A dermatologist has revealed a simple and cost-effective method to combat dry skin on your hands.
Cold, wintry weather often results in chapped hands, lips and faces, and once the damage is done, it can be challenging to restore our skin to its previous condition.
However, an expert has offered a straightforward solution that can be done overnight and promises to leave your hands feeling soft and supple again. New York-based dermatologist Dr Mark, known as Dermarktologist on TikTok, suggests all you need to rejuvenate your skin are a pair of cotton gloves and some petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline.
In his video, he began: “Dermatologist saves you from cracked, dry hands.” Dr Mark then advised viewers to first soak their hands in warm water for five minutes before patting them dry with a towel. It’s crucial not to completely dry your hands; they should remain slightly damp.
Following this, he instructs viewers to get a “acquire [a] massive tub of petroleum jelly” and apply generous amounts to their hands. Finally, cover your hands with “white cotton gloves” – though any colour will suffice – and wear them to bed.
“Wake up with soft hands,” Dr Mark concluded. Another skin expert known as Dermguru on TikTok suggested immersing hands in warm water for about 10 minutes before using the same method outlined by Dr Mark.
The video certainly got people talking, with one viewer expressing their gratitude: “Thank you!!” Meanwhile another chimed in with a personal anecdote: “My mom did this with my [hands] growing up (harsh desert winters) and i still have the smoothest hands to this day lmao.”
However, not everyone was convinced. One person wrote: “I do this every PM and they are smooth in the AM but go straight back to being dry and cracked again same day.”
The Vaseline website proposes its own nightly ritual to combat parched skin using their product, and it is very similar to Dr Mark’s. The advice reads: “Before bed, rub a layer of Vaseline Healing Jelly or Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Jelly Cream onto your entire hand (including the back and between the fingers).
“Then, put on a pair of cotton gloves to help seal in the moisture. In the morning, your hands should already feel softer!”
Joshua Zeichner, MD – Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in the Department of Dermatology at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York City – recommends petroleum jelly as an efficient countermeasure for the discomfort of cracking or extremely dry skin, especially for those diligent about handwashing. In an interview with Men’s Health, he said: “Most people may already have one of the best skin care products on the market in their homes. Vaseline petroleum jelly is truly a jack of all trades.”