I've got psoriasis on my hands. Wearing rubber gloves when washing the dishes and disposable vinyl gloves when cleaning helps -- up to a point. I still need to moisturize.
I sometimes use a prescription moisturizer called Lac-Hydrin. It's actually the most effective moisturize I've ever used. Unfortunately, it also stings VERY badly if my skin is cracked (which is usually is) so it has to be used with extreme caution. It also may be hard to justify (to your insurance company) a prescription moisturizer if you don't have a skin disease.
Try to avoid lotions that have a fragrance. (I look for a moisturizer that is labeled "fragrance free", "non-irritating" and/or "for sensitive skin".) I always recommend that people buy the smallest size they can find whenever they try a new moisturizer. I also find that it helps to rotate between several moisturizers -- I usually have five moisturizers by my computer desk. I also have moisturizers in the bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom, and at work. I moisturize every time that I wash my hands. My current favorites include (in no particular order):
CeraVE (
http://www.cerave.com/lotion.htm) -- I prefer to lotion to the cream; I have friends (who also have psoriasis) who prefer to the cream to the lotion;
Eucerin Original Lotion (
http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_original.html)(Again, I prefer the lotion to the cream. And, again, I have friends who prefer the cream to the lotion.)
Aquaphor healing ointment (
http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_aho.html). I wear it to bed. Covered by a pair of white dermatology gloves. (If your hands are really drive then I strongly recommend that you wear gloves to bed.)
VaniCream (
http://www.psico.com/products/vani_skin_cream.cfm).
Palmer's Shea Butter Lotion (it has a slight fragrance)
I have a friend who is a Mary Kay sales rep. She forced some Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream on me. I actually like it -- so much so that I've been including it in my moisturize rotation. And this is despite the fact that it's expensive and that it's pink (which means that it stains) and that it has a very girlish fragrance (and this is from someone who tries to avoid anything with a fragrance -- moisturizers with fragrances can be very irritating).
Hot water is very drying, so use lukewarm water when you wash you hands.
Antibacterial and deodorant soaps are also very drying, so use them sparingly if at all.
Mike