My hands are constantly red/inflamed—any advice?

I had the exact same experience. My hands were constantly red, parched, and occasionally bleeding when the skin would crack. That changed once I found Pan-Slavia hand cream. I made sure to apply it thoroughly and then wear wool gloves to let it soak in properly. Consistent application definitely helped mitigate the issue.
To be fair, the underlying problem hasn't completely vanished; I suspect it's likely due to poor circulation. However, that specific cream kept the dryness at bay. The redness persists, which I assume is a circulatory matter. 🤷

The issues seem to disappear during the spring and summer months.

For my hands when they were cracking from extreme dryness, nothing worked quite like Bepanthen ointment—you know, that stuff usually meant for diaper rash 🙂.
Nothing else seemed to soothe my skin quite as fast as that did.

Honestly, if you already know your hands crack during the winter, why wouldn't you just make it a habit to apply cream whenever you take off your gloves? Since I work extensively with paperwork, I’m washing my hands constantly, which means applying moisturizer several times a day is just part of my routine
. It's especially necessary if you're using one of those harsh, drying antibacterial soaps—the kind I have to use at work
.

My hands basically go into a coma during the winter if I don't baby them. If I accidentally step out into the cold without gloves, they turn bright red and crack until they actually bleed. I’m constantly slathering them in some heavy cream, usually just Nivea. Then at night before bed, I hit them with a thick ointment. That seems to do the trick. So yeah, lots and lots of lotion and definitely wearing gloves if you want to survive the winter 😁

Starting October 1st and running through March 1st, you absolutely have to wear gloves whenever you step outside! 👍

On another note—and I really think this is worth considering—the issue might actually be psychological too. I had this friend back in high school whose hands were always bright red and freezing cold. She ended up going through some treatment for anxiety for a little while, and if I remember correctly, once she finished her therapy, that whole thing with her hands just wasn't nearly as bad anymore.

My circulation is pretty trash, so my hands and feet always get freezing, but it’s only during the winter—that's why I basically sleep in socks. 😁

I don't even think it's psychological though, because it clears up as soon as the weather gets nice, and if I just use some lotion, it settles down.

Besides my skin breaking out in these little bumps, it’s super itchy and dry... and during the winter, it stays bright red constantly. I’m guessing it’s the water, since I can't be washing my hands too much. But it’s not just red in the creases, either—it’s everything from my wrists down to my fingertips. Every single millimeter is bright red! It honestly looks like I’m wearing gloves, but they're just red skin! Should I go see a dermatologist or what?