Combating Dry, Cracked Hands: 10 Effective Hand Creams to Soothe and Protect
Whether it's due to cold weather, frequent handwashing, hand sanitizer use, or a medical condition, dry, cracked hands can be a real nuisance. The best remedy is a good, effective hand cream.
Dermatologists recommend avoiding fragrance and essential oils, as these can be irritating and allergenic, especially for already raw or cracked skin. Instead, look for hand creams with a combination of humectants, emollients, and occlusives to effectively hydrate and protect your skin.
Here are 10 expert-recommended hand creams to help you combat dry, cracked hands:
CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream: This quick-absorbing, non-greasy cream contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and lock in moisture. It's fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.
Avène Cicalfate Restorative Hand Cream: This rich yet fast-absorbing cream is formulated without parabens, fragrances, soy, or wheat to minimize the risk of allergic reactions. It's designed to restore hands that have been through the wringer from both environmental factors and cleaning products.
O'Keeffe's Working Hands Cream: This cult-favorite cream is designed to heal, relieve, and repair extremely dry, cracked skin while creating a protective barrier to prevent further moisture loss. It's fragrance-free and comes in a tub or tube form.
EltaMD So Silky Hand Crème: This lightweight yet hydrating cream contains ceramides, vitamin E, and sclareolide, a plant-derived ingredient that helps reduce inflammation and promote skin healing.
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Hand Cream: This fragrance-free cream is specifically formulated for eczema-prone skin. It contains colloidal oatmeal, a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that soothes and protects irritated skin.
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream: This rich, non-greasy cream contains seven moisturizers, including hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and vitamin E, to provide intense hydration and long-lasting relief.
Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve: This concentrated salve is packed with emollients and occlusives to provide intense moisture and protection for severely dry, cracked hands.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream: This fragrance-free cream contains glycerin and a high concentration of petrolatum to lock in moisture and protect against dryness.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Mains Hand Cream: This fragrance-free cream is formulated with a blend of soothing and repairing ingredients, including panthenol, shea butter, and madecassoside, to help heal and protect dry, cracked hands.
Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream: This fragrance-free cream contains a unique blend of ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss, along with soothing ingredients like licorice root extract and oatmeal.