CUSTOMISE, enjoy, and SAVE 10% on 3 essentials with code BESPOKE! Get free shipping on first orders with code WELCOME and on orders $80+ with code COMPSHIP. CUSTOMISE, enjoy, and SAVE 10% on 3 essentials with code BESPOKE! Get free shipping on first orders with code WELCOME and on orders $80+ with code COMPSHIP.

4 Steps to Prevent Dry, Cracked Hands

4 Steps to Prevent Dry, Cracked Hands

Never have we been more conscious of the spread of germs, bacteria and viruses. Cleaning, cleansing, sanitising, scrubbing, wiping and washing our hands, not to mention our environment, is a constant part of our lives now. But this diligence has come with it’s own side effects.

The vicious cycle of keeping our hands sanitised to stay healthy is causing dry, cracked, fissured skin, resulting in unhealthy irritation and inflammation.

So how do we care for the health of our hands while maintaining a healthy environment?

Hands Suffer More from Dryness and Irritation

Our hands are frontline workers. They are constantly exposed to the elements, both hot and cold, and they are the first point of contact for the majority of activities we do... yet more of us have a skincare routine for our face, than our hands. Is it any wonder our hands show our age?

The palms of our hands and the soles of our feet are the only two places on the human body that have no sebaceous (oil) glands, hence why they are more prone to drying and cracking, and need a little extra love when it comes to moisturisation.

Lipids Are The Body’s Natural Moisturisers

Skin is covered in sebaceous glands which secrete lipids through hair follicles. Lipids are the skin’s natural fats that work as a protective barrier from dirt and disease as well as maintaining a moisture barrier to keep our skin hydrated and flexible.

Lipids also aid in the skin’s repair. Bacteria and viruses prefer to lurk in the rips, tears and cracks of the skin than they do on undamaged skin. While hand washing and traditional hand sanitisers are proven behaviours for combating germs, the breakdown of the lipid barrier is creating a surge in transepidermal water loss, resulting in dry, chapped hands.

Transepidermal Water Loss

We’re all aware that washing our hands with soap and water is an effective way to disrupt germs, bacteria, and viruses on the skin. However, as a side effect of (necessary) frequent washing, soap strips the protective lipid barrier on the surface of our skin causing transepidermal water loss (TEWL.)

Our skin barrier is often referred to as the acid mantle (comprising lipids), because its pH balance leans acidic. Frequent hand washing, especially in hot water with antibacterial soap breaks down this top layer of skin, while breaking down the germs, making it vulnerable to dryness, inflammation and infection.

Hand sanitisers with high concentrations of alcohol are also contributing to TEWL resulting in rough, cracked, painful hands.

4 Step Hand Care Routine to Stop Dry Hands

This simple but effective 4 step routine results in nourished, happy and healthy hands.

1. Stop washing hands with synthetic chemical soap

We all know to wash our hands in warm or cold water rather than the stripping elements of hot water. We also need to choose a neutral ph soap or cleansing bar instead of soap full of synthetic ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate or toxic chemicals such as triclosan and parabens. Chemical grade soaps strip both the bad and good bacteria from skin, disrupting the lipid barrier, creating higher susceptibility to allergies and are more damaging to the environment.

2. Moisturise your hands after each wash

The savvy life hack now is to keep several moisturisers near your taps, so they are on hand. The best time to moisturise your hands is when they are damp as the hand cream locks the moisture in. Accessibility is the key. Have the moisturiser within arms reach.

3. Wear gloves

Prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to the hands. Once they are chapped, ripped or flaky it’s difficult to heal because our hands are into everything. Invest in a variety of gloves for gardening, dishwashing, and household chores to protect them from dirt, chemicals and dampness.

4. Overnight occlusive moisture

Your hands will love being treated to an overnight hydration treatment every so often using a more occlusive moisturiser. Simply slather them in your favourite moisturiser, pop them in white cotton gloves or clean socks and sleep. You’ll wake up to the most supple, nourished skin, which promotes the healing process.

Set Your Best Environment

Moisture is the key to keeping your hands in good condition. Hand cream is such a simple, effective solution to dry, cracked and irritated hands - the trick is to always have it accessible. Invest in several tubes and leave them everywhere, especially in the bathroom, nightstand, car and desk. Reach for one now.