Prevention and Treatment of Cracked Hands and Feet in Winter

Simply put, any skin on the hands and feet that is dry and cracked for a variety of reasons is collectively referred to as chapped hands and feet. Some scholars believe that chapped hands and feet is not an independent disease, but a secondary damage; others believe that this disease in some factories and rural areas in the incidence of higher, and there is no primary disease can be found, that it is an independent disease. “Cracked hands and feet can be divided into internal and external causes” The internal causes are mainly determined by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the skin of the hands and feet. Hand and foot skin horny layer is thicker, especially in the palm and plantar and heel and other parts of the thicker, easy to crack. Palm and metatarsal skin without hair follicles and sebaceous glands, so when the winter temperature and humidity is low, the lack of sebum protection of the skin will be prone to cracking. In addition, the elderly, ichthyosis and keratosis pilaris are conditions that cause the skin to dry out and the stratum corneum to thicken, making it more susceptible to the onset of cracking after the influence of external factors. External factors such as dryness, friction, and trauma contribute to the onset of the disease. Acid, alkali, organic solvents will sebum dissolution, so that the skin is unprotected. Hand and foot superficial fungal infection and localized excessive friction, etc., to reduce the elasticity of the skin, pulling caused by cracking. Cracked hands and feet occur in the thick cuticle or frequent friction parts of the skin, such as the palm of the hand, the heel, the outside of the toes and so on. Our pain perception of this disease also changes depending on the degree of chafing. First degree: dry skin with cracking, but only up to the epidermis, without bleeding or pain. Second degree: dry skin, cracks from the epidermis deep into the dermis and mild stinging pain, but does not cause bleeding. Third degree: dry skin, cracks by the epidermis deep into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, often causing bleeding and tenderness or burning pain. On the treatment of chapped hands and feet is to pay attention to the combination of prevention and treatment, prevention-oriented, to nip chapped in the bud. Otherwise, once the chaffing is formed, the cure will be slow (1), after washing the hands and feet, we must use grease to protect and pay attention to warmth, glycerin application can prevent chapped hands and feet externally. (2) For the co-existence of ringworm, eczema and ichthyosis, should be treated at the same time. (3) 15% urea ointment and 1% allantoin cream are ideal medicines for the treatment of chapped hands and feet. (4), soft ray stereotactic physical therapy instrument can effectively regulate the differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes, so that the lesions gradually become thinner and softer.