How To Prevent Dry, Cracked Hands This Winter
Is your hand sanitizer causing your hands to dry out and crack? Hand sanitizers can kill bacteria and germs thanks to their high alcohol content. However, these formulas also introduce a new problem: dry skin. Follow these tips to keep your hands from drying out this winter: (1) Look for non-drying ingredients. Added ingredients in hand sanitizers can help prevent some of the drying effects of alcohol. For example, look for ingredients like aloe vera or glycerin to help the skin retain moisture and soothe irritation. (2) Prevent dryness with moisturizer. Strengthen your skin barrier with the liberal use of moisturizers that contain emollients and ceramides. (3) Opt for washing your hands instead of constantly using hand sanitizer when possible. Soaps can still be drying, but they often don't contain as much alcohol. After washing, apply moisturizer immediately to rebuild the skin's moisture barrier.
