Why does the skin on our hands often become dry?
Excessive hand washing in recent days, due to the coronavirus, causes hands to lose moisture and become dry, and can even lead to small cracks or redness.
The soaps and gels we use to wash our hands remove the essential oils present in the skin that maintain its moisture. Preserving this skin barrier, composed of proteins and lipids, is essential for keeping hands protected.
Recommended ingredients for hand care
According to recommendations from our specialist Dr. Javier Pérez Díez, the creams that should be used are those that have a dual function: in addition to moisturizing the skin, they must prevent water from evaporating.
These types of creams include emollient components that help maintain hydration, such as lanolin, jojoba oil and palmitate. They should also contain moisturizing components that increase the amount of water in the skin and prevent its evaporation, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sorbitol, and urea or lactic acid.
Fortunately, there are a variety of hand creams on the market with excellent properties and affordable prices, containing several of these components.
Using these moisturizing creams should be a priority and not limited to just one application per day; instead, apply them five to six times daily. These preventative measures should be taken before the hands show signs of dehydration.