Handcreams Are Underrated: Here's Why They Deserve A Spot In Your Skincare Routine (2025)

For many, skincare often revolves around the face. Many people invest in beauty products to enhance their appearance while neglecting other areas, like the hands. However, hands are just as important and more vulnerable to damage, ageing, and skin issues due to repeated exposure and frequent use in daily activities.

Therefore, investing in a good-quality handcream is definitely not a waste of money. In fact, it should be an integral part of your skincare and self-care routine.

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How Important Are Handcreams?

In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Shitij Goel, Head of Department - Dermatology, Shardacare-Health City, Greater Noida, said, "Because our hands are more susceptible to drying and harmful conditions than other parts of our body, hand lotions are essential for preserving the health and beauty of the skin on our hands."

"Hand creams, in contrast to general moisturisers, are made especially to offer hands, which have fewer oil glands and are frequently thinner, intense hydration and protection. They usually have higher levels of occlusives and emollients, which form a barrier to keep hands hydrated and protect them from the elements like wind and cold," he added.

Benefits Of Handcreams

It is important to understand that because our hands are washed and sanitised frequently, hand creams are manufactured with compositions that soak quickly, enabling users to apply them frequently without leaving a greasy residue. They often include specialised ingredients like antioxidants, retinoids, or sunscreens to prevent ageing concerns like fine lines and age spots, as well as soothing agents like aloe vera or chamomile to help heal and calm irritated skin.

After evaluating 25 participants, a 2006study published in the BMC Dermatology found that after two weeks of washing hands four times daily, skin roughness rose from a baseline of 100-108.5, while hydration decreased from 79-65.5 m, indicating that frequent handwashing led to skin dryness and roughness. However, the study found that using a hand cream after each wash reduced roughness to as low as 94.5 and helped maintain hydration levels at 75.6.

Additionally, Dr Goel highlighted that using hand lotion on a daily basis can assist in avoiding hand ageing symptoms.

“Due to their thinness and frequent exposure to environmental stressors like Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the hands' skin ages more quickly, developing fine wrinkles, age spots, and a lack of suppleness. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides are examples of hydrating elements found in hand creams that help keep the skin hydrated and plump, which helps to minimise fine wrinkles and preserve a young appearance,” he said.

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Adding further, he shared, “Many hand creams also include antioxidants, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, which protect the skin from free radical damage and promote collagen production.

Moreover, using a hand cream with SPF during the day can further protect against UV-related ageing, as sun exposure is one of the leading causes of premature ageing on the hands.

How Often Should Handcreams Be Applied?

Handcreams can be applied multiple times a day, as it can hydrate and preserve the skin's barrier.

Dr Goel advised applying hand cream after each hand wash because frequent washing can remove natural oils and make dryness worse. “In order to allow for prolonged hydration throughout the night, it's also beneficial to apply it in the morning as part of your routine and again in the evening before bed,” he said, adding that reapplying as necessary throughout the day can help maintain soft and comfortable skin, especially after tasks that expose hands to drying elements like cleaning, handling papers, or being outside.

To reduce irritation, people with extremely sensitive skin or skin diseases like eczema can find it helpful to use a hand lotion without scent that is designed for sensitive skin.

When Is It Absolutely Necessary To Use Handcreams?

Colder months and dry, windy weather can deprive the skin of moisture, making hands feel rough, dry, and even cracked. For this reason, using hand cream becomes even more crucial during these times.

Since interior heating further dries the air and chilly air retains less humidity in the winter, skin moisture loss increases. The skin of the hands can also rapidly become dehydrated in arid environments or during the summer when air conditioning is used constantly. Hand cream use is essential throughout the year because frequent water exposure, such as swimming or dishwashing, can also deplete the skin's natural oils.