Rough hands – causes, treatment and prevention

causes

Rough hands can have various causes. These are usually divided into internal and external factors. Internal factors are generally caused by bodily processes. These include diet, lack of fluids , hormonal fluctuations and also the psyche. In addition, dry skin in many people is also genetic to a certain extent. Certain diseases can also lead to dry skin and rough skin.External factors have an intensifying effect or can cause rough hands in the first place. These include influences such as sun, water, irritants, heat or cold, but also lifestyle or improper care. In general, dry skin is caused by the fact that it loses moisture and fats (so-called lipids) and at the same time can no longer compensate for the loss of these substances. To counteract this, fluid and lipids are released from the body to the top layer of the skin. However, if this fee is no longer sufficient, you get rough hands, for example.

Diseases

• neurodermatitis

• hormone fluctuations

• Allergies

When to the doctor?

Rough hands or rough skin can have various causes. It is either an internal or an external factor. So if rough hands are caused by an internal factor such as an illness, using a cream will definitely not help. In such a case, a doctor should be consulted who can precisely determine the cause and initiate appropriate treatment.

Neurodermatitis, allergies or hormonal fluctuations can also cause rough and tense skin. Such diseases urgently require medical treatment. Otherwise, serious skin diseases can develop, which can also cause immense consequential damage. In such a case, special ointments and medication can provide quick relief.

However, rough hands can also have a psychological background. For example, if you are compulsive to wash your hands, you destroy your natural protective barrier and your hands become very cracked and rough. Mental problems, severe nervousness or other compulsions should be examined and treated by a doctor or psychologist in such a case.

diagnosis and course

Rough hands are usually very obvious because the skin is tense and sometimes itchy and painful. If the hands are not supplied with moisture and fat from the outside, the dryness can worsen. With advanced skin dryness on the hands, cracks sometimes form, which can hurt and even start to bleed.

Inflammation of the skin can also develop when germs penetrate through cracks, because the skin can no longer properly perform its barrier function. These inflammations are sometimes very stubborn and difficult to treat, so rough hands should always be taken seriously and cared for accordingly.

complications

Rough hands are not necessarily a medical complication. They often occur due to overloading of the palms and are perfectly normal. In some cases, however, the rough hands also appear as a symptom of a specific disease and must be treated accordingly. Small cracks can appear on the palms of the hands, the skin looks pale and tired. Contact with the skin often causes severe pain, so that normal everyday life is no longer possible. It is not uncommon for an unpleasant itching to appear on the palms of the hands.

Rough hands are very common in people with neurodermatitis and are a typical symptom of old age. If the skin has suddenly become rough and cracked, a doctor should be consulted. In this case, the symptom may indicate another disease or malfunction. Stress and the consumption of alcohol and other drugs can also lead to rough hands. The affected person often feels marginalized with the rough hands and is ashamed of it, so that this also creates a psychological burden. Treatment by the doctor is only possible to a limited extent.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of rough hands is primarily based on the causes of the existing skin dryness. In winter, when the air is cold and dry, it is normal for the skin to become dry, and not just on the hands. With increasing age, the skin can store less and less moisture. It becomes more brittle and thin. In such cases, it helps to rub your hands regularly with a moisturizing hand cream.

However, if the rough hands are caused, for example, by certain diseases or the side effects of medication, simply applying normal hand cream is sometimes not enough. This is where physicians come in, who examine the hands and possibly prescribe appropriate medication or care products.

Atopic dermatitis, certain allergies, but also hormonal fluctuations and disorders can cause hands to become rough. Such disorders sometimes require special treatment with drugs that act from the inside. If the treatment is successful, the annoying skin problems will also disappear.

Last but not least, there can also be psychological causes behind permanently dry and rough hands, which ensure that the skin barrier is attacked. Disorders associated with frequent cleaning and hand washing are just two of the psychological factors why rough hands develop.

prevention

Rough hands can be prevented relatively easily with various measures. This includes, for example, a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and sufficient fluid intake. Avoiding tobacco and alcohol is also good for the skin and allows it to dry out less quickly. You should also care for your hands with products that are tailored to your individual skin type.When handling cleaning agents or paints, varnishes and other irritants, it is important to wear protective gloves or to wash your hands after coming into contact with the substances. This applies above all to people who are constantly in contact with irritants in their everyday work.

Washing and cleaning hands too frequently also leads to dry skin, so care must be taken to ensure that the natural protective barrier is not permanently weakened and destroyed. With these preventive measures in everyday life, rough hands can be avoided relatively easily and at the same time effectively.