The £3 stationery item dermatologists say protects hands from winter cracks better than thick creams

Thomas Wilkins • December 10, 2025 16:26

Cold morning, bus stop, bare hands. You scroll, you grip a shopping bag, and there it is: that sharp, papery sting across a knuckle. By the evening, the skin has split. Another tiny crack that throbs every time you wash up or reach for the soap.

Most of us respond on autopilot. We buy a richer hand cream, then another. We slather, we reapply, we tuck a tube into every coat pocket. Yet the splits keep coming back to the same spots: the base of the fingers, the edges of the thumbs, that one stubborn patch between the knuckles.

More and more dermatologists are saying the quiet part out loud: thick cream alone doesn’t stop mechanical stress. You can hydrate the skin, but every time you bend a finger, the same vulnerable line is pulled open again.

Their surprisingly low‑tech fix? A £3 stationery staple: a roll of plain paper tape – the low‑tack kind you’ll find near gift‑wrap and envelopes. Used the right way, it acts like a tiny splint and raincoat in one, protecting cracks far better than another blob of balm.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not a “miracle” serum. It’s a strip of matte tape – and for battered winter hands, it can be quietly transformative.

Why winter wrecks your hands

Your hands are already at a disadvantage. The skin on the palms and fingers is thicker but has fewer oil glands. Throw in cold air, central heating and constant washing and you have a perfect recipe for barrier breakdown.

Warm water and soap strip away natural lipids. Outside, dry, cold air pulls moisture from the surface. Inside, radiators lower humidity so any remaining water evaporates faster. The outer layer of the skin (the stratum corneum) becomes brittle, like dry paper.

When you then bend your fingers, that stiff outer layer can’t flex smoothly. Instead, it splits along the lines of movement, usually:

Across the knuckles
Along the sides of the fingers
At the corners of the thumbs

Creams and ointments help replace missing lipids and draw in water. They soften the “paper”. But they don’t change the fact that each movement puts pressure on the same fault line. That’s where tape comes in.

“Moisturiser hydrates. Tape supports,” as one dermatologist puts it. “For deep winter fissures, you often need both.”

The £3 tape trick dermatologists actually rate

In clinic, dermatologists often use medical‑grade paper tape (sometimes called Micropore) to support healing skin. It’s soft, breathable, and designed to be gentle on delicate areas.

For everyday hand cracks, they say a similar principle applies. A simple roll of low‑tack paper tape – the kind sold with notebooks and pens – can act as:

A micro‑splint, holding the edges of a crack together
A barrier, shielding sore skin from water, soap and friction
A reminder, so you’re less likely to over‑flex that finger or scrub too vigorously

The key is not the price or the brand, but the type:

Go for matte, paper‑based, low‑tack tape
Avoid glossy office tape, duct tape or strong packing tape
If you have very sensitive skin, look for hypoallergenic paper tape in a pharmacy first

Used correctly on clean, intact skin around a small fissure, tape lets moisturiser do its job underneath while your movements stress the area less.

Think of it as a seatbelt for vulnerable skin: it doesn’t heal the crack, it simply stops it being pulled open every time you move.

How to use paper tape on winter hand cracks

This is a short‑term comfort measure for small, non‑infected cracks. If in doubt, speak to a GP, pharmacist or dermatologist before trying it.

Step‑by‑step

Check the skin first
If the area is very red, hot, oozing, or you have diabetes or poor circulation, see a professional instead. Don’t tape over obviously infected or weeping skin.
Wash gently and moisturise
Use a mild, fragrance‑free soap substitute with lukewarm water. Pat dry. Apply a thick layer of plain, rich hand cream or ointment and let it soak in for a minute or two.
Cut small pieces of tape
Use clean scissors to cut short strips, just long enough to bridge the crack with a bit of room either side. Rounded corners peel less.
Apply with the line of movement
- Gently bring the sides of the crack closer together with your other hand (don’t force it).
- Lay the tape along the finger, not tightly around it, so you don’t cut off circulation.
- Smooth lightly; it should feel supported, not strangled.
Limit time and keep an eye on it
Leave on for a few hours or, if comfortable, through the day. If it itches, burns, or the skin underneath looks soggy or white when you remove it, stop using the tape.
Remove gently, then re‑moisturise
Peel slowly in the direction of hair growth. A dab of oil (olive, baby or cleansing oil) helps loosen adhesive. Moisturise again straight afterwards.

