What Causes Dry Hands?

If you’re wondering what causes dry hands, you’re not alone. Between 60 and 70% of the population experience some degree of dry skin throughout their lives.

In fact, it is so common in European countries that the prevalence, predictors and comorbidity of dry skin in the general population has been the subject of academic study in Germany. Here they found that up to 29.4% of their 48 630 study subjects had what is termed ‘xerotic’ skin.

Malée Natural Science has developed a range of products to address severely dry skin. This includes hydrating body crème, repairing tissue oil, and a range of anti-aging hand creams featuring traditional ingredients that have been used by African women for centuries. However, it helps to know what’s causing dry skin before you try to treat it. Here are four common causes of dry hands.

What causes dry hands? 4 Common causes and solutions

Underlying eczema

You may have persistently dry hands that don’t respond to the use of lotions and creams at all. Therefore, you may have condition called hand eczema which is a form of skin inflammation. Normally, the symptoms of this condition includes itchy, reddened, dry skin. Eczema can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, allergies, environmental irritants and genetics. If you suspect that you have this condition, it is best to seek the advice and care of a qualified dermatologist.

Dry air (indoors and outdoors)

In winter, dry air outside and ‘forced air’ indoors (heaters, air-conditioners, etc.) can bring down humidity levels. This can make skin feel dry and itchy. The simplest way to address it is to avoid air-conditioned environments if you can. Moreover, to invest in a humidifier that can restore the moisture in the air in your home.

Lots of handwashing and sanitiser use

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to adopt more rigorous handwashing regimes. In South Africa, you also have to sanitise your hands upon entering almost every store or public space. While this is a good rule of thumb to keep disease from spreading. It can also lead to dry and irritable skin on the hands. The best course of action is to carry a small tube of moisturiser to keep your skin barrier intact while adhering to hygiene precautions.

Dehydration and improper diet

Sometimes you have to look at root causes to find the origin on symptoms like dry hands. Dehydration occurs when your body’s systems do not have enough moisture to run efficiently. Since the skin is the body’s largest organ, it tends to bear the brunt of a lack of moisture before any other systems come into play. Address dry skin by drinking plenty of fluids and adding hydrating foods like cucumber, apples, oranges, tomatoes, broccoli etc. to your diet.

Now that you know these four common causes of dry hands, it will be that much easier to address it from a preventative point of view. Keep an eye on the blog in coming weeks and months for more expert insight on keeping your skin looking young and feeling wonderful right throughout the year.

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