Your face gets most of the attention in winter, but your hands and feet are often in rougher shape. Hands get washed a dozen times a day and then go straight out into the cold. Heels spend months in boots and dry socks. By December, many people have split knuckles, ragged cuticles and heels that snag on the sheets.
Why do hands crack in winter?
The skin on the back of your hands is thin and has relatively few oil glands. Frequent handwashing strips what little oil is there, hand sanitizer adds drying alcohol, and cold, windy air finishes the job. When that skin gets dry enough, it loses its flexibility and splits along the creases, especially over the knuckles.
Why do heels crack?
Heel skin is thick, and it carries your weight every time you stand. When it dries out, it becomes stiff instead of supple, and stiff skin under pressure splits along the edges. Open-back slippers and bare feet on cold floors make it worse.
How to use oil on dry hands
Apply after washing, while hands are damp. This is the habit that makes the difference. A drop or two worked into damp hands holds that moisture in.
Do a richer layer at night. Massage a few drops into the backs of your hands and between your fingers before bed. If they are very dry, wear thin cotton gloves overnight so the oil stays on your skin rather than your pillowcase.
Wear gloves outside. Simple, but it matters. Wind and cold do a lot of the damage.
How to look after dry cuticles
Ragged cuticles and hangnails come from the same dryness. Massage a single drop of oil into each nail fold daily, ideally at night. Within a couple of weeks, cuticles feel softer and hangnails become far less common. Leave the cuticle scissors in the drawer and gently push cuticles back after a shower instead.
Jojoba is the classic cuticle oil because it absorbs so well around the nail. Argan works beautifully too.
The overnight sock method for heels
1. Soak your feet in warm water for ten minutes, or do this straight after a shower.
2. Gently buff rough areas with a pumice stone. Go easy, and never try to cut hard skin away.
3. Massage a rich oil into your heels while they are still slightly damp.
4. Pull on cotton socks and leave them on overnight.
Repeat a few nights a week, and most people find their heels noticeably softer and smoother within a couple of weeks.
Thick Jamaican Black Castor Oil is excellent here because it stays where you put it. Batana is another great choice for very rough skin on the feet.
When to see a professional
If cracks are deep, bleeding, painful or show signs of infection, or if you have diabetes or circulation concerns, see a doctor or foot care professional rather than managing it at home.
A small habit worth keeping
Keep one bottle of oil by the sink and another by your bed. Most winter dry skin is solved by consistency more than by any single product. If your face is feeling it too, our heating season guide covers the rest of your routine.
