Dry Chapped Hands

Winter season arrives and many people (mostly housewives) start complaining about dry skin and chapped hands. With increased age, our skin gradually lose the tendency of oil secretion that helps keep the skin soft and moist. Thus, over time, skin becomes dry and rough. These natural phenomena when coupled with negligence lead to dry chapped hands. Not only the hands, the lips are often chapped in cold climatic conditions and the causal factors are same.

Dry Chapped Hands: Causes and Symptoms

Dry weather and frequent hand washing are the primary reasons for causing dry chapped hands. Repeated rinsing of hands remove natural skin oils, resulting in increased roughness. It is understandable that dry chapped hands are most prevalent during fall and winter months. At such time of the year, environmental air is very dry with low humidity. Consequently, our skin is prone to dryness and cracking, which are all related to dry chapped hands. Apart from these reasons, improper skin care is the main leading cause of dry capped hands.

Dry chapped hands is basically a symptom by itself. Hence, it is not a disease that is associated with particular signs. Nevertheless, there are some noticeable indications of dry chapped hands such as redness, cracking, peeling, roughness, tenderness and painful feeling. People who have a naturally dry skin are at a higher risk of developing dry chapped hands than others. Though it is not a serious condition, timely addressing is the key solution to avoid the risks of worsening symptoms like increased soreness, bleeding and infection.

Dry Chapped Hands: Treatment and Remedy

As you are already aware about probable reasons of dry chapped hands, it is imperative to avoid all the factors responsible for causing this skin problem. Being not a severe disease symptoms, dry chapped hands can be combated with simple self care tips. Mentioned below is a list of dry chapped hands home remedy, which will help cure the condition and prevent worsening:

Minimize Water Exposure: Most effective cure for dry chapped hands is stay away from water as far as possible. This does not mean you should not wash your hands. But, the logic is use water for rinsing hands only when necessary, such as before and after having food, going to toilet, etc. This way, you can promote treatment of dry chapped hands.

Hand Washing Tip: According to dermatologists, proper washing of hands is important for reducing dry chapped hands. Rather than splashing water directly on the palm and back of hands, you can concentrate on rinsing the palms only. The back of hands having thinner skin are susceptible to drying out and chapping.

Go for Soap with Cream: While doing regular shopping, check for mild hand washing soap with cream in it. Avoid perfume enriched soaps, as they dehydrate the skin more than fragrant free ones. Immediately after washing hands with such mild soaps, apply a thick coat of lotion with constant rubbing for a few minutes.

Use Bath Oil: The ingredients of soaps add to dryness of skin. Hence, it is better to use bath oils for washing and rinsing hands. Do not worry about cleanliness, as bath oils give the same clean effect as that of soaps. And the plus point is they don't cause excess skin dryness, which is so with regular soaps.

Apply Moisturizer: The best treatment for dry chapped hands is to pamper your affected skin areas with a good moisturizing lotion or cream. Massage the lotion over chapped hands for a few minutes so as to promote absorption by the skin. Or else, rub petroleum jelly and put on gloves. Using gloves overnight will make the hands smooth and soft.

In maximum people with dry chapped hands condition, home remedies have given impressive results. However, if dry chapped hands remedy is not showing any positive responses, get the skin condition checked by a qualified dermatologist. For severe dry chapped hands, the doctor may recommend use of hydrocortisone creams for a specific period.