Q When I'm looking after my baby daughter, I wash my hands a lot and they get very dry. My skin feels tight and there are small, scaly patches around my knuckles. What can I do?  (Jemma, Cambridge, via email)

A Your skin produces its own natural oils and moisture to keep it protected from dehydration and invasion of external aggressors such as bacteria and dirt. This protective barrier has an acidic pH level, which must be maintained for healthy skin.

Sadly most soaps have an alkaline pH which strips away the skin's protective barrier, leaving it vulnerable to moisture loss, sensitivity and redness.

The first thing I would do is look for a skin cleanser that will leave your pH intact — try a gentler facial cleanser without harsh detergents in place of soap for a while until the skin heals. Choose a cleanser that contains no sodium laureth sulfate or similar detergents - they ruin your skin and the environment!

Get into the habit of using an oil-based hand cream (or even olive oil) after every wash. Look for hand creams that contain vitamins B5, A and E to help soothe irritation and repair skin, while supporting its natural barrier. Smooth on a thick layer of the cream or oil before bed to allow regeneration to take place. Olive, grapeseed, jojoba and sesame oils penetrate quickly and leave no greasy residue.