Hand cream is a cosmetic that almost every one of us uses. We carry it in our purse, it stands on our nightstand. The choice of cream should be adapted to the individual needs of the skin - a different formula will work well in the case of very dry hand skin, another moisturizes the skin of the hands, and yet another protects the skin from external factors. Remember that a good hand product should be pleasant to use. It is best to choose natural creams! If you read this article to the end, buying the best cream will no longer be a problem.
Why do we need protective hand creams?
Studies have shown that the touch receptors on the skin of the hands are spaced about 15.3 mm apart, while on the back of the neck the distance is about 36.2 mm. This means that the hands are more exposed to irritants and environmental conditions and we should always spend a few minutes a day taking care of the skin on our hands.
The perfect hand cream makes taking care of your hands a small daily ritual of self-care. We use it because our hands work every day – we wash them, expose them to the cold, sun, detergents. And if we feel dry skin on our hands, it is a sign that the skin is calling for help.
In our opinion, it is best to choose a natural hand cream. It envelops the hands in softness, moisturizes, soothes, makes them smooth and pleasant to the touch again. Additionally, when the cream smells beautiful, it will be appreciated not only by dry hands but also by our senses.
How do we know if we have dry hands?
Each of us uses or has used a moisturizing hand cream . But how do we know what the proper hydration should be? It can be measured.
The test is performed with a corneometer, and the generally accepted scale is as follows:
- < 30 – very dry skin, requiring intensive care
- 30–40 – dry skin, but not extremely dry
- 40–50 – moderately moisturized, healthy skin
- 50–60 – well-moisturized skin
- > 60 – very well moisturized skin, optimal hydrolipid barrier
Factors that affect dry hands
Hand skin hydration depends on many factors, both internal (e.g. health, diet) and external. Internal factors include body hydration, fatty acid deficiency, diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis or diabetes, and hormonal balance.
External factors influencing dry hands, the impact of which will be insignificant if we take proper care of the skin of our hands.
Wash your hands frequently
Washing your hands with water and detergents (especially hot water) removes the natural lipid layer, which leads to dryness of the skin.
Disinfectants
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers degrease the skin and can cause irritation and dryness. The effects of hand sanitizers can lead to skin irritation on the hands. Studies have shown that people who regularly use such products experience symptoms such as dryness, roughness, burning and itching of the skin.
Research conducted among laboratory diagnosticians using a corneometer has shown that the average hydration of the skin of our hands is 6.05 units, with values above 40 units being considered correct hydration.
Weather conditions
Low air humidity, cold and wind increase water loss through the epidermis.
UV radiation
Prolonged exposure to sun can lead to degradation of skin lipids and increased TEWL (transepidermal water loss).
Contact with chemicals
Working in an environment where your hands are exposed to detergents, solvents, cleaning agents or chemicals contributes to dryness.
Wearing protective gloves
Although gloves protect against external factors, prolonged wearing (especially latex and vinyl) can lead to sweaty hands and a compromised skin barrier.
Improper care of the skin of your hands
No use of moisturizing creams
Regular use of emollients and humectants (e.g. hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea) helps maintain skin moisture.
Type of cosmetics used
Products containing denatured alcohol, parabens and strong detergents (e.g. SLS, SLES) may impair skin hydration.
Too frequent peeling
Excessive exfoliation can weaken the hydrolipid layer and increase skin dryness.
What hand cream?
What should a good hand cream contain? Such a cream should be characterized by a properly selected composition that moisturizes the skin of the hands, protects the skin and properly regenerates. It should have a pleasant smell because this is also important. It is crucial that it contains humectant substances, such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid, which bind water in the epidermis, preventing drying.
Emollients also play an important role, such as shea butter or vegetable oils (e.g. almond oil, jojoba), which create an occlusive layer that limits moisture loss and supports the reconstruction of the lipid barrier.
A good hand care product should contain soothing substances such as allantoin, panthenol or plant extracts that help reduce irritation and accelerate the regeneration of the epidermis.
In the case of mature skin or skin exposed to intense external factors, it is advisable to enrich the formula with antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E, coenzyme Q10), which neutralize free radicals and slow down the aging process.
