• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Water’s Edge Dermatology
  • Partner with Us
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Patient Portal
  • Services
    • Medical
      Dermatology

      Overview

      Skin Growths

      Skin Rashes

      Skin Infections

      Dry Skin & Related Conditions

      Facial Skin Conditions

      Hair & Nail Disorders

      Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

    • Surgical
      Dermatology

      Overview

      Skin Growths

      Mohs Surgery

      Plastic Surgery

      Skin Conditions

      • Pediatric
        Dermatology

        Overview

        Acne

        Birthmarks

        Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

        Hemangiomas

        Molluscum Contagiosum

        Warts

    • Cosmetic
      Dermatology

      Overview

      MediSpa & Aesthetic Skin Care

      Wrinkle Reducers & Fillers

      PRP Treatments

      Thread Lift

      Laser Treatments

      Body Contouring

      Intimate Health & Wellness

      Special Offers

      Ask the Cosmetics Experts

    • Skin Cancer
      Treatment

      Overview

      Mohs Surgery

      Electron Beam Therapy (Radiation)

      Skin Cancer Prevention

    • Plastic
      Surgery

      Overview

      Facial Procedures

      Breast Procedures

      Body Procedures

      Reconstructive
      Surgery

    • The Vein
      Center

      Overview

      Face & Hand Veins

      Leg Veins

      Before & After Gallery

      Our Vein Providers

      Find a Vein Center

      Insurances Accepted

      Compression Wear Products

  • Locations
  • Our Providers
  • Resources
    • Patient Education

      Patient Library

      WEderm Videos

      Insurances Accepted

      Patient Information

      Patient Care Instructions

    • For Patients

      Patient Portal

      New Patients: Info & Forms

      Patient Rights & Responsibilities

      Prescription Refills

      Pay Your Bill

    • Community

      Press Releases

      Blog

      Events

      Patient Stories & Reviews

    • Shop

      Special Offers

      Shop Skin Care Products

      Sign Up for Emails

  • Products
    • WEderm

      ZO Skin Health

      EltaMD

      SkinBetter Science

      DefenAge

      Silagen

      SkinCeuticals

      Dermaka

      Vein Compression Wear

  • Join Us
    • Careers

      Partner with Us

  • About
    • Our Story

      Our History & Care Philosophy

      Our Leadership

      Patient Stories and Reviews

  • Blog
  • Bill Pay
  • Services
    • Medical Dermatology
      • Overview
      • Skin Growths
      • Skin Rashes
      • Skin Infections
      • Dry Skin & Related Conditions
      • Facial Skin Conditions
      • Hair & Nail Disorders
      • Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
    • Surgical Dermatology
      • Overview
      • Skin Growths
      • Mohs Micrographic Surgery
      • Plastic Surgery
      • Skin Conditions
    • Cosmetic Dermatology
      • Overview
      • MedSpa & Aesthetic Skin Care
      • Wrinkle Reducers & Fillers
      • PRP Treatments
      • Thread Lift
      • Laser Treatments
      • Body Contouring
      • Intimate Health & Wellness
      • Special Offers
      • Ask the Cosmetics Experts
    • Skin Cancer Treatment
      • Overview
      • Mohs Micrographic Surgery
      • Electron Beam Therapy (Radiation)
      • Skin Cancer Prevention
    • Plastic Surgery
      • Overview
      • Facial Procedures
      • Breast Procedures
      • Body Procedures
      • Reconstructive Surgery
    • Vein Centers
      • Overview
      • Face & Hand Veins
      • Leg Veins
      • Before & After Gallery
      • Our Vein Providers
      • Find a Vein Center
      • Insurance Accepted
      • Compression Wear Products
    • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Locations
  • Our Providers
  • Resources
    • Patient Education
      • Patient Library
      • WEderm Videos
      • Insurance Accepted
      • Patient Information
      • Patient Care Instructions
    • For Patients
      • Patient Portal
      • New Patients
      • Prescription Refills
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Community
      • Press Releases
      • Blog
      • Events
      • Patient Stories & Reviews
    • Shop
      • Special Offers
      • Shop Skin Care Products
      • Sign Up for Email
  • Products
    • WEderm
    • ZO Skin Health
    • EltaMD
    • SkinBetter Science
    • DefenAge
    • Silagen
    • SkinCeuticals
    • Dermaka
    • Vein Compression Wear
  • Join Us
    • Careers
    • Partner with Us
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our History & Care Philosophy
    • Our Leadership
    • Patient Stories & Reviews
  • Blog
  • Bill Pay
  • Water’s Edge Dermatology
  • The Vein Center



Call (877) 900-3223

  • Book an Appointment
  • Our Services
  • Find a Location
  • Meet Our Providers
  • Insurance Accepted

How to Heal Dry, Cracked Hands

March 31, 2020

Frequent hand-washing may be key to staying healthy, especially now and during cold and flu season, but it can really take a toll on your skin. That goes double in winter when colder temps and drier air conspire to zap skin of the natural oils that maintain moisture and provide a protective barrier. This can lead to dry, cracked hands.

