Posted by Katarina Fajfar
on March 18, 2025
Do you treat your upper and lower palms the same? Why do your lower palms always get oilier, but everything on the upper palms absorbs so quickly? When would be the ideal time to apply hand cream?
The lower part of the palm is thicker, lacking hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The surface is made up of lines and ridges called dermatoglyphics. The early part of the palm, however, is significantly different from the lower part of the palm. The skin is less thick and more pigmented, also rich in hairs and glands.
We usually get annoyed when the bottom of our palms remain oily after applying cream, as this area is usually more hydrated and less exposed to external factors. Usually, only the top of the palms, where we have "normal" skin, is affected, so this area also needs more of our attention and care.
What would be ideal for hand care?
Cosmetic products that are intended only for the upper or lower part of the palm. But this is not very practical, so there are products that more or less suit the entire palm. But it is also true that most hand creams are very affordable and the manufacturer cannot afford some extremely expensive ingredients and therefore uses proven ingredients that are cheaper.
What happens during and after washing hands?
When we wash our hands, we not only remove dirt, but we also destroy our skin's protective barrier. Such skin is more susceptible to allergens and reacts more quickly to irritants. So, ideally, we would have a hand cream in addition to soap and always apply it after washing our hands. We recommend AtopicCream.
The table describes the most common skin changes that can occur on the palms.
| Skin change | Course, appearance | Cause |
| Callus | Thickening of the epidermis located between the fingers of the palm | Longer, even pressure |
| Nipple | Hard, cracked surface, often on the upper part of the palm | Virus |
| Vitiligo | Irregular skin depigmentation | Changes in melanin synthesis |
| Dry hands | Low humidity level | Cosmetic products, constant use of cleaning products and disinfectants, cold, illness |
| Melanosis or senile lentigo | Dark brown spots in several areas | Photoaging |
| Hyperhidrosis | Increased sweat production, causing maceration of sweat | Neuroendocrine |
| Dyshidrosis | Fluid-filled blisters, accompanied by itching | We don't know. |
What about disinfectants?
Our hands have been exposed to more frequent washing and disinfection lately. As a result, hands are much drier, and at the same time the skin barrier is broken, which is why hand care is almost mandatory. In the following, we will focus more on hand dryness and how we can improve or even prevent it.
Cosmetic hand care products contain ingredients that:
- Nourishes the skin on the palms
- Increases moisture levels in the skin
- Contribute to the normal functioning of the skin barrier
- They help with healing
- Lightens blemishes
- Protects against UV rays
What are moisturizers and which ones do we know?
They work by two mechanisms. They can act occlusively, which means they form a film on the skin and prevent water from evaporating. They can also be humectants, which retain water in the stratum corneum. We also know emollients, which are lipophilic substances, like occlusives, but they usually support the normal functioning of the skin barrier and thus prevent excessive water loss.
What substances are suitable for restoring our barrier?
Vegetable oils containing linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids, vitamin E and vitamin A derivatives, cholesterol and ceramides, and alpha-hydroxy acids. Most of these substances contribute to the normal functioning of the barrier or help to restore it.
Allantoin and cantella asiatica are most often used for healing.
Substances that lighten dark spots on the palms are mainly kojic acid, various plant extracts such as rosemary, aloe vera, chamomile, green tea, mulberry, vitamin C and derivatives.
To protect against UV rays, we can use mineral or chemical filters.
Some tips
- If your hands are not too demanding, a light hand cream will suffice, such as our AtopicLotion or AtopicCream .
- If your hands are very dry, we recommend a cream with a richer texture. Such as AtopicCream / AtopicLotion in combination with ProtectBalm .
- If your skin is damaged from using disinfectants, is red and scaly, use AtopicBalm on the inflamed areas, then continue with AtopicCream and/or ProtectBalm .
- If your hands are sensitive, avoid creams with fragrances. All our products are suitable for sensitive skin.
- To improve hand microcirculation, use creams with menthol, eucalyptus, or ginkgo extract.
- For a better effect of the cream, you can wear gloves on your hands.
- Wash dishes with gloves to prevent getting your hands wet and damaging the barrier.
- Wear gloves in the winter to protect your hands from external factors. To protect your skin from cracking in the winter, we recommend ProtectBalm .
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Abzug JM, Cappel MA. Benign Acquired Superficial Skin Lesions of the Hand. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 2012:37(2);378–393
Weber TM, Schoelermann AM, Breitenbach U, Scherdin U, Kowcz A. Hand and Foot Moisturizers. Cosmetic Dermatology. 2016:139–147.
Rigano L. Formula Anatomy Deciphered – Hand Creams and Sanitizers. Cosmetics&Toiletries. 2013.