Dry hands – Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

We use our hands every day, they are one of the most used parts of the body. All this hard work puts the skin on our hands under pressure. 

Our hands are also rarely covered and are directly exposed to harmful external irritants such as cold, heat, frequent hand washing, pollution and dirt. These can all weaken the skin’s natural moisture barrier and cause the skin on our hands to dry out, resulting in dry skin patches forming on our hands. 

Hands have a different skin structure to other parts of our body which helps them perform their key function in movement and motion control. 

The skin on the palms and balls of the fingers and thumbs: 

• is rich in fatty and connective tissue (such as elastin and collagen) 
• has a high density of sweat glands but very few sebaceous glands  

The skin on the backs of the hands: 

• has hardly any fatty tissue 
• is especially thin and sensitive 
• has few sebaceous glands 

These qualities help to make our hands nimble and able to grip and lift heavy objects, but they also make the skin on our hands prone to drying out.  

The sebaceous glands produce sebum, which provides the skin with lipids (or fats) and moisture-binding components. With fewer sebaceous glands, our hands are therefore more prone to dryness. To help prevent dry skin, looking after your hands is essential. Read on to learn about signs, symptoms, and what causes dry hands. 

Signs and symptoms of dry hands vary depending on the severity and cause of the dryness: 

• Mild dry hands: Dry skin patches on the hands, with the skin feeling parched, tight and sensitive. Your hands might feel itchy due to dryness. Dry skin on the hands most commonly affects the knuckles and wrists but can affect the palm, back of the hand and fingers. 
• Severe dry hands: In more severe cases, when hands are really dry, they can feel rough and itchy, with skin that is chapped, and cracked with scaly, tight patches. 

Underlying conditions such as atopic dermatitis can cause sudden dry skin on hands, causing the skin to become rough, itchy and inflamed. If your hands are cracked and bleeding or showing symptoms of a more serious health condition, be sure to see your trusted dermatologist. 

There can be both external causes and internal triggers which can cause dry skin on the hands. 

• Environmental factors: Harsh weather conditions, especially in winter when temperatures get colder, can cause dry skin as the body struggles to hold onto moisture as effectively. Fluctuations in temperature such as moving from hot to cold within a short period of time can also cause your hands to dry out. 
• Dry air: Dry air, both hot and cold, can leave your hands dehydrated and dried out. This is particularly common in colder months as winter causes cold dry air and declining humidity levels which can cause skin to become dry and itchy. Warm dry air from central heating and indoor dry air from air conditioning can also cause your hands to suddenly lose moisture.  
• Washing your hands too much: Frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizer multiple times a day and exposing your hands to hot water too often (such as when you wash the dishes or take showers) can cause your skin to become dry and chapped.  
• UV light (which causes skin to age prematurely) – being in the sun exposes hands to harmful UV rays. Use a moisturizing hand cream with SPF to help provide some sun protection. 
• Unsuitable skincare: Using products that do not support your skin’s natural pH levels can damage the skin’s protective moisture barrier, causing a loss of moisture and reduced ability in your skin to hold onto hydration. 
• Mechanical irritation (i.e. the abrasion of the outermost skin layer): Sometimes your hands can become dry as a result of being worn down by mechanical equipment as the skin will be rubbed and scraped. This will cause friction and pressure on the skin which can result in dry patches developing. Some workers such as those involved in craft trades are particularly susceptible to this kind of skin damage. 
• Household Chemicals: A lot of household products can contain chemicals which can irritate your skin. Overexposure to household chemicals may cause dryness and may result in damage to your skin’s natural barrier, making it harder for your hands to keep in their natural moisture.  

• Diet: An unbalanced diet and a lack of fluid intake can cause dry, flaky skin. 
• Alcohol: Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it dehydrates your body which can cause your skin to look and feel drier. 
• Nicotine: Nicotine impacts the immune system, skin inflammation and skin cell growth, all of which can contribute to the development of dry skin conditions such as psoriasis. 
• Stress: An increase in stress causes more adrenaline to be produced in our bodies, resulting in us sweating more. This activates the eccrine glands (the sweat glands) which cause your body to become dehydrated as you're losing more water faster. The body in response will try to cool itself down, but if you’re not replenishing your body with water your skin can dry out as a result. 
• Aging Skin: As part of the skin aging process as we get older, our skin generally becomes drier and less elastic. Our skin's moisture barrier also becomes weakened, causing a loss of moisture in the skin. 

Dry hands may also accompany other diseases and conditions such as: 

• Atopic Dermatitis 
• Psoriasis 
• Ichthyosis 
• Allergies 

If you are unsure about the cause of your dry hands speak to a dermatologist or doctor. 

Keeping your hands covered, especially in cold temperatures and windy weather, will help to preserve the moisture in your skin. By wearing gloves outside you will help to prevent dry, itchy skin on your hands developing. 

Frequently putting your hands in water, especially hot water in situations like taking baths, showers or washing the dishes, will dry out your hands and cause dry skin irritation. Limit your water exposure by keeping baths and showers short and only bathe once a day. By keeping the temperature of your showers and baths lukewarm instead of hot you can reduce the risk of your skin being dried out. 

When washing dishes, wear rubber gloves to avoid immersing your hands in hot, soapy water and protect your skin from harsh cleaning products which could cause dry skin irritation. 

If your dry hands are being caused by washing them too much or using hand sanitizer, you can help to treat dry skin by trying to wash your hands in lukewarm water only. Hot water can dry out your skin. You should also use mild, soap –free cleanser that supports the natural pH levels and moisture barrier of the skin. 

After washing your hands, it’s essential for soft skin to dry your hands carefully. Leftover water will evaporate and further dry out your hands. Make sure to fully dry your hands after washing, including in between your fingers. It’s better to pat your skin dry than to rub it as this is gentler on your skin; rubbing creates friction on your skin which can cause irritation.

If your hands are dry, sensitive and rough it’s important to use a moisturizing care product regularly after hand washing – especially if you work in damp conditions or are in regular contact with dirt, lubricants and chemicals. If working conditions are the cause of your dry hands, consider carrying hand cream for dry hands to apply throughout the day. You can also help dry hands by moisturizing your hands before going to bed.

For dry and very dry hands, we recommend Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream. Made with Ceramide-3 and Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs), this dry hand cream helps to strengthen the skin's natural moisture barrier to help lock in moisture and provides  noticeably softer and smoother hands after just one application. 

Keep your hand cream next to the sink – at home and at work – to remind you to use it. And apply cream immediately after washing your hands while skin is still moist. 

If you notice your dry skin doesn't improve after making these changes or are concerned about dry hands, seek the advice of a doctor or dermatologist for further advice. 

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to: 

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin 
2. Improve the appearance of the skin 
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin