Struggling with dry hands can be painful. There is no question that being diligent about keeping them protected when doing housework or gardening, and unfailingly applying moisturizer whenever the opportunity arises can make all the difference in the world. Yet even those following this due diligence can still suffer from bone-dry, cracked, parched hands. Clearly, it is essential to protect your hands from dish detergent, laundry detergent, excessive washing (medical professionals have a rough time with this one), and irritating ingredients, and also when doing potentially irritating manual work. Wearing gloves to prevent contact with these types of products and ingredients is of the utmost importance. However, a significant number of women may find they are allergic to latex gloves. About 10% of the population has negative reactions, ranging from mild to severe, if they come in contact with latex. If this turns out to be a problem, ask your physician or pharmacist where you can find nonlatex gloves.
The faster you get an emollient moisturizer on your hands after washing, and the longer you can keep it on, the better. It helps to keep small tubes or bottles of emollient moisturizer all over the house, including near the kitchen sink, in the bathroom, at the bedside, and in the garage. Keep more in your car, purse, briefcase, and desk drawer. That way it is never out of reach for a quick application. The best moisturizers for daytime are moisturizing sunscreens whose active ingredient is either avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzylmethane), titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, Tinosorb or ecamsule. However, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide provide an occlusive barrier that can act as a protective layer to retain moisture in the skin while keeping the sun’s rays off the skin. (Bear in mind that brown “sun spots” on the back of hands and arms are a direct result of relentless, daily, unprotected sun exposure.)
Moisturizers such as Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula, Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Cream or Lotion, Curel Extreme Care Body Lotion, Jergens Advanced Therapy Lotion, and countless others are all excellent for use at night. The best approach is to apply moisturizer every chance you get. It is also incredibly helpful to purchase an over – the-counter cortisone cream such as Lanacort or Cortaid to help treat cracks and fissures that may occur, but cortisone creams are only to be used intermittently, not on a regular basis.