Chapped Hands | Prevention
MORE: 9 Bad Habits That Make Your Winter Skin So Much Worse Bolster Your Barrier The skin on the hands acts like a barrier to keep moisture in, says Monica Halem, MD. If this barrier is disrupted by extreme weather conditions , sun exposure, dry air, or certain disease processes, the result can be very dry, itchy, red, cracked, and sore hands. To combat this, reestablish the skin barrier on your hands. “The skin barrier is made of three key elements—ceremide, cholesterol, and triglyceride,” Halem says. There are several creams and lotions on the market that contain all three ingredients; check the label to make sure all three are listed. “And keep in mind that a cream (oil-water mix) is much richer than a lotion (water-oil mix), and better to use for dry hands,” she says. Don't Go Near The Water Although you were probably taught to wash your hands often throughout the day, if you have chapped hands, water is not your friend. In fact, water is the worst influence for chapped hands....
