Dry skin on hands on feet

What causes dry skin on feet?

The skin on feet is naturally dry, because the skin here does not have sebaceous glands that produce oils. Nevertheless, some conditions, such as diabetes or athlete’s foot, can cause extremely dry skin on feet. 

Though anyone can have really dry skin on feet, the problem is more common in seniors and diabetes sufferers. 

Other causes of dry feet:

• Baths or showers with very hot water;
• Specific skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis;
• Non – moisturizing soaps;
• Generalized conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid illness;
• Very cold water;
• Very low humidity in the air, which can caused by heating systems;
• Older age;
• Excessive time spend in the sun.

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a disease, which can make feet very dry. It is contagious fungal infection, which can also spread to toenails and hands. A person can get an athlete’s foot by walking barefoot in public places, such as locker rooms and pools.

Athlete’s foot isn’t a dangerous disease, but sometimes can be difficult to treat.

You can get the fungal infection from direct contact with infected person or by infected surfaces. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environment. It can be passed from one person to another by using same socks, shoes and towels. 

Symptoms of athlete’s foot include:

• Extremely dry feet;
• Burning sensation between the toes;
• Blisters on feet that itch;
• Cracking and peeling of the skin on feet;
• Discolored skin patches.

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Treating dry skin on feet

How to get rid dry skin on feet? There are many ways to improve the condition:

• If you have a generalized condition, such as thyroid illness, you must treat that illness in order to improve the appearance of your feet skin.
• If your feet are naturally drier (sometimes that can be caused by underlying genetic causes), you must ensure that the skin is properly moisturized. 
• Apply moisturizer each time after you take a bath or shower.
• Avoid moisturizers and lotions that contain alcohol. The alcohol usually makes the skin even drier.
• Stay hydrated.
• Use soap that moisturizes the skin.
• Soak your feet in lemon juice. The procedure should last about ten minutes. Scrub your feet after doing it. 
• Use olive oil combined with lavender or lemon oil to create a lotion for your feet.
• Wear thick socks after applying moisturizing cream on your feet. Wool socks can also be used.
• Use vegetable oil to moisturize the skin on feet.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Wear shoes that allow skin to breath.
• Moisturize your feet skin each time they become wet.
• Use humidifier to moisturize the air.
• Don’t wash your feet too often.
• Avoid bubble baths.
• Don’t use fragrant soaps.
• Use ice packages to calm itchy skin.

What causes dry skin on hands?

Very dry skin on hands can be caused by many different reasons and factors.

Some dry skin on hands causes:

• The use of harsh soaps.
• Washing your hands too frequently.
• Washing your hands with very hot water.
• Using hand disinfectant too often.
• Experiencing skin conditions, such as contact dermatitis. The condition is often caused by various cleaning products, nickel, cosmetics and latex.
• Experiencing eczema. 
• Very low humidity in the air.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Psoriasis.
• Working with various chemicals.

Dry skin on hands treatment

Extremely dry skin on hands, which cracks and bleeds, can be a really serious problem that diminishes the quality of life. Nevertheless, there are many ways to improve the condition and its symptoms.

Here are some solutions that can help to keep your hands moisturized:

• Avoid washing your hands with soap too frequently.
• Moisturize your hands after washing them each time.
• Don’t use hot air dryers to dry your hands.
• Wear warm gloves when you are going outside in the winter and autumn.
• Exfoliate your hands.
• Apply super thick moisturizer and wear gloves when you are going to bed.
• Use an air humidifier.
• Bath your hands in oats.
• Use coconut oil to moisturize your hands.

Dry skin on hands and feet

Sometimes a person can suffer from dry flaky skin on hands and feet at the same time. While dry skin on hands or feet can be caused by local factors, dry skin on both hands and feet basically means that a person has an underlying dry skin problem.

Some of dry skin on hands and feet causes:

• Low humidity in the air.
• Extremely cold weather. 
• Very hot weather.
• Consuming not enough water.
• Winter weather.
• Hot showers.
• Hot long baths.
• Thyroid illness.
• The use of harsh soaps.
• Aging.
• Various hormonal changes in the body.
• Atopic dermatitis.
• Psoriasis.
• Eczema.
• Swimming in chlorinated pools.
• Sun exposure.

In order to improve the humidity of your hands and feet, you can take many different steps. For example, you can try dry skin on hands and feet home remedies:

• Vaseline. It can be combined with honey or lemon juice.
• Aloe Vera. It can be combined with honey as well.
• Olive oil.
• Oatmeal.
• Coconut oil.
• Milk cream.
• Honey.
• Lemon juice.
• Yogurt.
• Banana cream.
• Avocado mass.

All these substances can be spread on hands and feet and used as a skin mask. Many of these remedies can be combined together in order to seek better results. For example, you can combine banana and avocado, pulverize them and then put the mass on your hands and feet. Leave the mass for at least ten minutes. In order to get the most satisfying results, repeat this procedure several times a week.

There are also many over the counter creams and lotions for dry hands and feet. Most of them contain substances such as glycerin, Acetyl hydroxyproline, alanine, Carthamus tinctorius oil and others. Some of these lotions can be very helpful, while others, especially those with alcohol, can make your condition even worse. It is important to find cosmetic products that are helpful in your particular case.

Most of hand and feet creams and lotions are relatively inexpensive and can be used multiple times a day. Nevertheless, if dry skin is caused by systemic diseases, such as thyroid illness or psoriasis, these creams might not help. If you have these diseases, you need to treat them in order to improve the condition of your skin.

Sometimes dry skin on hands and feet can be a temporary problem, which goes away on its own. For example, sometimes these problems are caused by extremely dry winter weather. If that is the case, the condition usually improves when the weather becomes warmer and there is more humidity in the air. Nevertheless, even when this problem is temporary and caused by weather changes, home remedies or over the counter creams and lotions can still improve the condition of skin on the feet and hands.