Buying the best hand cream won't work if it doesn't have the right ingredients. In our opinion, the best hand cream is a natural cream with a strong active ingredient.
What consistency should a hand cream have?
A good hand cream should also have the right consistency. The ideal cream absorbs quickly, does not leave an unpleasant stickiness, but on the other hand creates an effective protective layer.
It is also important that its pH is close to the physiological pH of the skin (approx. 5.5), which will ensure its natural balance and prevent irritation.
Natural hand creams
The ideal hand cream is a natural cream, without parabens, without petroleum derivatives. It should be pleasant to use, perfectly moisturize and smooth the skin of the hands.
- Cream for dry and chapped hands
Even the best moisturizer is not enough for cracked and dry hands. Do we need specialist hand care products in this case? Yes, we should use creams prescribed by a dermatologist. Most often, such creams contain stronger medicinal ingredients than those available over the counter, such as steroids. For chronic skin problems, a doctor may prescribe a cream with tacrolimus or pimecrolimus.
- Moisturizing hand cream
The use of moisturizing creams is essential in everyday care of the skin of your hands. A good product should contain moisturizing, regenerating and protective ingredients , have a light, quickly absorbing formula and be free from irritants. It is ideal for everyday use, especially after washing your hands and exposure to external factors.
- Protective hand cream
Protective hand creams are essential in many professions, especially where the skin of the hands is exposed to harmful factors. Healthcare workers, hairdressers, builders and gardeners should always have a tube of hand cream on hand.
The best hand cream - Snail slime cream for hand skin care
The perfect hand cream is a cream with snail slime. In cosmetics, snail slime is valued for its moisturizing, rejuvenating, and discoloration-whitening properties.
The cream moisturizes the skin of the hands, supports the healing of minor epidermis damage and prevents inflammation.
It is an ingredient especially recommended for people whose hand skin is exposed to external factors such as detergents, wind or low temperatures.
The cream absorbs quickly into the skin and does not leave it greasy. The effectiveness of the cream is confirmed by application studies, which we present below.
| gives the skin a silky smoothness | 100% |
| gives the effect of long-lasting skin hydration | 92% |
| long-lastingly and deeply regenerates the skin of your hands | 96% |
| soothes (possible) skin irritations on the hands | 100% |
| evens out the skin tone of the hands | 68% |
| eliminates the feeling of rough and dry hand skin | 100% |
| gives the effect of elasticity and firming of the skin of the hands | 96% |
| absorbs quickly | 100% |
| does not leave a greasy or sticky layer | 100% |
| protects against unfavorable environmental conditions | 92% |
| gives the feeling of nourished hand skin | 100% |
| gives a feeling of moisturized hand skin after the first application | 100% |
In addition to concentrated snail slime, it contains glycerin, Fucocert® complex, mango butter, rice oil, trehalose , jojoba oil and aloe .
Many people ask - What hand cream to use for men? The same hand skin care creams are for women and men.
Opinions confirmed by purchase
The effectiveness of the cream is confirmed not only by research but also expressed in opinions after purchase. Here are a few of them.
- Great, non-allergenic, does not leave a greasy layer, moisturizes and smoothes well 💪🔥 I highly recommend it.
- nice consistency of the cream, moisturizes the skin of the hands well
- Absorbs quickly into the skin, has a delicate scent, great for dry hands
- I recommend this hand cream in a tube! The best cream I've ever had
- The perfect cream for winter
- effective protective cream for dry hands
- the cream smells beautiful, the product is as described
Most of us have dry hands and we need to take care of the proper care of the skin on our hands. Let's choose natural creams!
Here are some scientific sources about hand skin:
- Hand skin hydration testing by laboratory diagnosticians.
Link: https://medpr.imp.lodz.pl/pdf-125752-59343?filename=59343.pdf - The impact of disinfectants on the skin of the hands.
Link: https://aestheticcosmetology.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ke2017.3-5.pdf - Prevention of hand dermatoses in catering establishments.
Link: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/05ba/a58806f1f70e54f8e4e17616beb9ddb1f53c.pdf - Distribution of touch receptors on the skin of the hand. Link https://zpe.gov.pl/a/skora/DQ3VGmLg
