When the temperature outside falls below zero, for many of us the season of comfort ends and the season of stinging soreness begins. Dry, flaky skin and deep, bleeding cracks on the knuckles aren't only a matter of appearance. Often it is a more serious concern that deserves attention and proper care. Why do ordinary hand lotions fall short in the frost, and what does skin that has lost its ability to defend itself really need? Read on to learn how to recognise winter damage to your hands and why a solid form of renewing care with coenzyme Q10 is a wonderful helper that will save your hands from the worst.
Why does winter quite literally devour your skin?
Perhaps you ask yourself why your hands in December look ten years older than they did in August. The answer is hidden in the biology of the skin. The skin on the backs of the hands is one of the thinnest on the whole body and contains very few sebaceous glands. Unlike the face, which can produce enough sebum for itself, hands are almost defenceless in unkind weather.
The moment the frost strikes, several things happen in our body at once:
- Lipid production stops: In the cold the body naturally narrows the vessels to keep warmth near the important organs. This slows the metabolism of the skin, and the sebaceous glands stop making the natural fat that holds the skin cells together.
- Drying out in dry air: Moving from the frost into overheated, air-conditioned offices works like a sponge. Cold air has low humidity, and indoor air even lower. The result is what is called transepidermal water loss (TEWL) – water quite literally evaporates from your cells into the surroundings.
- Microscopic cracks appear: When the skin loses its suppleness (elasticity), it becomes fragile. One sharper movement of the fingers, closing the palm into a fist or a shopping bag in your hand is enough, and a microscopic crack appears. If you don't „seal“ this crack immediately with the right nourishment, cold gets into it more deeply and a painful sore opens up.
Is it only dryness, or already something more?
Many of our customers come to us saying that their hands not only itch, but quite literally burn. It is important to tell which stage your hands are in, so that you choose the right intensity of care.
- Winter xerosis: This is the medical term for abnormally dry skin during the winter months. It shows itself as roughness, a constant feeling of tightness and white flakes that come away when rubbed.
- Asteatotic eczema: It arises when there is a critical lack of fatty components in the skin. The skin looks like a „cracked porcelain cup“ – it is covered with a fine network of cracks.
- Fissures (cracks): These are the most painful deep cracks, reaching all the way into the dermis. Because nerve endings are in this layer, every stretch of the skin causes sharp pain and bleeding.
It all began with the trouble of one customer who had been living with this very thing for a long time. His hands were dried out to the depths and everyday activities were a torment for him. It was precisely this experience that inspired us to look for a solution that goes beyond ordinary cosmetic creams.
Classic creams in tubes and petroleum derivatives
The truth is that most ordinary creams from the drugstore are built on two cheap ingredients: water and mineral oil (paraffin). In winter, though, that is the worst possible combination.
Why does water in a cream not help?
If a cream contains 70 % water and you apply it just before going out into the frost, you risk damage. The water cools in the pores, expands and can microscopically damage the skin cells. What's more, the water evaporates from the surface and your hands are left even drier than before.
Why are petroleum derivatives a trap?
Petroleum jelly and paraffin are dead substances. They create an airtight plastic film on the surface. Underneath it you do feel better for a while, but the skin beneath doesn't breathe and receives no real nutrients for renewing the tissue. It is only a temporary mask, not care.
Solid renewing cream with Q10
At Panakeia we decided to try it differently, and so we created a product that is 100 % active. That means every single ingredient in our solid cream has its function and none of them is there merely as a filler. The solid renewing hand cream with coenzyme Q10 is revolutionary in that it contains no water, but pure plant concentrates.
1. Coenzyme Q10: The engine of cell renewal
Q10 isn't only an anti-wrinkle ingredient — it also serves as a strong antioxidant that gives cells the energy they need for renewal. If you have cracks that bleed, your cells need fuel to be able to join up again and close the sore over. Coenzyme Q10 supports this process considerably.
2. Hemp oil and plant butters
We use a combination of shea butter, coconut oil and cold-pressed hemp oil. These substances contain fatty acids that are almost identical to those our body makes naturally. The skin therefore recognises them and builds them into the damaged skin barrier immediately.
3. Zinc oxide and Vitamin E
Zinc is in our cream because it has wonderful soothing effects on irritated, reddened skin. Vitamin E, in turn, shields the damaged places from further stress from the outside environment.
Two scents, one aim: herbal or fresh?
We know that scent is key to a feeling of comfort and contentment. That is why we have developed two variants that have the same caring base, but different aromatherapeutic effects.
Herbal renewing hand cream with Q10
This is our greatest helper in acute moments. Lavender has strong renewing qualities and sage is traditionally valued for its naturally cleansing nature. It is the ideal choice if your hands are covered in sore places and need extra care and protection.
Fresh renewing hand cream with Q10
It is designed for those who need protection throughout the day. It absorbs quickly and leaves the hands silky soft with a fresh lemon scent that lifts your spirits.
Try the 7-day rescue plan for hands
If your hands are in a state where you dread even washing the dishes, try this short guide, which has helped improve the quality of the skin for many customers:
Days 1 – 3: Acute intensive care
In this phase it helps to quite literally top the skin up with fats. Smooth the solid renewing cream onto your hands after every single contact with water. And what matters greatly: apply the cream to slightly damp skin. Because our cream is water-free, it can lock into the skin the moisture you brought into it while washing.
Days 4 – 7: Renewal and rebuilding the barrier
After just three days you will see that the deep cracks are beginning to draw together and the red colour of irritation is fading. Now the most important thing is to keep going and to carry on applying it often. The skin does look better on the surface, but underneath it is still rebuilding itself. You can also make use of a night wrap, which will make a great turn for the better in caring for damaged hands. Before sleep, apply an even layer of the solid cream to your hands (more than you would use during the day). Then pull on thin cotton gloves and let it work all night. The warmth under the gloves opens the pores and the precious oils reach deep into the cracks. In the morning you'll wake with the feeling that your hands are yours again and beautifully renewed.
How to keep hands healthy right through to spring?
Once your hands have recovered, don't let them get into such a poor state again. In cases like these it is very important to keep thinking about prevention and the right care all year round. Here are two quick tips for good prevention:
Gloves are your best friend
Wear them from temperatures below 5 degrees. Wind is just as destructive for the skin as frost. Lukewarm water instead of hot: Hot water is an enemy of the skin barrier.
Air humidity in the bedroom
If you sleep in a room with dry air, your hands will suffer at night too. An excellent choice is a humidifier at home, or even putting a wet towel on the radiator.
Frequently asked customer questions
Why is the cream solid and not liquid?
The solid consistency allows us to use no preservatives and no water, and it is at the same time the purest possible form of cosmetics.
Won't a solid cream leave a greasy feeling?
Although the cream is made of butters, after applying and briefly massaging it in, it leaves only a fine silky film on the hands. So it isn't that familiar, unpleasant sticky feeling you know from petroleum jelly. The skin can genuinely absorb it.
Can I use it on other dry places too?
Absolutely! Our solid renewing cream is fantastic on dry elbows, cracked heels or rough knees as well. It is a little home helper in one box.
Invest in your own comfort
Dry, cracked hands don't have to be part of every winter. It is simply the result of the wrong care and of the harsh environment your hands are exposed to. At Panakeia we believe that the strength of an honest, concentrated composition without unnecessary chemistry can put right even what seems damaged beyond return. Many of our customers are living proof that even the worst cracks can come right again, if you choose the right product. Whether you reach for the herbal solid cream with lavender and sage or for its fresh variant, your hands will finally be your calling card again, not a source of soreness.