Covid-19: The Best hand creams to stop dry and itchy hands caused by frequent handwashing

Although it’s always been the advice of health professionals to wash your hands frequently, I think it’s safe to say the Covid-19 pandemic has made it more pertinent than ever to follow that advice.

Frequent hand washing is now the norm but what kind of soap are you using? Common sense dictates that the stronger the soap, the more effective it is at dislodging not just the virus but germs in general.

But sadly, our skin tends to react adversely to soaps with strong or harsh ingredients and we’re starting to see evidence of this as people complain about dry and itchy skin due to frequent hand washing.

Ideally, using organic hand creams and staying away from soaps or hand washes with chemicals or harsh ingredients should resolve the issue.

Although in some cases, that doesn’t solve the problem as frequent hand washing still leads to dry skin on hands. The good news is that the lost moisture can be restored back to the skin with a hydrating moisturiser. Here are my top hand cream recommendations to hydrate and restore moisture to your hands, and to soothe and relieve dry itchy skin.

5 hand creams to stop dry and itchy hands caused by handwashing

Dove

Dove has an extensive range to choose from. Its Nourishing Secrets Hand Cream range is highly recommended to restore moisture back into hands.

The Restoring Ritual hand cream contains coconut oil and almond milk both of which are known for nourishing skin and boosting its hydration levels. It makes hands soft and silky almost immediately after application.

This Nourishing Secrets Hand Cream Invigorating Ritual contains avocado and calendula, both known for revitalising and hydrating skin. It melts into skin quickly, making dry skin a thing of the past.

Another great pick from Dove is this Dove DermaSpa Intensive Hand Cream from the DermaSpa range. It’s built around moisturisation of skin and harnesses Dove’s Cell – Moisturisers TM Technology to replenish moisture loss. It instantly soothes and helps to restore hands with very dry skin, almost as soon as it’s applied.

Aveeno

Aveeno is another skincare brand I’d recommend. Aveeno hand creams hydrate hands for 24hrs although it is recommended you apply it every time you wash your hands.

It is formulated with Prebiotic Colloidal Oatmeal, which protects and nourishes normal to dry hands. One big selling point is that it absorbs into skin very quickly and is unscented.

This Aveeno Skin relief restoring hand cream is formulated with a Prebiotic Triple Oat Complex* (Oat Flour + Oat Extract + Oat Oil) and shea butter. This is the one for you if you’re experiencing very dry hands. It has been clinically proven to help restore the skin’s natural barrier.

The Aveda Hand Relief Moisturising Creme is a very thick and rich hand cream that intensely moisturises dry hands leaving them noticeably softer and smoother.

It contains Andiroba oil and other plant hydrators that help infuse skin with nourishment for moisturised, soft hands.

It’s also free from Parabens, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Formaldehyde, Animal Ingredients, Paraffin, Lanolin & Synthetic Fragrance, which is great if you have sensitive skin or allergies.

There’s also O’KEEFFE’S Working Hands for more extreme cases – those with extremely dry and cracked hands. It’s none greasy and fragrance-free, and moisturises and protects skin from further damage.

When you think of Crabtree and Evelyn, more often than not, rich, fragrant moisturisers come to mind. They have a large assortment of hand creams that are all hydrating and nourishing to hands.

Any of their hand creams will alleviate dry and itching hands so it’s a simple matter of picking your favourite ingredient or fragrance.

Personally, I like this Crabtree & Evelyn La Source hand cream which is infused with extracts of green seaweed and red algae. Hands get instantly soft when applied.

Finally, here’s a tip to help your hands survive these unprecedented times we’re in with the Covid-19. To prevent hands from drying and turning itchy in the first place, try washing your hands with warm, not hot water and use gentle soaps or soaps infused with moisturisers. And always apply a hand cream!

Have you tried any of the hand creams above? Let me know what your favourite hand cream is and why in the comments below.

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