Dry hands: causes, treatment and home remedies

The hands are in charge of carrying out all human work at any time of the day. Therefore, they are constantly subjected to different factors that may affect them, such as:

1. Pollution.
2. Climate changes.
3. Irritating chemicals.
4. Bad nutrition.
5. Tobacco use.
6. Consumption of some foods.
7. Work activity.

All of them are aggressive for the type of skin that make them up, both the palm and the back are made up of different cell types and with particular characteristics different from the rest of the skin of the body.

In this sense, it should be known that the most common causes of dry hands are:

• Gen ethics: there are people who are predisposed to dry skin because there is any history of genetic or inherited it.
• Age: the older, the less hydration of the skin. This is a normal situation and from which very few are exempt from suffering, it is medically known as age-induced dehydration.
• Work activity: above all, contact activities with aggressive agents such as chemicals, cleaning products, hair products and even health professionals. All of them are the most susceptible to having dry and chapped hands.
• Climate: likewise, dry hands can occur due to exposure to low temperatures, since this decreases the normal activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands, which are responsible for secreting lipids or fats and sweat respectively.
• Allergies: some agent, substance or product can be decisive for the health of our hands. Usually, it occurs in contact with pollen, dust and even contact with animals.
• Dehydration: Not drinking enough water is reason enough for our hands to be dry, flaky and cracked. Water is vital for cell function.
• Weak immune system : a weakened immune system makes our entire body susceptible to any condition, making it possible for, for example, bacteria to affect the skin, tear it and make the extremities dry and rough.
• Psoriasis : inflammatory skin disease that can cause scaling and redness. Although its usual locations are the elbows, knees, back and buttocks, the hands are not exempt from being affected.
• Xerosis : This is a skin disease characterized by abnormal dryness of the skin. It is directly related to the lack of hydration of the skin and can affect the palms or backs of the hands.
• Dermatitis on the hands : the skin of the hands is constantly dry. Medically, it is also known as eczema and although there is no specific cause described, it is believed to be related to the lack of hydration and the alteration in the barrier function of the skin.

• Nervousness: a common denominator in many human conditions is anxiety and stress. This implies excessive sweating on the skin of the hands, eventually manifesting itself as dryness.
• Adverse effects of medications: obviously, dry skin can also be a manifestation of adverse reactions to the consumption of any drug, especially those that are responsible for stimulating urinary function or diuretics, generating fluid loss and manifesting itself, as once, with dehydration.
• Lack of humidity: caused by air conditioners, heating or dry climates that manage to evaporate the water that is on the surface of the hands, thus leading to dryness.
• Contamination: any external agent that affects the hydrolipidic mantle will have a considerable impact on the appearance of the skin and hands. Smoke is one of these factors that can condition the appearance of dry hands.
• Hormonal changes: the body of women is in constant transformation, month by month hormonal changes become noticeable and this may be responsible for increased sweating and, in turn, dehydration and dry hands.
• Smoking: cigarette smoking promotes and accelerates skin aging.
• Inadequate diet : the lack of nutrients in the daily diet is the cause of many conditions, including dryness in the extremities, especially in the case of a lack of nutrients that are responsible for cell regeneration.

The best way to treat any condition is after the evaluation of your GP, in case of dry hands, the dermatologist is the one who will indicate the cause and the effective treatment for it. The treatment of dry hands may include:

Creams for dry hands

The daily application of moisturizer allows to considerably improve the dryness in the hands. It is recommended to apply it, especially, after bathing or after contact with irritants. The best moisturizers are those rich in lipids , capable of providing a protective and restorative layer on the hands. It is recommended that moisturizers have:

1. Lanolin .
2. Vaseline.
3. Urea.
4. Lactic acid.
5. Hyaluronic acid.
6. Glycerin .
7. Coconut, argan, or jojoba oil.

Vitamin E

Another effective treatment for dry and chapped hands is vitamin E . This is especially responsible for protecting the skin and preventing aging. It can be found in pharmacies and the best way is to apply it directly to the hands to heal them.

Paraffin

Other recommended treatments are those made with paraffin , which stimulates blood circulation, covers the skin of the hands, preventing loss of heat and moisture, and leaves them very soft to the touch.

To remove dry hands, your doctor may also recommend:

• Increase your fluid intake daily.
• Improve your daily diet by including more fruits and vegetables.
• Use neutral soap to wash and care for the skin of the hands.
• Do not rub or scrub the skin when drying, simply touch it gently.
• Use sunscreen.
• Reduce tobacco use.
• Perform relaxation therapy to channel nervousness.
• Wear protective gloves depending on the work we do or the climate in which we find ourselves.

Finally, there are multiple home remedies for dry hands that you can do comfortably from home if you consider that the cause of this does not represent a risk to your health:

1. Oatmeal: in addition to being satisfactorily included in the daily diet, oatmeal allows the skin to maintain its moisture, preventing dehydration. You can apply it directly on the hands mixed with honey and leave it to act for approximately 10 minutes. Performing this home treatment daily improves the dryness of the hands considerably.
2. Natural oils: many natural oils act as good antioxidants, preventing skin aging and hydrating it at the same time. It is recommended to massage with olive oil for 10 minutes 2 times a day, in the case of coconut oil, it is recommended to apply at night and leave it to act until the next morning.
3. Warm water: showers with warm water and in a short period of time considerably improve the health of the skin of the hands.
4. Aloe vera: the aloe vera or aloe vera gel rubbed directly on the hands allows to restore the skin, hydrating it and making them look healthy.

In the following article, you can see more effective home remedies for dry and chapped hands .

On many occasions, we are alarmed by any manifestation of our body, if the dryness in the hands becomes prolonged for more than 2 weeks and worsens over time, do not hesitate to consult your family doctor.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Dry hands: causes, treatment and home remedies , we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category .