Cold outdoor air tends to be dry, while indoor heating can further reduce humidity.
Repeated exposure to cold and dry conditions can leave skin dehydrated.
Wind can make the problem worse.
If your hands consistently become dry during colder months, consider wearing gloves outdoors and applying a rich moisturizer regularly.
Keeping a moisturizer near the sink can make it easier to remember.
A long, hot shower or washing dishes in very hot water may feel relaxing, but it can contribute to dryness.
Hot water can remove oils from the skin and worsen irritation.
Try using lukewarm water instead.
This small change can make a surprising difference for people with chronically dry hands.
## Contact Dermatitis Is Another Possibility
If your hands are peeling along with redness, itching, burning, or inflammation, **contact dermatitis** is one possibility.
Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin reacts to something it has been exposed to.
There are two broad forms.
**Irritant contact dermatitis** happens when something directly damages or irritates the skin. Frequent washing, detergents, solvents, and chemicals are common triggers.
