Dry hands are really common, especially in winter. A bit of dry skin is annoying enough but because our hands are so often exposed to the elements, they can quickly become rough, cracked and painful. Unfortunately, this can be exponentially worse if you have eczema – but luckily, there are ways to mitigate the effects of the winter cold on your hands. That’s why we’ve put together our top tips and tricks to ease those sore hands!
Avoid extreme cold on your hands
Keeping your hands at a consistent temperature is very important in maintaining hydrated skin, so invest in some warm and soft gloves this winter. Frequent changes in temperature means your skin has to work harder to maintain adequate hydration. This can lead to cracks and dryness in the hands. Therefore, getting yourself a warm pair of gloves will help your hands stay consistently warm. Equally, it is important to avoid extreme heat such as fires or heaters as they can also dehydrate your skin. It’s all about trying to avoid the extremes!
Avoid hand sanitizer
On the go, it is easy to use hand sanitizer, but the alcohol and harsh chemicals they contain are known to dry the skin. Instead, try washing your hands with fragrance-free and natural hand soaps or washes. Our Bioskin Body or Face Wash can be decanted into a pump dispenser for an incredibly gentle wash, designed for sensitive, dry skin. Once you have washed your hands, gently pat them dry and immediately apply moisturiser.
Moisturise frequently with natural, unscented hand cream
Synthetic fragrance is one of the most common skin irritants – yet lots of hand creams are very perfumed. We strongly recommend using a hand cream that is fragrance-free and free from harsh chemicals that could increase irritation, especially if you also suffer from conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Our Daily Intensive Hand Cream has almost no smell, is incredibly gentle and specifically designed for sensitive and dry skin. We also recommend using your hand cream very regularly: keep spares in your car, handbag, kitchen or desk to remind yourself to reapply. Keeping your hands consistently moisturised is key when restoring the skin barrier or preventing cracks and soreness.
Wear gloves when cleaning
When you’re washing your dishes, cleaning your bathroom, or using any bleach or cleaning products, it is really important to wear gloves. Those harsh chemicals damage the skin’s barrier and completely dehydrate the cells. Therefore, keep your hands protected as much as you can – even when cleaning with just water for extended periods of time!
Do an intensive overnight treatment
Much like adding a hair mask overnight to nourish your hair, you could try an overnight treatment for your hands. Lather your hands in our rich Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser and put on a pair of clean cotton gloves. Leave these on overnight to allow all the moisture to be absorbed. You will wake up to soft and supple hands. You can repeat this treatment as often as you feel necessary to thoroughly hydrate the skin and say goodbye to cracked hands this winter.
Want to know more about our Daily Intensive Hand Cream?
We highly recommend our Daily Intensive Hand Cream because it is packed with high-quality natural moisturisers such as Olive Oil, Safflower Oil, Urea, Glycerine and Aloe Vera Extract. It also contains scientifically proven natural actives such as Sea Buckthorn, Chamomile, Rosemary and Lactic Acid to nourish and strengthen the skin. It is dermatologically tested, non-sticky and absorbs in seconds, to alleviate dry, rough skin issues quickly. You can try our all-natural Daily Intensive Hand Cream here.
