Hands can become dry and brittle for several reasons. Frequent hand-washing, harsh soaps and sanitizers can remove the skin’s natural oils. Some medical conditions, such as diabetes or lupus, may cause poor blood flow to the hands.
Home treatments for dry and peeling hands typically involve moisturizing creams or ointments. Some people also need prescription medications to treat an underlying cause.
1. Moisturize Daily
Considering all the things you do with your hands, it’s no wonder they can get dry and have peeling skin on fingertips. The good news is that you don’t have to accept dry, cracking skin as a normal part of life. With a little care and prevention, your hands can be healthy and beautiful again.
The most common reason for peeling hands is environmental factors like cold, dry weather and overwashing that strip the skin of its natural oils. This, combined with underlying health issues and certain medications can cause dryness that leads to cracked, flaky skin.
To help prevent this, apply a moisturizing lotion or ointment daily, especially after showering or washing your hands. Try a product like Vaseline(r) Healing Jelly Original that protects and soothes chapped or dry hands while locking in moisture. Keep a tube or jar by the sink or at work so that you can reapply frequently.
Another way to keep your hands hydrated is by incorporating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals into your diet. Foods like avocados, bananas, almonds and leafy green vegetables can help rehydrate your skin. Also, drink plenty of water.
A humidifier can help too by regulating the air’s moisture content, which is a major cause of dry skin. A humidifier will add moisture to the air so it doesn’t draw away from the skin, which can irritate it and lead to dryness and peeling.
If you have a more severe case of dry skin, talk to your doctor or dermatologist for more advice. They may recommend a prescription topical cream that contains hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation and promote healing. They may also recommend a wet dressing or liquid bandage as your skin heals, particularly if you have cracked and scaly skin from eczema or other conditions.
For on-the-go hand care, try a hand sanitizer that’s gentle and contains hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin, so it doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils. For a more intensive treatment, apply Vaseline or a thick moisturizer to your hands before bed and cover with gloves or clean cotton socks so the lotion can work as you sleep.
2. Wear Gloves
Whether you need to wash dishes, work with concrete, or just want to reduce the amount of sanitizers and harsh cleaners you put on your hands each day, using gloves is an essential part of keeping them healthy. Depending on your situation, however, you may need something a bit more durable than simple cotton gloves. Gloves that are specially designed with insulated linings and conditioning ingredients can help to speed up the process of getting skin back to its normal, healthy state.
A recent study in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease found that people who used gloves experienced less pain, stiffness, and swelling than those who did not wear them. In addition, they had better grip strength and were able to perform daily tasks more easily.
When choosing a pair of gloves for your skin type and needs, it is important to keep in mind that they should fit snugly but not tightly. You also want to consider the materials and seams of the glove. For instance, polyester and polyethylene gloves are prone to trapping heat and moisture, which can worsen your dry skin. Cotton and natural fibers, on the other hand, are more breathable, meaning that they will keep your skin cooler and more comfortable.
You can also find special gloves that are infused with nourishing moisturizers to help speed up the healing process. These are often called moisturizing gloves and contain a layer of gel that contains conditioning ingredients like aloe, green tea, and vitamin E. The gel can penetrate deep into the skin layers, delivering the nutrients to where they are needed most.
For more serious cases of dry and peeling skin, there are even overnight hydration gloves that are akin to traditional sheet masks and come fully loaded with moisture-boosting ingredients. These include Kitsch’s adorable Moisturizing Spa Gloves, Earth Therapeutics Aloe Moisturizer gloves, and Voesh’s Collagen Gloves with Argan Oil. When you apply a thick, heavy moisturizer or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to your palms and fingers before bed, these gloves will seal in the moisture and help your skin heal.
3. Avoid Harsh Soaps and Sanitizers
The skin on your hands can become dry from a variety of reasons. Everything from excessive washing and overuse of hand sanitizer to allergies or a skin condition like psoriasis can lead to dry, flaky hands. Depending on the cause, your doctor will determine how to treat it.
Some hand soaps and sanitizers contain harsh detergents that can strip the skin of its natural oils, which is why it’s best to avoid antibacterial soaps. You should use a mild, moisturizing soap that doesn’t contain sulfates. A dermatologist may also recommend a special hand moisturizer that has hyaluronic acid, glycerin, plant oils and other hydrating ingredients.
You should also wear rubber gloves when you wash dishes or clean around the house to help protect your hands from harmful chemicals and detergents. You can also plug in a humidifier at night to add moisture to the air in your home, which will also help keep your hands hydrated.
Dryness can occur if you overwash your hands, especially if you do it without applying a moisturizer afterward. It’s also a common issue for people who work in certain professions, such as healthcare and hospitality. If your doctor has determined that you are prone to this type of chronic dryness, they can advise you on how to prevent it.
A variety of irritants can also cause your hands to dry out, crack and peel. These can include harsh cleaning products, dish soaps, and even air fresheners. Some people may find that their dry hands become worse during the winter, as low humidity can pull moisture from the skin on your palms and fingertips.
Some cases of scaly, dry skin on the fingers and hands can be a sign of a more serious health problem, such as psoriasis or eczema. If this is the case for you, it’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist for guidance on how to manage your symptoms. Your dermatologist will be able to diagnose your condition and prescribe the right medication to help alleviate it. They will also help you develop an action plan to treat your condition and to prevent future flare-ups.
4. Apply Vaseline
Keeping your skin moisturized can prevent it from becoming dry and cracked, which can lead to peeling. Applying Vaseline can help protect the skin and lock in moisture, keeping it soft and supple. Adding Vaseline to your daily routine can make a significant difference when treating dry, peeling hands.
If you have frequent contact with water or harsh chemicals, use gloves whenever possible to protect your hands. Wearing gloves while doing chores around the house can also prevent drying and cracking of your hands. In addition, wearing gloves when going outside in cold weather can keep your hands hydrated and protected from the elements.
In addition, applying a thick moisturizing cream like Vaseline on your hands and feet before bed can keep them hydrated while you sleep. This will allow the lotion to hydrate your skin throughout the night, helping it stay soft and smooth.
When the seasons change, applying Vaseline to your hands can help keep them from drying out in the cold. Wearing gloves while washing dishes or cleaning the house can also prevent your hands from drying out. In addition, using a humidifier in your home can add moisture to the air, which will help moisturize your skin.
Some medical conditions can also cause your skin to become dry and flaky, leading to peeling. For example, if your peeling skin is caused by an underlying health condition, like diabetes, it’s important to seek a doctor’s care so you can get treated.
Other medical conditions that can cause peeling include contact dermatitis, a common allergic reaction to certain substances. Contact dermatitis can occur when you come in contact with an allergen or irritant, such as perfume or detergents. It can also develop when you have an infection, such as measles or mono.
Vaseline has an unwavering purpose to give every body healthy skin to live without limits. This is why they’ve partnered with Direct Relief on the Vaseline Healing Project to provide dermatological care, medical supplies, products and health worker training to those affected by emergencies or poverty worldwide.
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