You’re over-washing your hands
It’s certainly better to over-wash your hands than under-wash them in the winter when the flu is spreading like wildfire—but the combination of water and soap can dry out your skin even more. For this reason, doctors recommend limiting hand washing to only when it’s needed, using lukewarm water, wearing gloves while washing the dishes, and, most importantly, using a thick cream or ointment (such as petroleum jelly) after every hand washing.