Hand Cream

Hands take more punishment than almost any other skin — frequent washing, sanitiser gels, detergents, cold weather and central heating all strip away the skin's natural oils. That leads to tightness, roughness, flaking and sometimes painful cracks, especially over winter or if you wash your hands a lot for work.

Apply a little after every hand wash while the skin is still slightly damp, and massage it in — especially around the nails and knuckles. A thicker layer at bedtime lets it work overnight. Keeping a tube by the sink or in your bag makes it much easier to stay consistent.

For sensitive or easily irritated skin, choose a fragrance-free cream. The Aveeno hand creams we stock use colloidal oatmeal, which helps soothe dryness and support the skin barrier. If your skin is dry all over rather than just on your hands, a general emollient from our moisturiser range may suit you better.

Hands that are cracked, itchy, inflamed or blistered may have hand dermatitis — a form of eczema often triggered by wet work, detergents or gloves — rather than simple dryness. Our pharmacist can advise on richer emollients and treatment options; see your GP if the skin is splitting, weeping or not improving.