Some of the common causes of dry hands include:

• Cold weather and dry winter air
• Hot, dry air in desert environments
• Taking long, hot baths or showers
• Washing hands frequently
• Natural aging process

If you have very dry hands, use a hand salve, hand ointment or treatment rather than a hand lotion for dry skin and look for dry hand cream with emollient ingredients like Shea Butter and Avocado Oil. In addition to softening and nourishing hands, hand salve can also help lock in moisture to keep hands feeling soft throughout the day. Care for dry skin with our nourishing, moisturizing formulas. Treat dry hands with our intensively hydrating hand salve or try a scented hand cream for dry hands with Vitamin E.

To keep hands feeling soft and cared for, apply a hand salve or cream after each time you wash your hands. If your hands still feel rough or dry, apply hand cream as needed throughout the day. Read on to learn how to prevent and treat dry hands.

In cold weather, the air is often drier and can contribute to skin feeling dry, tight, or rough. If you have dry hands in the winter months, apply a hand cream or salve immediately after washing hands and throughout the day. Be sure to also wear gloves to keep skin protected from harsh temperatures and wind. For very dry hands, apply an intensive emollient treatment to richly moisturize parched skin.

The main difference between a hand salve and hand cream is the texture or thickness. Hand creams are often lightweight while hand salves tend to have higher concentrations of rich emollient ingredients making them ideal for dry and very dry skin. Depending on how dry your hands are, you may want to apply a scented hand cream during the day and a thicker hand salve overnight.

Hand creams tend to absorb quicker and more easily compared to body lotions, leaving hands feeling residue-free. While you can use body lotions on your hands, applying a hand salve or cream will help nourish and soften your hands without impacting your daily activities. Smooth and soften dry hands and feet with rich hydration from Kiehl’s.

Hand soap works at the molecular level by breaking things apart resulting in removing germs. Germs and bacteria are killed through the mechanical hand washing process, while liquid hand soap is a crucial part of removing bacteria, it needs to be emulsified with water to be even more effective. It is also crucial to thoroughly dry hands after washing, as wet hands are more likely to spread germs.

Both hand soap and hand sanitizers are effective in the handwashing process. Hand sanitizers are a great option if you are in a pinch or on the go, but many prefer hand soap to rid their hands of bacteria and germs. Sanitizer helps to kill viruses and bacteria, however with liquid hand soap you can physically remove dirt and debris with water and wash it down the drain.

Washing your hands with soap should be a 5 step process. First, wet hands with running water and apply hand soap. There are many types, but most common are moisturizing hand soap or foaming hand soaps. Second, lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap, be sure to lather the back of your hands, under your nails, and between each finger. Third, scrub hands for at least 20 seconds to begin the bacteria removal process. Fourth, rinse off soap under cleaning running water. The water can be warm or cold, but hot water may be damaging to the skin. Lastly, be sure to dry hands using a clean towel.

Scrubbing your hands for 20 to 30 seconds is a sufficient amount of time to remove germs and bacteria from the hands.