A quick comparison

Approach	Best for	Main drawback
Thick cream alone	General dryness, rough texture	Washes off easily, little support for deep splits
Paper tape over cream	Painful cracks on knuckles/fingertips	Needs care with sensitive or broken skin
Cotton gloves overnight	Whole‑hand dryness, prevention	Not practical in the daytime, can feel warm

When tape beats yet another blob of cream

Thick creams and ointments are step one. They restore moisture and lipids, reducing the chance of new cracks forming. But once a crack is there, you also have:

Mechanical stress every time you bend a joint
Micro‑movement pulling the wound edges apart
Repeated exposure to irritants (water, detergent, alcohol gel)

A tiny strip of paper tape:

Shares the load so the skin doesn’t bear all the stretch
Reduces sting when you wash your hands
Keeps products in place a little longer, instead of rubbing straight off on fabrics and handles

This doesn’t mean you never need cream again. The sweet spot is both: moisturiser to repair the barrier, tape to protect the fault lines while that repair happens.

A useful rule of thumb: if a crack hurts every time you bend the finger, it probably needs support, not just softness.

Who should skip the stationery hack

Paper tape is simple, not universal. You should be cautious or avoid it altogether if:

You’ve ever reacted to plasters or adhesive dressings
You have eczema, psoriasis or contact dermatitis on your hands
The area is visibly infected (hot, weeping, very red or swollen)
You have diabetes, poor circulation or nerve issues in your hands
Cracks are large, deep, or not improving within a few days

In these situations, covering the area can sometimes mask a worsening problem. It’s safer to get tailored advice and, if needed, a prescription‑strength cream or proper dressing.

Even if you’re not in a high‑risk group, treat tape as temporary support, not a permanent fixture. If you find you “need” it every day for weeks, your skin is asking for a proper assessment.

Other small upgrades that make a big difference

The tape is just one tool. The background habits still matter most.

Switch to a gentler wash
Use fragrance‑free, soap‑free cleansers. Avoid harsh washing‑up liquids; wear rubber or nitrile gloves for dishes and cleaning.
Moisturise on timing, not just feeling
Apply cream after every wash, not only when your hands feel sore. Keep small tubes by the sink, bed and front door.
Choose thicker at night
In the evening, use a balm or ointment (the ones in tubs and tubes that feel a bit greasy). Slip on light cotton gloves for an hour or overnight if you tolerate them.
Wear actual gloves outdoors
Wind and cold undo half your efforts. Lined, breathable gloves outside will protect your skin more than any smart ingredient.
Avoid fragranced frills
Perfumed creams can irritate already fragile skin. Look for “fragrance‑free”, “for sensitive skin”, and short ingredient lists.

A few days of consistent, boring care – plus a roll of paper tape for the worst splits – often does more than an expensive “repair mask”.

A one‑week plan for calmer hands

Think of this as a small experiment rather than a regime.

Day 1–2:
Swap to gentle cleanser, moisturise after each wash, start wearing outdoor gloves. Use tape for the one or two cracks that hurt the most.
Day 3–4:
Notice which movements still sting. Add tape support before activities that usually flare those spots (long drives, cleaning, typing marathons).
Day 5–7:
If the cracks are less angry and the skin looks smoother, gradually use tape less and moisturiser more. If there’s no change – or things look worse – pause the DIY and ask a professional.

Winter hands don’t have to be an annual punishment. A £3 roll of humble paper tape, plus some consistent care, can turn “I can’t bend my fingers” days into background noise – quietly, without fanfare, one tiny strip at a time.

FAQ:

Does any stationery tape work?
No. Avoid shiny office tape, duct tape or strong packing tape. Look for matte, paper‑based, low‑tack tape; if your skin is sensitive, start with pharmacy paper tape instead.

Can I put tape straight on broken skin?
It’s safer to avoid taping over open, weeping or obviously infected cracks. Support the surrounding area and seek medical advice if a fissure looks deep or isn’t healing.

Will the tape dry my skin out more?
Used over moisturiser and for short periods, paper tape shouldn’t dry the skin. If the area looks pale, soggy or irritated when you remove it, give your skin a break and stick to creams and gloves.

Isn’t this what plasters are for?
Plasters can help, but many are bulky on finger joints and peel quickly. Paper tape lets you customise tiny strips that move more naturally with the skin.

When should I see a doctor instead?
If cracks are very painful, numerous, slow to heal, or accompanied by rash, swelling or discolouration, or if you have an underlying condition such as diabetes, get them checked rather than managing them alone.