Dry Hands
Dry Hands
They hurt, burn, and are often as dry as the Mojave Desert. Most folks refer to them as dishpan hands, but you don’t even have to wash dishes to suffer from them.
Several factors can cause your hands to dry up. Living in an extremely dry climate, like Phoenix, can be a beautiful but dehydrating experience. The dry air absorbs the natural moisture throughout the body, including in your hands. And of course, several everyday chores can be hazardous to your hands’ health, including dish washing, laundry, housecleaning, and bathing of grandchildren. These chores often involve the use of chemical agents such as household cleansers and solvents that damage and dry out your hands. Just the act of washing your hands also robs them of moisture.
Even if you don’t expose them to hot water and chemicals, your hands tend to get drier with age. That’s because your body loses some of its moisture with each passing year, says Dee Anna Glaser, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. “Skin loses some of its thickness and water-retaining ability over time, even without aggravating factors like a really dry climate or constant contact with cleaning solutions,” says Dr. Glaser.
Unless they get so dry that they crack and bleed, dry hands are more nuisance than nightmare. And there are ways you can bring moisture back into those dehydrated digits.
Try This First
Make lotion your favorite potion. Every time you wash your hands, put on a little moisturizer afterward, says Dr. Glaser. With every washing, you’re removing moisture-encasing oils from your hands as well as dirt and grime. By applying a hand lotion, you replenish those lost oils and keep your skin from drying out. “Find a hand lotion that you like and keep it near your sink and in your purse or desk, so that you can apply it to your hands after each time you wash them,” says Dr. Glaser.
Over-the-counter lotions do just fine, says Stephen Schleicher, M.D., co-director of the Dermatology Center in Philadelphia. He recommends any of the following for his patients: Alpha Keri, Aquaderm, Aquaphor, Complex 15, Curel, Cutemol, Dermasil, Derma Centre, Eucerin, Keri, Lubriderm, Oil of Olay, Pen-Kera, and UltraDerm.
Other Wise Ways
Soften your soaps. The harsher the soap, the more oils and moisture you’ll strip from your hands. Dr. Glaser suggests that you wash your hands with a gentle hand cleanser such as Dove or Oil of Olay. These soaps contain emollients, which are agents that soften or smooth the skin.
Oil ’em up. To buy a simple hand cream at the cosmetics department of your local department store, you might have to pay a small fortune. But just stroll down the vegetable oil aisle in the supermarket to find a hand moisturizer that’s just as good and a lot less expensive. Regular vegetable shortening like Crisco soothes cracked, dry hands, Dr. Glaser says. To get the most out of the oil, rub it over your hands at night before you go to bed. Then put on a pair of old gloves. Not only will the gloves save you from ruining your linens but also they will force the oil to penetrate your skin, she says.
Wear washup gloves, too. You often put your hands into terrible conditions: hot water, bathroom cleaners, ammonia, bleach. Protect them from the ravages of such harsh substances by wearing a pair of vinyl gloves with cotton liners. The vinyl outside keeps the water off your hands, while the cotton liner absorbs sweat so that your hands won’t get wet inside. Wear them whenever you wash dishes or use any other possible irritants such as chemicals and cleaning products.
Tap into water. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day, says Dr. Glaser. Dry hands are the result of a lack of moisture in the skin, so not drinking enough water may aggravate dryness in the hands.
