Dry hands in winter: how to keep them supple

For many, they are as certain as amen in church: dry hands in winter. The skin bites and itches and, to make matters worse, looks ugly and unkempt. That's enough of that! Find out what's behind rough hands in winter and how, with a little patience and care, you can take care of them and make them really supple again.

Photo by Angela Roma and Terc

Unlucky hands: Cracked hands in winter

In addition to the beautiful facets such as the cozy holidays, winter holidays and skiing holidays, the winter months also have a downside that some of us almost drive to despair. Rough, chapped and reddened hands , against which nothing seems to grow and which can make you really maggot about the joy of this time of year. Because in addition to the aesthetic factor of unkempt hands, increased suffering also plays a role if the hands hurt or even become inflamed.

We want to try to put an end to this tiresome topic and literally give you tips and tricks with which you can successfully defy dry hands in winter in the future. Hands out of pockets and let's go!

Be honest: Why are hands dry in winter?

To combat the symptom of dry hands, let's take a look at where this dry skin actually comes from in winter.

External influencing factors

On the one hand there are the external stressors, above all cold and wind as well as heating air , which make things difficult for the hands in winter. In addition, there are daily routines that further attack the already irritated skin due to the factors just mentioned. These include, above all, frequent hand washing, irritating substances in cleaning agents and disinfectants as well as insufficient or incorrect hand care.

Internal Influencing Factors

As with all skin problems, the external influences are accompanied by internal factors. This includes genetics, diet and drinking habits , and your lifestyle in general. The well-known winter blues can also affect your body and have a negative effect on the skin, because stress , no matter what form, it doesn't like at all.

❄️ By the way : The problem of dry skin in winter does not only refer to the hands. Legs and lips are also often affected. In two other articles we have therefore summarized for you what you can do against dry skin on your legs and chapped lips .

Main problem: disturbed skin barrier

Cold temperatures + excessive hand washing + dry heating air = rough hands. Yes, but let's dig a little deeper and see what exactly happens when we expose our skin to the above stressors without protection. The main problem is that they attack the skin's natural protective layer and make it more permeable. This leads to moisture loss and dry hands. In addition, the skin already produces less fat in winter, which acts as a protective film to prevent dehydration.

Since our hands are used every day and are exposed to a wide variety of substances, they react all the more sensitively to additional stress in winter - such as cold weather . This particularly affects the back of the hand and the fingers, since these zones are not protected by a thick horny layer like the palms of the hands.

If allergy-triggering substances, bacteria or fungi also enter the skin through the cracked areas, which are nothing more than tiny wounds, eczema or inflammatory changes can occur . The aim should therefore be to keep the skin's natural protective barrier intact and strengthen it, especially in the winter months, in order to stand up to dry hands.

Lend a hand: What to do against rough hands in winter?

Do you wish for beautiful and soft hands, even in winter? Then pay attention, because we have summarized the three most important points on the way there for you. As a rule of thumb, simply remember the three capital Hs :

1. washing hands
2. skincare _
3. gloves _

By washing your hands correctly, or rather gently, and by protecting them from external influences, you can prevent moisture loss and thus dehydration. With the right care, cracked hands will soon be a thing of the past.

One hand washes the other: Gentle hand washing

Let's start with the first H: washing hands . You might think that water has a positive effect on the moisture balance of the skin. But the opposite is the case. Frequent washing of hands with surfactants and soap flushes out the skin's own fats . The result is a weakened skin barrier and lack of moisture.

You should therefore pay attention to the following when washing your hands:

• Use lukewarm water instead of hot or cold water
• Buy mild, alcohol-free and fragrance-free soap
• Rely on real natural cosmetic hand washing lotions without alcohol and perfumes that use milder surfactants than classic products
• Don't use too much soap
• Wash the soap completely off the skin
• Dab hands, do not rub dry

Tip : Boiling your own soap is one way to get a mild soap for your hands and the rest of your body. If that is too time-consuming, we recommend natural soaps . In addition to the high concentration of natural ingredients, they are packaged sparingly and are therefore environmentally friendly.

In good hands: Rich care with the Five Shea Cream

Let's move on to the second H: skincare . For regular hand lotion in winter, we recommend FIVE Shea Cream with organic shea butter, which supports skin regeneration . Organic jojoba and argan oil help to store moisture and make the skin nice and supple. It is our natural wonder weapon against dry hands and a true all-rounder.

Dry hands despite applying lotion - that's what's behind it

In addition to the intensive care and protection against wind and weather, our care balm with shea butter is one thing above all: free of emulsifiers . Emulsifiers ensure that the watery and oily components in creams combine to form an emulsion so that they can be better absorbed by the skin. So far so good. But even if the cream has long been absorbed, the emulsifiers stored in the skin continue to work diligently. They use what is left over, namely the skin's own fats, and combine them with water that comes into contact with the skin when washing hands or showering. The result: the emulsifiers are rinsed off together with the protective skin oils. It is therefore possible that you suffer from rough hands in winter despite constant creaming. Rinse off skin oils. It is therefore possible that you suffer from rough hands in winter despite constant creaming.

Creaming needs to be learned

⏰ The right time : In order to avoid the "wash-out effect", you should neither wash your hands nor shower for about 2 hours after applying the cream. A good time to apply cream is in the evening, before going to bed.

💧 So that our FIVE Shea Cream can be well absorbed by your skin, you should apply it to damp to wet hands and massage it in.

☝️ SOS tip hand mask : If your hands are particularly brittle and cracked, a hand mask can work wonders overnight. Before going to bed, spread a hazelnut-sized portion of FIVE Shea Cream on your hands that have been moistened with water and massage them in well. You can also treat yourself to a small hand massage , which has a beneficial effect against stress and tense hands. Put on light cotton gloves overnight so that excess balm can be gradually absorbed by the skin and does not end up on the bed linen .

Not to be dismissed out of hand: protect gloves

Now we come to the third and final H: Gloves . They are and will remain the best way to protect your hands from icy winds and cold temperatures outdoors. With them you prevent moisture loss and micro-injuries, which is half the battle when it comes to hand care in winter. Additionally, you can give your hands an extra "coat of protection" by applying a generous amount of FIVE Shea Cream as a cold balm before leaving the house.

Last but not least: drink, drink, drink

And by that we mean, of course, no alcohol! Adequate hydration is extremely important for the entire body and especially for the skin as its largest organ. In summer it is easier for us to drink enough because we move more and feel a natural thirst when it is hot. When it's cold, the feeling of thirst subsides and we tend to forget to drink.

🍵 If you're too "bored" with water, spice it up with a slice of lemon or orange and some mint leaves. It's best to fill up a whole jug right away and put it on your desk so that you're constantly reminded to drink. Or prepare a pot of aromatic herbal tea as soon as you get up in the morning – it not only hydrates you, but also warms you up from the inside in winter.

Is obvious: care ABC for supple hands in winter

• By not washing your hands gently with natural cosmetic surfactants or soaps too often , you avoid damaging the protective film on the skin.
• Valuable, natural active ingredients in your daily hand care regenerate the skin and store moisture.
• Gloves protect your hands outdoors from climatic influences and prevent dehydration and micro-injuries.
• Beautiful hands also come from within. Reduce stress , drink a lot and clarify possible skin diseases with your doctor.