<img src="dryhand.jpg" alt="Dry cracked hand treatment by Alissa O'Brien, MD"/>

“People think water is moisturizing, but it’s actually drying — when it evaporates, it reduces skin’s natural oils,” said Dr. Alissa O’Brien, a dermatologist at Water’s Edge Dermatology. “And if you’re using hot water and harsh soap over and over throughout the day, it’s the perfect storm for drying out your skin.”

Soap doesn’t discriminate between germs and the skin’s protective oils; neither does the alcohol in hand sanitizer. With frequent use, both can lead to dryness, irritation, and rash-like dermatitis or eczema. They can also lead to cracks in the skin which allow for the entry of germs like staph that make you more susceptible to skin infections.

To curb dry, cracked hands while practicing good hand hygiene, Dr. O’Brien offered this advice:

Wash your hands correctly

1. Steer clear of harsh soap. A gentle moisturizing soap (Dr. O’Brien recommends Dove) will get the job done just as well as antibacterial soap, which is more drying and hasn’t proven to do a better job at preventing illness than regular soap. Of course, if your dermatologist has prescribed an anti-bacterial soap due to recurrent infections or other special circumstances, keep using it.

2. Wash with lukewarm water. Lukewarm water is as effective as boiling water is at reducing germs. That’s because the goal of hand-washing isn’t to kill germs. “When you wash your hands, the germs get washed off,” Dr. O’Brien explained. “They go down the drain.” After washing, pat your skin dry. No need for vigorous rubbing, which can disrupt your skin barrier, lead to irritation and cause dry, cracked skin.

Moisturize regularly

“The best thing is literally to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize,” said Dr. O’Brien. Moisture after every hand-washing. This will lock in moisture that got into your skin while washing and prevent evaporation that dries out the skin even more. For extra dry skin, apply an ointment at bedtime and then wear a pair of cotton gloves to help seal it in. Ointments can work extra well overnight when skin naturally loses more water.

Opt for ointment or cream moisturizer

Ointments work better than other types of moisturizers because they penetrate the skin better, according to Dr. O’Brien. “That’s why, when we prescribe topicals, we usually pick ointment forms — more medicine gets in that way.” She recommends a product like Aquaphor Healing Ointment or a thin layer of petroleum jelly. “It sounds messy, but it’s extremely moisturizing and your hands are going to love it.”

If an ointment is messier than you prefer, choose a cream moisturizer, which contains more oil than water-based lotions. Cream moisturizers are also more effective at trapping water in the skin and repairing its barrier function. Here are a few brands to try: Cetaphil, CeraVe, Eucerin, Gold Bond and Aveeno. Ingredients to search out include petrolatum and ceramides. Petrolatum helps block water loss from your skin; Ceramides are a type of lipid (fat) that helps form your skin’s barrier and increase hydration. Ceramides are a key ingredient in CeraVe products.

Be sure to stay away from lotions and moisturizers with fragrances and dyes. “Some dyes can irritate dry skin, so generally, I wouldn’t get the pink frilly one,” said Dr. O’Brien.

Choose the right-hand sanitizer

Washing your hands is your best bet at removing all types of germs — even better than hand sanitizer. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand sanitizers don’t kill the stomach bug or a type of parasite that causes severe diarrhea. However, hand sanitizer is far better than nothing when you don’t have access to soap and water. If using a hand sanitizer, choose one that contains at least 60 percent alcohol and is enriched with an emollient like glycerin or vitamin E to help counteract the drying effect.

Wear gloves

If your hands are frequently immersed in water, such as when washing dishes or washing your car, wearing rubber or latex gloves can prevent the water from stripping away your skin’s oils. Gloves lined in cotton may be more comfortable on dry skin and are easier to put on and take off. Gloves are also recommended if you work with chemicals or plants, especially if you have sensitive skin that is prone to dryness.

Remember the sunscreen

It won’t be your main line of defense against dry, cracked hands, but because the sun can dry out your skin, sunscreen can help prevent further parching. “The sun not only makes dermatitis worse, but skin will be more prone to burning if it’s already irritated,” said Dr. O’Brien. She likes CeraVe AM, a moisturizer with an SPF 30.

 

Article Written By: Karyn Repinski is a Brooklyn, NY-based award-winning health and beauty writer.
Medical Review By: Ted Schiff, MD

 

 

 

 

Footer

Schedule an Appointment:
(877) 900-3223

  • Water’s Edge Dermatology.
  • The Vein Center
    • Contact Us Call (877) 900-3223

Sign Up For Special Offers

© 2021 Water's Edge Dermatology | All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Legal Information
  • Special Offers
  • Patient Portal
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Services
  • Sitemap
  • The Vein Center Overview
  • Patient Resources
  • Blog
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Skin Care Products
  • Locations
  • Find a Vein Center
  • Our Vein Providers
  • Our Providers
  • Insurance Accepted
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Join Us
© 2021 Water's Edge Dermatology | All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Legal Information

Water’s Edge Dermatology is a leading full service dermatology practice providing medical dermatology, surgical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, skin cancer treatment, and plastic surgery, and Vein Centers. Water’s Edge Dermatology has 37 office locations throughout Florida.

Water's Edge Dermatology is a proud member of the AQUA family of practices.
Aqua Dermatology Footer Logo