How to help dry skin

First, it’s ideal to use a soap that is hypoallergenic, free of irritants and perfumes, said Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist. Also, soap in bar form tends to have fewer chemicals and more moisture content.

Next, Davis recommends washing in comfortably warm water — not scalding hot water. Scrub between your fingers, including your thumbs, under your rings, the back of your hands and around your wrists. The same is true when rinsing.

Pat your hands dry instead of rubbing or scrubbing, Davis recommends.

“I would suggest using linen, such as a cotton towel, over a paper towel,” she said. “But using either a paper or cotton towel is preferable to letting the hands air dry. Air drying only lets the skin dry out more due to diffusion and evaporation of moisture off the skin, and then if you shake your hands dry you might contaminate surfaces if you happen to have any germs left on your skin.”

Apply an allergen-free or hypo-allergenic lotion or cream to the skin, and rub it in gently, making sure to get between the digits and include the wrists.

“If you don’t feel that your hands are moist enough, simply wait 30 seconds to a minute, then reapply,” Davis said. “If you think your skin needs more help, you could apply a cream or a lotion first. Then use an ointment on your second application to seal it in like a roof. That allows sort of a greenhouse effect.”

If you’ve tried layered moisturizing and it isn’t helping, Davis recommends kicking it up a notch. “Something that in dermatology we call a wet dressing, and, with my patients, I’ve nicknamed the ‘skin burrito.’”

Before bed, wash your hands and pat them dry. Put on two layers of your thickest, most effective hypoallergenic lotion or cream — not ointments. Ointments won’t absorb into the skin. Put a teaspoon of white vinegar into a glass or small bowl of warm water, and soak two clean washcloths. Wring them out and wrap around your hands. Cover your hands with socks.