4 skin care tips for your hands

Try these hands-down best tips to care for your digits’ delicate skin

You use them all day, every day, but are you giving your hands the TLC they need? Much like your face, your hands are exposed to the elements more than the other parts of your body. Plus, they’re always in motion: typing on a computer keyboard, taking care of your children, cooking dinner, cleaning up the latest mess, and the list goes on. In 2020, we put our hands through even more, with more frequent washing and sanitizing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The result of not properly pampering your hands? "If you want to know someone’s age, don’t look at their face, look at their hands," says board-certified dermatologist Diane S. Berson, MD, FAAD, an associate professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine-New York Presbyterian Hospital. Once the barrier is compromised—from frequent wetting and not moisturizing enough—Dr. Berson says irritants, allergens, and even infectious particles are more likely to penetrate our skin. This could cause rashes, itchy patches, and other issues. "Severely dry skin can develop cracks—some of which can become deep—and subsequent infections," she adds.

To give your hands the care they crave, deserve, and need, follow these four dermatologist-recommended tips:

1. Carry hand cream with your sanitizer
   By now, you’re used to the routine of spritzing hand sanitizer every time you touch a surface in public and washing your hands the moment you return home. Though it’s smart to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, it’s also putting mega stress on your hands. In fact, Dr. Berson says the same wintertime symptoms, like drying or irritation, can pop up with frequent cleansing and scrubbing.
   
   “Antimicrobial cleansers can often be more drying, and sanitizing gels containing alcohol can strip the skin of our bodies’ naturally moisturizing oils,” she explains. They can also potentially exacerbate chapping, irritation, and eczema. Every time you use a sanitizer or wash, apply a moisturizer, too. This will help to repair the damage—and keep your skin smooth. Using moisturizer after handwashing does not negate your handwashing efforts. Even if your hands are dry from frequent washing, continue washing them to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

2. Protect your hands from changing temperatures
   As the temperature drops, the heat indoors goes up. This makes the air within your home and out in the world drier than in other seasons, causing your hands to become chapped, red, itchy, and in some cases, scaly. This can be uncomfortable for everyone, but particularly for those who suffer from painful skin conditions, like eczema. To protect your hands, Dr. Berson recommends investing in a fragrance-free, dye-free hand cream or ointment. Look for products that contain lipids (like ceramides), humectants (like glycerin and hyaluronic acid), and occlusives (like mineral oil or petrolatum). When these superstar ingredients work together, they ensure your skin is moisturized and hydrated, even on the year’s coldest day. Use products that you squeeze out of a tube, as these are more effective than thinner lotions you pump out of a bottle.
   
   “Moisturizing creams should be used more frequently [in cold weather], especially after wetting the hands,” Dr. Berson adds. Apply your moisturizer when your skin is still damp after bathing or handwashing, or whenever it feels dry.

1. Apply sunscreen
   It seems obvious, but we forget that the sun’s ultraviolet radiation doesn’t discriminate where it lands, and any exposed skin is at risk. When you don’t protect your hands from these harmful rays, Dr. Berson says, you can develop discolored spots (called lentigines or age spots), roughness, wrinkling, and dryness. Hands are also prone to developing precancerous spots called actinic keratoses (AKs), which can turn into squamous cell carcinoma, the second-most-common type of skin cancer.
   
   To ward off these early signs of aging and protect your health, she recommends applying daily sunscreen year-round to all skin not covered by clothing—including your hands— when you are going to be outside. "There are brands that have sunscreens targeted for the body rather than face, often a lotion that spreads easily. But the most important thing is for your sunscreen to be broad-spectrum, water-resistant, have an SPF of at least 30, and spread well for even application prior to going out in the sun."

2. Give your hands the star treatment at night
   When settling into an evening of self-care that includes comfy pants and a cozy drink, add a hand-care step to your routine. Dr. Berson recommends soaking your hands in warm water or milk before applying a cream or ointment to seal in moisture. Then, put on cotton gloves. Turn on your humidifier before tucking yourself in, and let the cream do its magic overnight. In the morning, you’ll wake with silky, healthy hands ready to tackle whatever the day—or 2021—has in store.

After all your hands do for you, aren’t they worth the extra care? We think so.