Winter is a real challenge for the skin of your hands. Frosty air, sudden temperature changes, dry indoor air from heating and frequent hand washing all take their toll: the skin becomes dry, flaky and painful cracks may appear. If you notice that your regular cream is no longer helping, you need an intensive SOS hand care routine for winter. Joy-pup explains how to restore the skin of your hands and protect it from winter problems.
Why the skin on your hands suffers in winter
The skin on your hands is much thinner than on other parts of the body, and there are no sebaceous glands on the palms at all. This makes it especially vulnerable to external factors. In winter, the situation worsens due to cold wind, which destroys the protective lipid barrier, and dry indoor air. Add hot water and aggressive detergents — and your hands already need urgent help. That is why it is important to give your hands special attention during the cold season and provide them with SOS care.
Cleansing without overdrying
To bring back comfort, start with proper cleansing. Harsh soaps and alcohol-based antiseptics dry out the skin and damage its lipid layer. It is better to use gentle cream gels or foam cleansers without sulfates that contain glycerin, shea butter, almond oil or oat extracts. After every hand wash, you should apply a cream — at this moment the skin is most receptive to nourishing ingredients.
Nourishment and repair
For SOS repair, include overnight hand masks in your routine. Apply a thick layer of nourishing cream with oils (shea, cocoa, macadamia) or a pharmacy product with panthenol, then put on cotton gloves. Overnight, the active ingredients penetrate deeply into the skin, relieving tightness. This kind of compression enhances the effect several times — in the morning you will notice a significant improvement.
If your skin is very dry or has cracks, use special restorative balms with allantoin, vitamin E or Centella asiatica. These ingredients speed up the healing of microcracks and relieve discomfort.
At-home care
Once or twice a week, you can treat your hands to a nourishing mask. Warm olive, avocado or jojoba oil softens the skin and saturates it with fatty acids. Add a few drops of vitamin E — this enhances the regenerating effect. It is convenient to do the mask overnight by wrapping your hands in plastic wrap and putting on gloves — in the morning the skin will be smooth and soft.
Daytime protection
Before going outside, always apply a protective barrier cream. Products with beeswax, lanolin or silicones create a thin invisible film that prevents moisture loss and protects against chapping. Ideally, the cream should contain SPF, as the winter sun can also damage the skin. Don’t forget about gloves! Even if it’s not very cold outside, your hands still need mechanical protection from the wind. When doing household chores, also use gloves — household chemicals and hot water often cause cracks and irritation.
Exfoliation
People with dry hands often avoid scrubs, but gentle exfoliation is actually necessary. Dead skin cells prevent moisturizing ingredients from penetrating. Use delicate enzyme peels or very mild scrubs once a week, and apply a nourishing cream afterwards.
Regular care
SOS care is not a one-time measure but a regular system of protection. Consistent care strengthens the skin, helps it recover faster and prevents dryness in the future. Gentle treatment and proper habits will keep your hands soft and well-groomed even in the coldest weather.
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