Overwashing hands: How to help dry hands

What causes dry skin on hands?

If you’re wondering ‘why are my hands so dry?’, we’ve got the answer - overwashing. That’s right, you can get dry hands from washing too much, whether that’s after touching door handles when out and about, before we eat or while cleaning up. In fact, you may not even realise that you’re overwashing your hands, as it can be part of our daily lives. 

How does frequently washing your hands create dry hands?

“Dry, overwashed hands occur when the skin’s natural oils are stripped away by hot water and harsh soaps” explains Dr. Toral Vaidya, Dove’s dermatologist. “To improve them, I recommend using a gentle, moisturizing cleanser like Dove Advanced Care Hand Wash. It cleanses effectively without compromising the skin barrier. Always wash with lukewarm water and follow with a nourishing hand cream to lock in moisture.”

How can you help dry hands? 

If you’re wondering how to hydrate dry hands and avoid that tight, overwashed feeling, here are a few things you can do to keep your hands feeling clean and cared for.

Best hand washes for dry hands

Newsflash: not all hand washes dry out your hands. Here’s how to help dry hands with our moisture-boosting hand wash heroes. 

• Dove Advanced Care Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla Hand Wash: pampering hand wash enriched with our unique Moisture Boost 5x Complex to moisturize skin for hours.
• Dove Advanced Care Dragon Fruit & Coconut Hand Wash: nourishes skin 10 layers deep and transports you to a tropical paradise with its dragon fruit and coconut scent.
• Dove Advanced Care Coconut & Almond Milk Foaming Hand Wash: boosts skin with moisture and leaves hands with a creamy coconut and almond milk scent. 

Dry, overwashed hands? It may be time to dial down the water temperature, start wearing gloves and moisturize your hands regularly with a hand cream. We know washing your hands is a normal part of daily life - and often hard to avoid - which is why our hydrating hand washes deeply moisturize thirsty skin for a softer, smoother texture.