Prophylaxis
Persons prone to cracked fingers should make sure to wear rubber gloves when working in contact with a lot of water. This applies, for example, to rinsing or cleaning. Chemical substances should also be avoided.
This often applies to people who are exposed to these influences at work. In addition, hands should not be washed with soap as often. If a soap is used to wash hands, care should be taken to ensure that it is gentle on the skin.
pH-neutral products with a pH range between 5 and 6.5 are recommended for this purpose. It is important to dry your hands well after washing them, not forgetting the spaces between your fingers. Since the cold air and wind in winter place great strain on the skin of the hands, care should be taken to always wear gloves. However, the sun can also cause the skin to dry out, so it is advisable to apply sunscreen to the hands as well.
Complications
If there are cracks in the skin, this is an easy way for bacteria to enter the body. These bacteria can then penetrate the tissue and cause inflammation. This should be prevented by strict hygiene and disinfection.
Antibacterial ointments can help here. Cracked skin is also more susceptible to other external influences. For example, cracked skin can cause an allergic reaction more quickly.
Frequency distribution
In total, about one in ten Germans between the ages of 20 and 65 suffers from cracked skin on their hands. People whose hands frequently come into contact with liquids and who frequently wash their hands or use disinfectants are particularly frequently affected. On average, women suffer more often from cracked fingers than men.
