How to Fix Cracked Hands From Work and Keep Them From Coming Back

If you work with your hands, you know the feeling: knuckles that split when you make a fist, fingertips that crack and catch on everything, and cuts that sting every time you wash up. Cracked hands are more than annoying. Open cracks hurt, slow you down and can let in infection. Here's why it happens and what actually helps.

Why Working Hands Crack

Your skin has a thin outer layer of oils and tough cells that holds moisture in and keeps irritants out. Lots of everyday work strips that layer away:

• Frequent washing, especially with hot water and harsh soap.
• Solvents and degreasers, which dissolve skin oils as fast as they dissolve grease.
• Cement, mortar and drywall compound, which are drying and, in the case of wet cement, alkaline enough to irritate or burn skin.
• Cold, dry air in winter, and dry heat indoors.
• Friction from tools, rope, lumber and gloves that don't fit.

Once the protective layer is gone, skin dries out, loses its stretch and splits along the lines where it bends: knuckles, fingertips and the sides of the nails.

Step 1: Wash Smarter

You can't stop washing your hands, but you can make it less harsh. Use lukewarm water instead of hot. Use a mild soap for everyday washing and save heavy-duty hand cleaner for real grease. Rinse well, and pat your hands dry instead of rubbing, including between the fingers.

If you use a gritty mechanic's hand cleaner, keep it for the jobs that need it. The grit that scrubs off grease also scrubs off skin.

Step 2: Moisturize Right After Washing

The best time to put something on your hands is within a few minutes of washing, while the skin is still a little damp. That traps water in the skin. Keep a tube by every sink you use: at home, in the truck and at work.

Not all moisturizers are equal. In general, the thicker it is, the better it works on cracked skin:

• Ointments and balms, like plain petroleum jelly, form a protective seal. Greasy, but very effective, especially overnight.
• Creams are thick and absorb faster. A good daytime choice.
• Lotions are thin and mostly water. Fine for normal skin, but often not enough for cracked hands.

Useful ingredients to look for include petrolatum, glycerin, dimethicone, lanolin and urea. Many people with sensitive or damaged skin do better with fragrance-free products.

Step 3: The Overnight Fix

If your hands are already badly cracked, this works better than anything you can do during the day. Before bed, wash your hands, then apply a thick layer of ointment or heavy cream, concentrating on the cracks. Pull on a pair of thin cotton gloves and sleep in them. The gloves keep the ointment on your hands instead of your sheets and give it hours to work. Most people see a real difference in a few nights.

Step 4: Close Deep Splits

Deep cracks on fingertips and knuckles can take a long time to close on their own because they keep reopening every time you bend your fingers. A liquid bandage product, sold at most drugstores, seals small, clean splits and protects them while they heal. Clean the crack first, apply a thin layer and let it dry. Don't use it on cracks that are bleeding heavily or look infected.

Step 5: Protect Your Hands on the Job

Prevention beats repair. The right glove for the job makes a big difference:

• Chemical-resistant gloves, such as nitrile, when you're handling solvents, degreasers or cleaning chemicals. Check the product's safety data sheet for the right glove material.
• Waterproof gloves when working with wet cement or mortar, and wash off any that gets on your skin quickly.
• Leather or coated work gloves for friction and rough materials.
• Thin cotton liners inside rubber gloves if your hands sweat a lot. Sweaty skin inside a glove gets irritated too.

Make sure gloves fit. Gloves that are too big bunch up and rub. Gloves that are too small wear out fast and squeeze.

A Simple Daily Routine

When to See a Doctor

Most cracked hands get better with the steps above in a week or two. See a doctor or dermatologist if:

• Cracks show signs of infection: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus or red streaks.
• Your hands aren't improving after two weeks of consistent care.
• You have an itchy, bumpy or blistering rash. That can be contact dermatitis or eczema, which may need prescription treatment and a look at what you're reacting to at work.
• You have diabetes or poor circulation, where small skin injuries deserve extra attention.

If a rash keeps coming back on workdays and clears up on vacation, mention that to your doctor. It's a strong clue that something on the job is the cause.

Feet take the same kind of beating. See our guide to foot care for guys on their feet all day, or browse all of our guides.