Rough Hands: Causes, Treatment & Help

Our hands are exposed to many stresses every day, as a result, the skin on the hands dries out and rough hands can develop. Due to the lack of moisture in the skin, the hands can itch, burn and tighten, also sometimes painful cracks can occur. The remedy is usually very simple with appropriate care measures possible.

What are rough hands?

Our hands are exposed to many stresses every day, thus the skin on the hands dries out and rough hands can develop. Rough hands are characterized by a dry and often uncomfortable skin feeling. The skin feels very rough, itching can occur or the skin can also burn and tighten. Sometimes cracks also form in the skin, which can be painful under certain circumstances, especially if they bleed or become inflamed by germs. Since our hands are exposed to a lot of stress in everyday life, the skin there is naturally also subjected to correspondingly high stress. As a result, the skin dries out and the hands lose their resistance and can become rough. Under certain circumstances, the risk of rough hands increases with age. The older we get, the less moisture our skin can store. The result is dry skin, which favors rough hands. Basically, an insufficient supply of moisture to the hands is always the trigger for rough hands.

Causes

The development of rough hands is favored by many different things. Since our hands are our daily tools and are always being used, they are exposed to many external influences. These can damage the skin on our hands and cause them to dry out. These influences include the sun, heat and cold, water, various substances that can have an irritating effect and also the wrong or insufficient care measures of the skin. Basically, all these external influences cause the skin to dry out, the hands are no longer as resistant and rough hands develop. But internal factors can also play a role. Dry skin is often already genetically determined. But also an unbalanced diet, insufficient fluid intake and hormonal conditions can be responsible for rough hands.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Psoriasis
  • Diabetes mellitus

Diagnosis and course

Rough hands are rarely a sign of causes that require treatment from a doctor. However, if the suffering pressure is very large, a visit to the doctor can of course be made, but also professional nail studios can help the affected person. The signs of rough hands are usually very clearly recognizable, special examinations are not necessary for this. Especially in the advanced stage, when cracks have already formed, rough hands are very easy to diagnose.

Complications

Dry skin on the hands and thus rough hands, are usually very easy to get under control. With appropriate care measures, the skin can be supplied with the necessary moisture in sufficient quantities. The complaints then usually subside quite quickly. Regular skin care can prevent the reoccurrence of rough hands. Rough hands itch and hurt. If this is not remedied, the dryness can worsen. Because of this, painful cracks develop, which can begin to bleed. Similarly, inflammation can occur when germs penetrate through the cracks in the skin. These inflammations are sometimes very persistent and difficult to treat, so rough hands should definitely be taken seriously and cared for accordingly. Sometimes, however, rough hands occur as a symptom of a certain present disease and need to be treated. As noted, small cracks can develop that can cause severe pain on contact, making ordinary daily life impossible. In advanced age, in winter or in people suffering from mild neurodermatitis, this condition is relatively normal. Regularly applying a moisturizing hand cream to the hands brings relief. However, if this condition appears suddenly, a doctor should be consulted. The symptom may indicate another disease or malfunction. Likewise, stress and the consumption of alcohol or other drugs can lead to rough hands. If no physical cause can be determinedn, it may also be based in the psyche.

When should you go to the doctor?

Rough hands are usually only a cosmetic problem and can be effectively treated yourself with hand cream from the drugstore. However, a medical examination may be useful if rough hands occur for no apparent reason. Most people get them when they frequently handle cleaning agents or aggressive chemical substances without gloves. They also occur in professions where the hands are heavily used. If these triggers do not exist, rough hands may have other causes – in order to recognize and treat them, a medical examination is advisable. Regardless of the cause, rough hands should never become so rough and dry that cracks appear in the skin. Not only can these bleed in inconvenient everyday situations, but they also leave open sores that can become infected. Such advanced rough hands must be presented to a doctor, who can prescribe particularly effective hand creams and explain to the patient how to protect the hands in the future. Open cracks that have already developed can be disinfected, which minimizes the risk of infection and, consequently, wound healing disorders. Provided that the rough hands improve under this treatment and do not get worse, no further visit to the doctor is required afterwards. However, it is important to care for the hands from then on as prescribed by the doctor.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of rough hands is mainly external. The skin on the hands should be provided with plenty of moisture by rich creams and ointments, so that regeneration of the skin can take place. Contact with harsh detergents, whether for skin or household, should be avoided at all costs. A good protection against cold in winter and the hot sunlight in summer, should also be done on the hands. Re-greasing washing lotions and the regular use of greasy hand creams with aloe vera make the skin on the hands more resistant and rough hands are thus avoided. Various home remedies can also help with rough hands. Pumpkin seed oil massaged into the hands or the application of calendula ointment does the hands good and provides them with sufficient moisture. Milking grease has also proven effective for this purpose. In particularly bad cases, a moisturizing treatment can also be applied overnight. For this purpose, the hands are rubbed very richly with a well-oily hand cream and cotton gloves are slipped over them. This allows the moisture to be absorbed evenly during sleep, while nourishing the skin. If inflammation has occurred due to cracks in the skin, this should not be taken lightly and a doctor should be consulted. Here, treatment with antiseptic or antibiotic-containing ointments may be necessary to prevent the spread of inflammation and complications.

Outlook and prognosis

Rough hands can occur in many people and do not need to be treated directly by a doctor. Often, severe fatigue and overuse of the hands leads to a rough condition. Quality of life is relatively reduced by rough hands, as touching and moving the fingers causes pain. Treatment with medication does not usually take place. Often, even rest for the hands helps to remove the rough condition. In addition, various cosmetic products can also help to make the hands soft and supple. However, if the symptom occurs even when the hands are not heavily used, a doctor must be consulted. Often also a washing compulsion leads to the rough hands, dacdurch the constant washing the natural protective layer of the skin is destroyed. Here a discussion with a psychologist is meaningful, in order to identify the causes for the compulsive washing. In addition to rough hands, fungal infections and itching often occur on the hands. These infections can also be treated with creams and antibiotics and usually do not lead to further complications. For rough hands in winter, it is advisable to use hand cream, here no treatment by the doctor is necessary.

Prevention

To prevent rough hands, first of all, appropriate skin care is very important. Only gentle skin cleansers should be used. In addition, the hands should be regularly rubbed with special hand creams, so that the skin contains enough moisture. A healthy and varied diet is also very important for the skin.

You can do it yourself

Rough hands can be treated with various home remedies and tricks. Acutely help moisturizing foods such as olive or almond oil, which are simply applied to both hands or used in the form of a scrub for washing. Oat paste balances the hands’ protein levels, while coconut oil heals skin damage caused by UV rays. Also antioxidant are aloe vera and wild rose oil, which can also be easily massaged into the skin. Other home remedies for ointments and poultices: Oranges, honey, natural yogurt and ripe bananas. Often it is already enough to drink enough or to take dietary measures to reduce rough hands. Thus, there is possibly an allergy or intolerance, which can be alleviated by a change in diet and hygiene measures. Excessively rough hands can be treated with calendula ointment from the pharmacy. Accompanying this, the hands should be spared until the skin surface has completely renewed itself. Milking or chicken fat gives the hands a natural protective film after washing up or cleaning and provides the skin with important minerals. Thin cotton gloves should also be worn overnight to allow the cream to be fully absorbed.