.

Keep Stress in Check

Stress is a known trigger for eczema, and an eczema flare can show up as dry, irritated skin on the hands. Finding ways to manage stress is good for your skin as well as your overall health.

Treatments a Dermatologist May Recommend

If home care is not enough, a dermatologist can suggest stronger options based on what is causing your dryness and how severe it is.

Hydrocortisone Cream

Hydrocortisone cream reduces inflammation in the skin. It is also usually thicker than an everyday moisturizer, which can make it helpful for dry, flaky, irritated patches. Ask your dermatologist how often and for how long to use it.

Prescription Moisturizing Creams

Your dermatologist can prescribe special moisturizing creams or lotions for dry hands. Some contain ingredients such as lactic acid or urea, which help heal dry, scaly skin.

Wet Dressings for Cracks

Cracks need to heal before the dryness underneath can be fully treated. Your dermatologist may recommend a wet dressing or a liquid bandage over the cracks to help them close.

Medication for Severe Eczema

Most dry skin does not need medication. When severe eczema is the cause, though, prescription treatment can relieve symptoms. Depending on how severe it is, a dermatologist may prescribe a topical steroid, or an antibiotic if the skin has become infected.

UV Light Therapy

UV light therapy, also called phototherapy, can calm inflammation and help the skin heal. It is usually reserved for more severe skin conditions, such as psoriasis, so talk with a dermatologist before trying any kind of UV treatment.

How to Prevent Dry Hands

Treatments help once dryness has set in, but stopping it before it starts is easier on your skin. Pay attention to what your hands touch every day, including harsh chemicals, strong soaps and even plain water.

Keep moisturizing on the days your hands feel fine, too. Regular moisturizer keeps the skin supple and helps prevent moisture loss before it turns into dryness and cracking.

When to See a Dermatologist

Dry, cracked hands can be itchy, painful and hard to ignore. Make an appointment with a dermatologist if:

• Cracks are deep or bleed
• The skin shows signs of infection, such as pain, redness or discharge
• Redness, itching or cracking will not go away
• The dryness does not improve with regular moisturizing and home care
• Your hands are irritated or painful

A dermatologist can find out what is behind your dry skin, tell you whether it points to a condition such as eczema that needs medical care, and recommend a plan suited to your skin. Getting advice early means you can start the right treatment sooner.

Related reading

• Eczema treatment at Team Dermatology
• Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin: Treatment and Prevention
• Everything to Know About Dyshidrotic Eczema
• How to Take Care of Your Skin During Winter

If dryness or cracking on your hands is not getting better, request an appointment with one of our dermatologists at our Houston-area clinics. We will examine your skin and put together a treatment plan built around what is causing it.