Hand Cream Tips for Winter
One of the issues that often comes up in the office is moisturizing and during the winter dry hands. I thought I’d share some favorite hand creams to keep your hands looking great this winter.
What do different ingredients in moisturizer do? And which ones should you look for in a hand cream?
Ceramides – First introduced in Cerave products, ceramides are a key ingredient in the best moisturizers. Ceramides are a type of fat or lipid that makes up over 50% of the outer layer of the skin and skin barrier. Some patients, particularly those with eczema, are deficient in ceramides. Use of a moisturizer with ceramides can help restore ceramides in our skin barrier.
Dimethicone is a form of silicone that forms a barrier on the skin that helps minimize water loss. More effective products list Dimethicone as an active ingredient often Dimethicone 1%. Dimethicone gives the skin a silky smooth feel and slip. Creams with a significant amount of dimethicone will often allow water to “bead” on the skin demonstrating its ability to lock in moisture and keep irritants out. This is especially important in hand creams. Examples of commonly available hand creams with a significant amount of dimethicone are Gloves in a Bottle and Cetaphil Cracked Skin Repair Balm and Cerave Therapeutic Hand Cream.
Urea is a humectant meaning it draws water to itself and keratolytic, breaking down the dead dry skin cells that often adhere instead of being shed in a normal manner. For those who are looking for “natural ingredients”, urea circulates in our bloodstream as Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), so it is very safe. Examples of recommended creams with urea are Cetaphil Rough and Bumpy (20%), Eucerin Roughness Relief (10%), Cerave Intensive Repair Lotion (5%)
When should we moisturize? Most moisturizers are best absorbed when the skin is warm and wet. So, immediately after showering or bathing is the best time to apply moisturizers. For hands an additional application just before bed often has more time to penetrate the skin as we sleep.
How often should we moisturize? There is no hard rule on this one. As much as needed to keep your skin feeling good!
Other common tips for keeping your hands nice in winter includes wearing gloves as much as possible when out in the cold and wind.
Links to products I reference
https://www.cetaphil.com/us/products/product-range/cracked-skin-repair
https://www.cerave.com/skincare/moisturizers/therapeutic-hand-cream
https://www.cetaphil.com/us/moisturizers/exfoliating-rough-and-bumpy-cream/302990410341.html
https://www.eucerinus.com/products/roughness-relief/roughness-relief-cream
https://www.cerave.com/skincare/moisturizers/intensive-moisturizing-lotion
