Mains et lèvres : ces zones sensibles à chouchouter au quotidien

16/10/2025

Problématiques cutanées

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Camille A.

Taking care of your face is important. But other areas deserve our attention: our hands and our lips ! Because these areas reveal a little bit about us—our gestures, our interactions, our smiles… and yet, they are often relegated to the background in our skincare routine.

Constantly exposed to external aggressions , hands and lips deserve all our care to remain soft, supple and comfortable .

In this article, we explain why these areas are particularly delicate, and above all, how to take care of them on a daily basis to offer them protection, comfort and make them more beautiful.

Why take care of your hands and lips?

Areas on the front line

Our hands and lips are constantly exposed to cold, wind, sun, water, friction and even repeated gestures .
Unlike other parts of the body, their skin has specific characteristics that make it more vulnerable: less naturally protected by the hydrolipidic film, thinner, or prone to mechanical aggression. The result? Without proper care, it can quickly dry out, become irritated, or crack.

Areas of discomfort

Damaged skin on the hands can become uncomfortable , even painful , making certain everyday actions difficult. Similarly, chapped lips can feel tight, crack, and make speaking and smiling difficult.
These are all significant discomforts that can impact our overall well-being , our self-confidence, and even our desire to interact with others. Taking care of these sensitive areas means preserving not only our physical comfort, but also our emotional well-being.

Hand skin: a fragile barrier

The physiology of hand skin

The skin on our hands owes its particularity to its structure and its role in protecting our everyday tools, our hands. Its epidermis, which is thicker than that of the face and body, allows it to better resist friction and the mechanical aggressions of everyday life . However, beneath this apparent robustness lies a fragility: the skin on our hands has fewer sebaceous glands, which means that it naturally produces less sebum capable of protecting it and maintaining its hydration¹.
Result: the skin of the hands is generally less protected against external aggressions and can easily become dehydrated and dry out.

In addition, there are differences between the dorsal skin of the hands and the palmar skin.
On the top of the hands (dorsal surface), the skin is thin, supple and delicate , with few sebaceous glands to protect it naturally. It is therefore vulnerable to drying out , climatic aggressions and premature aging.
On the other hand, the palmar surface (palm of the hands) has thicker and more resistant skin , specially adapted to friction and mechanical pressure. Lacking sebaceous glands but rich in sweat glands and nerve endings , it allows gripping and has great tactile sensitivity.
These differences explain why the care needs are not the same depending on the areas of our hands : the dorsal skin needs protection and hydration, while the palm must be protected from irritation without compromising its functional role¹.

Factors that weaken the skin of the hands

A true tool for interaction, manipulation, and protection, the skin on our hands is constantly exposed to numerous aggressive factors : frequent washing, detergent soaps, irritating household products, not to mention climatic conditions such as cold, wind, or sun. Added to this is natural aging : over time, the skin loses its suppleness, thins, and develops pigment spots. All of these elements make the skin on our hands more vulnerable, requiring care to maintain its suppleness, softness, and tone.

How to take care of your hands every day?

Wash your hands
Pampering your hands every day starts with gentle cleansing . To do this, choose mild, sulfate-free soaps that respect the skin's natural balance. And avoid products that are too detergent-based, which dry out and weaken the skin barrier.
Moisturize your hands
Moisturizing your hands after each wash should be a habit ! Apply a nourishing cream after each wash and throughout the day, as many times as necessary. Opt for formulas rich in lipid-replenishing agents such as glycerin, shea butter, or urea to restore the skin's natural protection and prevent feelings of tightness.
Protecting your hands every day
Protecting your hands is also a key step: wear gloves for household chores or gardening to avoid direct contact with water and chemicals. In winter or in strong winds, remember to apply a protective hand cream before each outing to limit the effects of the cold.
And don't forget your nails ! Healthy cuticles and nails also contribute to the beauty of your hands: specific nail and cuticle care will do them the world of good.
The Topicrem answer
Discover the Moisturizing Hand Cream from our ULTRA MOISTURIZING range. Rich in glycerin, urea and allantoin , it contains the essentials to moisturize (48h hydration), nourish and protect the skin of the hands.

Lip skin: ultra-thin and super exposed

The physiology of the skin of the lips

The skin of the lips is one of the most fragile parts of our body . There are several reasons why this transitional skin between the skin of the face and the oral mucosa is naturally vulnerable. First of all, unlike other areas, it lacks sebaceous glands , which means it does not benefit from any protective hydrolipidic film . The skin of the lips is also extremely thin, with only 3 to 5 layers of epidermal cells, compared to around 16 for facial skin. Finally, it is highly vascularized and rich in nerve endings , which makes it prone to inflammation and irritation, and explains its high sensitivity to external aggressions².

Lip aggression factors

On a daily basis, lips are subject to many irritating factors : cold, wind and sun can quickly cause chapping, tightness and painful cracks . Certain habits, such as licking your lips to moisten them, actually worsen their dehydration: the rapid evaporation of saliva accentuates their drying out.
In addition, there are sometimes drug treatments , particularly those used against acne, which promote generalized skin dryness , also affecting the lips.
Delicate by nature, our lips deserve special attention to stay plump, hydrated and comfortable.

How to take care of your lips?

Moisturize and protect your lips
To keep your lips soft and comfortable, moisturizing and protecting them daily is essential. To do this, choose balms rich in restorative agents , such as shea butter, beeswax, or nourishing vegetable oils. These natural ingredients help restore the protective barrier that is missing from this fragile area.
In winter, applying a balm before going out is a good way to combine hydration and protection. For sun exposure, choose a protective balm with an SPF protection factor , because even lips can get sunburned!
Avoiding attacks
To avoid further dryness, avoid licking your lips : this promotes dehydration. When it comes to makeup, opt for moisturizing lipsticks rather than drying formulas. More and more formulas incorporate moisturizing and nourishing active ingredients.
The punctual gesture of the lips
Finally, know that even lips can be exfoliated! A light scrub, once a week , with a gentle exfoliant helps eliminate small dead skin cells without damaging your lips. An ideal gesture for smoother, softer lips, ready to receive care!

Exposed to our daily lives, hands and lips are particularly vulnerable areas and deserve specific attention. By adopting a simple and adapted routine , you give them the strength to defend themselves and be more beautiful, day after day. Hands with supple and moisturized skin for the pleasure of touching and expressing yourself through confident gestures, soft and plump lips to show off your most beautiful smile... so many assets to feel good about yourself and have self-confidence. So don't wait any longer to pamper them!

TOPICREM formulas have all been designed with the aim of providing protective hydration and preserving the skin barrier of sensitive skin for the whole family.

To do this, our laboratory relies on its expertise derived from pharmaceutical excellence:

Selection of high tolerance ingredients with proven effectiveness,
Development of clinically tested formulas on sensitive skin,
Effectiveness proven by science and approved by consumers.

Through the comfort and emotional well-being they provide, our treatments help you feel confident with your skin and with yourself, to better reveal yourself to others, and thus to fully enjoy every moment of life. .

Bibliographic references:

¹Kanitakis, Jean. (2001). Anatomy, histology and immunohistochemistry of normal human skin. European journal of dermatology: EJD. 12. 390-9; quiz 400.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11279803_Anatomy_histology_and_immunohistochemistry_of_normal_human_skin

²Piccinin MA, Zito PM. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lips. [Updated 2023 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507900/
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507900/