The short answer
A thick ointment rather than a lotion, applied at night under cotton gloves, and gloves on for any wet or chemical work during the day.
- Use an ointment, not a lotion. The thicker and greasier it is, the better it works. Plain petroleum jelly is among the most effective and the cheapest.
- Apply it at night and put thin cotton gloves on over the top.
- Wear rubber gloves for washing up, cleaning and gardening, with a cotton liner if your hands sweat.
- Wash with lukewarm water, not hot, and dry properly including between the fingers.
- Apply after every hand wash, which is the habit that matters most.
What will ruin it
Cracks that will not heal, spreading redness, weeping or anything that looks infected needs a pharmacist or GP. Hand eczema is common, treatable and not something to keep treating with moisturiser alone.
Why it works
Damaged skin loses water through the barrier faster than it can be replaced. An occlusive layer physically slows that loss, which is why greasy products outperform light ones for genuinely damaged skin, however unpleasant they feel.
This is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace a GP, a pharmacist or NHS 111. Call 999 in an emergency. Full disclaimer.