What causes dry, cracked hands and feet, and how to treat it?

Hand and foot dryness and cracking may be caused by environmental factors, physical friction, vitamin deficiency, tinea manuum/pedis, eczema, and other reasons. Treatment options include increasing environmental humidity, dietary regulation, and medication use. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Environmental factors: During autumn and winter, the low air humidity causes skin moisture loss, leading to dry skin and resulting in dry, cracked hands and feet. It is recommended to use a humidifier indoors to increase environmental humidity, which can help improve the skin condition of hands and feet, providing sufficient moisture.

2. Physical friction: Prolonged walking or exercise can cause excessive friction on the hands and feet, thickening of the stratum corneum, reduced elasticity, and subsequent dryness and cracking. It is recommended to choose appropriate footwear and gloves that fit well and are made of soft, comfortable materials.

3. Vitamin deficiency: If nutrition is unbalanced and the body lacks vitamins, the skin's epithelial cells may experience excessive keratinization, leading to dry, rough skin with reduced elasticity and an increased tendency to crack. In such cases, it is recommended to promptly consume vitamin-rich foods like vegetables and fruits, including common examples such as tomatoes, apples, and oranges.

4. Tinea manuum/pedis: Tinea of the hands and feet is a common fungal skin disease causing dryness and cracking. It is typically caused by a fungal infection. Once the fungi invade the skin of the hands and feet, they grow and multiply on the skin surface, disrupting its normal structure and causing symptoms such as itching, blisters, and flaking. As the condition progresses, the stratum corneum thickens and cracks. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as clotrimazole cream, ketoconazole cream, or econazole nitrate cream to alleviate discomfort.

5. Eczema: Factors such as heredity, allergies, and abnormal immune function may lead to eczema, causing symmetrical erythema, papules, blisters, and other symptoms on the hands and feet skin, accompanied by severe itching. Repeated scratching further damages the skin's barrier function, accelerating moisture loss and resulting in dryness and cracking. It is recommended to use medications such as clobetasol propionate cream or zinc oxide ointment under medical guidance to help alleviate symptoms.

Daily attention to skin care and maintaining cleanliness and hygiene are important. If skin abnormalities occur, it is advisable to seek timely medical attention, identify the cause, and undergo appropriate treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician.