The cold winter air can be harsh on our skin. Your hands, in particular, can feel the sting of colder temperatures. Not only can they end up dry and chapped due to the weather, but frequent hand-washing to help prevent illness can also lead to your hands suffering during the winter. Sometimes your hands can become dry enough to crack and bleed, especially in between your fingers and around your nails and knuckles. Taking good care of your hands can help to keep your skin soft and prevent dry, scaly, and flaky skin. Take a look at these tips to protect your hands in winter.

Protect Your Hands from the Cold

Shielding your hands from the cold is the first step you can take to protect them. Wearing gloves or mittens will help to keep the cold, dry air away from your hands. Some people prefer mittens, especially in very cold temperatures, because it keeps your fingers together and so can be warmer. In addition to wearing gloves (preferably waterproof), it’s a good idea to use an SPF product on your hands. The sun doesn’t go away in the winter and it’s still important to protect your skin from its effects.

Find a Hand Cream You Like

Moisturizing your hands is a must during the winter. One of the best ways to do this is to use a hand cream, but some people struggle to find one they enjoy using. Hand creams can often feel sticky or you might not like the fragrance, which isn’t great when it’s all over your hands. Taking some time to find a hand cream that you like can make a big difference. Many of them are designed to feel light and absorb into your skin so you’re not left with a sticky residue. You can also find options that don’t have strong scents if that’s what you prefer.

Use the Right Soap

Another way to keep your hands moisturized is by using a moisturizing soap. We often wash our hands more during the winter to help prevent colds and other illnesses, but this can dry out our hands more. Switching to a luxury hand soap will help you to take good care of your hands so that they don’t dry out. Avoid too much hand-washing too, as dry hands could actually harbor more bacteria compared to well-moisturized hands. While it’s important to wash your hands, you can overdo it.

Avoid Drying Out Your Hands

It’s also smart to avoid some things that could dry out your hands even more. For example, using hand sanitizers might make your hands drier. These products are often alcohol-based, which can leave your hands feeling dry. Additionally, using hand dryers could also make your hands feel dry. Make sure you dry your hands thoroughly after washing them but consider using a towel or paper towel if it’s available to avoid dryness.

Take care of your hands during the winter and you can keep your skin soft and prevent any problems.