What causes cracked hands?

Cracked hands are not only unpleasant, but also unattractive to look at for many people. They are often scaly and look wrinkled. There are many causes that can lead to cracked hands. Genetic predisposition is also one of them, but is rather rare. The weather often plays a more important role, as your hands are constantly exposed to fluctuating temperatures, especially in winter. The dry heating air does the rest. In addition, the formation of oil on our skin is reduced as the blood supply decreases when the outside temperature is colder. Excessive exposure to the sun and heat can also cause your hands to become dry and cracked. This is particularly the case in dry heat.

In addition, excessive personal hygiene, in this case washing your hands too often, is often a possible cause. If you wash your hands too often, you are damaging the skin's acid protection. Excessive washing with soap removes not only dirt but also the body's own oil, which is a protective layer for your skin. As the skin on the back of the hand is particularly thin and there are not many sebaceous glands, this area is particularly sensitive. Frequent immersion of the hands in water containing chemicals, such as cleaning water, or frequent disinfection damages the skin's natural protective layer enormously.

In addition to these causes, nicotine, alcohol, stress or hormonal fluctuations as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies can also have a negative effect on the skin and cause cracked hands. With increasing age, the formation of oil also decreases as your skin retains less water. The fact that your hands become more cracked with age is therefore a completely natural process.

Prevent cracked hands

Above all, avoiding frequent hand washing can quickly remedy the situation. Use mild, moisturizing soap and only lukewarm water. pH-neutral soaps are particularly suitable for this. Wearing gloves helps to protect your hands from negative influences when cleaning or working in the garden.

In the cold season, it is also beneficial to put on warm gloves to protect your hands from the cold. If your hands are not chilled in the first place, they are not too exposed to temperature fluctuations. You can also apply a preventative cream to your hands in cold temperatures to create an artificial protective layer on the skin. Tip:How to make your own hand cream!

You should also avoid drying your hands under a hot air dryer, which is often found in public toilets. If possible, always grab a towel and pat your hands dry with it.

Also remember to always drink enough, as your acid mantle not only needs fat, but also sufficient water. Treat yourself to occasional skin peelings, for example with a mixture of olive oil and sugar. This removes dead skin cells and stimulates the formation of new skin.

Treating chapped hands

If your hands are often scaly, possibly even bloody and very itchy, it is advisable to see a doctor first. They can determine whether there is a possible skin disease. Atopic dermatitis or psoriasis are particularly common diseases with these symptoms. Doctors often prescribe creams containing cortisone for these symptoms. However, these should be used with caution. The hormone dampens the overreaction of the immune system, so you should only use the cream until the severe symptoms have subsided. Too long and frequent use of the creams can have the exact opposite effect and cause your hands to become even drier.

Alternatively, there are also some home remedies that can help against chapped hands. These include

• Quark
• jojoba oil
• coconut oil
• shea butter
• Vaseline
• Olive oil
• Evening primrose oil
• Aloe vera gel
• A mixture of almond oil and buttermilk

The best way to use these products is to apply them generously to your hands, cover them with a cloth or cotton gloves and leave them to soak in overnight. However, an oil bath or hand bath lasting around 10 minutes can also work wonders.

Another tried and tested home remedy is a warm oatmeal pack. Simply soak a cup of oatmeal in warm water and then apply it to the affected areas for around 10 minutes. If your fingernails are also affected by dryness, you can treat them with gelatine. Simply soak 3 sheets of gelatine in hot water and apply to the back of your hand and fingernails for around 20 minutes.

It is also important that you have a little patience. Most home remedies do not work immediately, but require regular use. However, if you use them for a few days, you should soon see an improvement.