How to Treat Hands and Restore Softness by Aminaz Salon

 Considering how often we use our hands on a daily basis, it makes sense that the moment they get rough, dry, or cracked, we feel uncomfortable, if not a bit self-conscious. When the skin barrier is breached, moisture loss and unprotected exposure to the environment result. This is when rough hands occur. 

This is more likely to occur in dry, cold weather, when you wash your hands more regularly, or when you are working with abrasive materials. Do not be alarmed. We discussed common causes of rough hands and ways to restore softness with skin care experts. 

LINKED: Do You Get Dry Skin? What Dermatologists Want You to Know

What Leads to Rough, Dry Hands?

Rough hands are a result of a combination of habitual personal habits like overwashing and inadequate moisturizing, as well as environmental factors like dry air from heating systems or chilly, gusty winds. 

Liquid Soaps & Detergents: According to board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, "many liquid soaps contain the drying chemical sodium lauryl sulfate, which when used on the skin too often combined with harsh, cold weather leads to extremely dehydrated hands."

Excessive Laundry: Dry, rough hands can result even after using mild, sulfate-free soaps. According to board-certified dermatologist Ryan Turner, MD, FAAD, "repeated exposure to water, especially very hot water, strips our skin barrier, removing our natural lipids that help seal in moisture, leading to transepidermal water loss." 

Using Your Hands: "Working with your hands in certain jobs—like housekeeping, more manual labor, or even working in a hair salon—can expose your hands to harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation and dryness," says Dr. Turner. 

Dry Air: Everything becomes dry when the air is dry. That applies to your body, hair, and—yep—hands. Dry air is a result of cold, winter winds, and indoor heating is also known to be drying. 

According to Dr. Turner, eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can cause skin to become dry, itchy, peel, and have a rough texture. dermatitis 

How to Make Rough Hands Softer 

The easiest way to deal with rough hands is to start using moisturizers religiously, try to add hydration to the air whenever you can, and wash your hands carefully. 

01 out of 08

Steer clear of overly hot water

Even though it might feel nice to wash your hands in hot water and take steamy showers throughout the winter, these practices aren't helping people with rough hands. The esthetician at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, Edyta Jarosz, advises staying away from hot water for extended periods of time and using milder settings instead. 

Skip Hand Sanitizers 02 of 08

While hand sanitizers are handy when traveling, according to Dr. Turner, you shouldn't use them regularly if you have rough hands. He claims that "high concentrations of alcohol are used in hand sanitizers to purify the hands, and alcohol is extremely stripping." "Instead, use very warm, not hot, water to wash your hands with moisturizing formulas." 

03 out of 08

Avoid Rubbing Your Hands Dry

Dr. Turner advises patting hands dry with a gentle touch as opposed to rubbing them with a towel to remove excess moisture. The exfoliation action of rubbing removes the topmost layer of skin cells. 

04 out of 08

After Using Exfoliants, Rinse

Make careful to promptly rinse off any exfoliating skincare ingredients—such as retinoids, alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs), and enzymes—that you apply to your face. Dry, rough hands will only become worse after exfoliation.

05 out of 08

Put on thick hand creams.

One of the greatest ways to soften hard hands, according to Dr. Engelman, is to use a thick, moisturizing hand lotion. Always moisturize your hands after washing, and have a travel-sized version in your desk, car, or bag for on-the-go moisturizing. You could discover that you need to moisturize more frequently in the winter than you usually do. 

Several excellent choices are Burt's Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream ($8.99, Target), O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream ($11.33, Amazon), and L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream for Dry Skin ($13, Ulta). 

06 of 08: Sip Now

It goes without saying that using hand creams is crucial, but you should also consider what you're putting into your body. Jarosz advises focusing on hydrating from the inside out by drinking water in order to relieve and moisturize dry, rough hands. Eight glasses a day is the goal. 

07 out of 08

Consider Intense Nighttime Treatments

Putting on a pair of thin cotton gloves after applying your thickest hand lotion before bed can make this task much easier. Using a protective layer, such as gloves, over a heavy cream will help lock in moisture without putting product all over your sheets, however it can take some getting used to. Your hands will be significantly smoother and gentler when you wake up.

Put on some gloves.

When it makes sense, covering them entirely is one of the strongest shields against harsh hands. When you're outside, Jarosz advises using winter gloves (pre-apply moisturizer to hydrate even more) and cleaning gloves (handle chemicals and detergents, clean, wash dishes, etc.). 

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