Dry hands can be an unsightly, and potentially painful, condition. Many women suffer from dry hands due to a loss of their natural skin oils and a failure to replace these depleted skin-soothing agents. If you find that your hands are constantly becoming chapped and dry, making modifications to your routine and giving your hands a little extra-special attention can reduce this problem and restore your hands to their prime, moisture-rich, condition.
Step 1
Select your skin cream carefully. For optimal dry skin healing benefits, you should look for a lotion that contains mineral oil or glycerin, reports “Prevention Magazine.” These ingredients are proven effective in promoting moisture. Additionally, steer clear of any moisturizer that contains alcohol. This additive is commonly used to increase the speed with which lotion dries, but it can leave your skin feeling less moisturized.
Step 2
Use only mild, alcohol-free soaps. You lose most of your moisture through washing your hands. While you certainly don’t want to give up this hygienic practice, you can take steps to reduce the damage it does to your hands. By selecting a mild soap, you can ensure that the only thing washed away when you wash your hands are the germs.
Step 3
Use your moisturizer after every wash. The University of Iowa warns dry skin sufferers to be diligent in their moisturizing practices. Any time you wash your hands, follow the washing up with a healthy dose of moisturizer.
Step 4
Reduce the water temperature. Hot water does wonders on greasy pots and pans, but it’s not so wonderful for your hands. Just as hot water causes grease and grime to leave a pan, it also takes these moisturizers from your skin. By reducing the temperature of the water that you use to wash pans and take showers, you can reserve more of your natural oils.
Step 5
Wear rubber gloves with cotton linings. Protect hands whenever you use something potentially drying. Cleaning solutions, detergents and other products leave your house looking bright, but your hands can pay the price. By investing in a pair of gloves with cotton lining, you can surround your hands in a safe haven while you clean.
Step 6
See a doctor if necessary. Many moms consider dry hands part of the job, but if your hands are dry enough, you may need medical attention. “Prevention Magazine” suggests that dry skin sufferers seek medical attention if their skin is scaly or bleeding. Ignoring these severely dried out hands could result in permanent skin damage or even infection.
Photo Credit
- hands in hands against sky, friendship concept image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
