Find out why your hands and feet dry and what you can do, according to your dermatologist, to prevent it.
Dry skin is a common problem, so the obvious solution is to apply moisturizing creams and serums to your face. But while you’re taking care of your face, did you know that your hands and feet can get dry too? It may appear dull, cracked, or rough, especially in the colder months, and is sometimes unusually dry even when the weather is not severe. Let’s find out why this happens, when it can mean something serious, and finally, how you can prevent dry hands and feet.
Read also: A dermatologist reveals what happens to your skin when you suffer from obesity: “Wound healing is weakened…”
HT Lifestyle reached out to dermatologist Dr Akanksha Sanghvi, founder of Oprava Aesthetics, who revealed that hands and feet are also affected by dryness. In fact, early signs of aging, pigmentation, dryness and textural changes are often first noticed in these areas. This is especially true in the colder months or among those who miss a body care routine.
“She explained that the areas of the hands and feet are often exposed to harsh environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays, detergents, friction, and frequent washing, but they receive minimal protection and non-continuous hydration.
Why does this dehydration occur?
The dermatologist explained that hands and feet are naturally more susceptible to dryness because they have fewer sebaceous glands, and anyway, during the winter, the skin’s overall oil production declines even further, leaving these areas without its natural protective lipid barrier. Other environmental factors such as cold air, low humidity, heaters, blowers, and frequent washing can strip these areas of what little moisture they have, leaving them rough, irritated, and sometimes cracked. Hot showers and excessive use of disinfectants are also responsible, making the skin more sensitive, inflamed and itchy.
Medical conditions that cause dry skin
Not all dry skin is just superficial; It can also be linked to underlying health issues, which should be identified immediately.
Here are some of the health issues I mentioned:
- Atopic dermatitis (Eczema) usually worsens in the colder months, leading to severe dryness, itching, and flaking.
- Psoriasis The condition is exacerbated in winter, when reduced sunlight and humidity exacerbate skin resurfacing and peeling.
- Hypothyroidism It slows down skin cell turnover and reduces the production of sweat and sebum, resulting in rough, dry skin.
- Diabetes It can cause dehydration due to dehydration, microvascular changes, and decreased sweating associated with neuropathy, particularly affecting the feet.
- Ichthyosis vulgarisIt is a hereditary disorder of keratosis, which worsens in winter, leading to severe flaking and dryness.
- Chronic kidney disease and age-related dehydration Weaken the skin’s natural moisturizing factors.
How to prevent
If it’s mild dryness, here are some dermatologist-recommended tricks to reduce dry hands and feet:
- Use thick, fragrance-free moisturizers that contain ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, urea, lactic acid, or shea butter.
- Apply moisturizer immediately after washing hands (within 30 seconds) to lock in moisture.
- For the feet, applying Vaseline at night followed by cotton socks works very well.
- Ammonium lactate cream is a highly effective treatment for dry or extremely dry skin.
- Avoid using harsh soaps and antibacterial lotions that contain SLS, SLES, chlorhexidine, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol.
- Choose mild, pH-balanced, soap-free cleansers that clean without stripping the skin barrier.
- Avoid vigorous rubbing, especially if the skin is cracked or sensitive.
- You can consider taking ceramide supplements orally, as they help improve skin hydration and barrier function by replenishing the skin’s natural lipid components from within.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions about a medical condition.
Adrija Dey’s penchant for observation feeds her storytelling instinct. As a lifestyle journalist, she creates compelling, relatable narratives across diverse touchpoints of the human experience, including wellness, mental health, relationships, interior design, home decor, food, travel, and fashion that gently nudge readers toward living a little better. For her, stories exist in flesh and bone, carried by human vessels and shaped by everyday endeavours. It’s the little stories we live and share that make us human. After all, people and their traditions are the most natural and raw repositories of stories, and revealing them, for her, is like peeling an orange under the winter afternoon sun. Always up for a chat, she believes the best stories come from unfiltered chatter, where “too much information” is kind of the goal. An alumnus of Indraprastha Women’s College, Delhi University, and an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Adrija spends her spare hours sipping on herbal tea and a sultry thriller, scribbling inner monologues that she loosely calls poetic pieces, often in the presence of her succulents. On lazier days, she can be found binge-watching, for the nth time, one of her comfort shows in the holy trinity: The Office (US), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Modern Family. However, dancing alone to peppy playlists is a daily ritual she swears by religiously.Read more
Get every major success and every wicket with Crick-it, a one-stop destination for live scores, match stats, tests, polls and much more. Find out now!
Get your daily dose of fashion, Taylor Swift, health, festivals, travel, relationships, recipes and all other latest lifestyle news on Hindustan Times website and apps.
![tofu-burger-with-tahini-sauce-[vegetarian]-–-one-green-planet](https://globalindiabroadcastnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/21002-tofu-burger-with-tahini-sauce-vegetarian-one-green-planet-150x150.jpg "tofu-burger-with-tahini-sauce-vegetarian--one-green-planet | GIBN")
