Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

3 Unexpected Reasons Your Hands Are Dry & Scaly ( + What To Do About It)

Alexandra Engler
Author:
February 05, 2024
Alexandra Engler
Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Director
By Alexandra Engler
Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Director
Alexandra Engler is the senior beauty and lifestyle director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com.
Woman Applying Cream to Hands
Image by Studio Firma / Stocksy
February 05, 2024

There are a few areas of the body that deal with chapped, dry skin more often than most. The lips certainly experience their fair share of flakes and cracks. Elbows are often rough or ashy (especially this time of year). Even the skin around the eyes is prone to dry patches more so than the rest of the face. 

But in my opinion, the worst area to get dry patches on is the hands. Cracked, angry skin here isn't just annoying, itchy, or unpleasant to look at, it can be downright painful. It's all the more frustrating considering how much folks rely on hands for our day-to-day—dry skin on the hands isn't something one can easily forget about. 

And while dry hands are more common this time of year (thanks to cold, dry weather and indoor heating!), there are many other reasons that cracked skin just won't go away—that has nothing to do with the time of year. 

Here, the most surprising—and frustrating—reasons hands experience dry, scaly skin. 

Not moisturizing immediately after washing 

Washing your hands regularly is a must. But there's no denying the fact that it can strip your skin of important barrier lipids, and when your lipid barrier is continuously compromised, cracks and scaly, itchy skin tend to follow suit. 

That's why restoring those lipids is crucial, which you can easily do with a nutrient-rich hand cream.

Derms generally recommend applying your cream ASAP, but according to board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., any time under two minutes can lock in the moisture—just don't put it off any longer than that. 

"If you wait too long, you miss that narrow window of opportunity to really trap and seal those nourishing ingredients in the skin before all the water evaporates off the surface, further compromising your skin," she told us.

 Age-related skin barrier damage

When we talk about changes to the skin and hands due to age, fine lines, dark spots, and crepey skin come to mind. But one of the most insidious changes is loss of hydration. 

As you grow older, your skin loses structural components that keep it supple and strong. We're looking at you, collagen, elastin, squalene, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and so on. Your body's natural oil production also decreases1 as you age, which can result in cracks and fine lines. 

When these elements break down or decline, your skin barrier function suffers—and a weak barrier doesn't hold in water as well. This is known as transepidermal water loss2, and it's when moisture in the skin literally evaporates into the air around you. 

It's why derms often tout the importance of moisture and a good, thick cream to keep the skin hydrated. It's important to find formulas that use humectants, emollients, and occlusive ingredients, as these work together to keep skin hydrated long term.

Humectants attract and hold water in the skin, so they're great for water retention. Look for aloe vera, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Emollients help support the skin barrier, providing nutrients to bolster the skin. Look for ingredients like oat extracts, ceramides, peptides, and botanical oils. Occlusives sit atop the skin, sealing all the moisture in and creating a barrier. Look for shea butter, thick plant oils (like olive or coconut), and waxes. 

I also recommend finding antioxidant-rich hand creams, which can help the skin fight free radical damage and avoid further signs of aging. There are many excellent antioxidants, but a few of my favorites are vitamins C and E and CoQ10

Sulfates in hand washes 

Sulfates—such as sodium lauryl sulfate or Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)—are harsh detergents that disrupt the microbiome3, strip the skin of its protective barrier, and can trigger inflammation4. This is why most beauty companies have started moving away from the ingredient, switching to more gentle alternatives instead. 

However, sulfates are still quite ubiquitous in the hand care space. While you can't always control what hand wash you're using (public bathrooms, for example), I do recommend switching to a sulfate-free hand wash in your home.

Look for plant-based surfactants such as cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium methyl oleoyl taurate, and sodium cocoyl glycinate (although there are many more sulfate alternatives—too many to list—so just look for brands that note the formula is sulfate-free). Bonus points if the hand soap is formulated with moisturizing ingredients as well, such as aloe, glycerin, and botanical oils. Check out our favorite sulfate-free hand washes here

The takeaway

Dry hands are rampant, particularly this time of year. Everything from over-washing to age-related skin changes could be to blame. If you struggle in this department, try switching to a sulfate-free hand wash and following up immediately with an antioxidant-rich moisturizer.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Lifestyle
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.