Cold temperatures and manual labor can make your delicate skin look like the rocky Mount Merapi in the dry season. However, the skin of the hands can become dry and rough in any weather or season. To keep your hands smooth, you need to treat dry skin with lotions, natural oils, sugar scrubs, and protective accessories, and occasionally apply conditioner ointment. Prevent the return of dry skin on hands that have been smoothed by using hand soap, preventing exposure to hot water, maintaining body fluids, and wearing gloves so that hands are not exposed to substances or elements that can dry out the skin. Soft hands are sure to look great and feel good to the touch, and with a little effort, anyone can get them.
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Part 1 of 3: Treating Dry Hands
Step 1. Moisturize hands with lotion
The easiest and most important product you can use to keep your hands soft is lotion. In stores, lotions are sold in a variety of fragrances and styles to meet the individual needs of consumers.
- Moisturize your hands after you wash them. Keep lotion in small bottles around the house so you can always have it on hand when you need it.
- Look for lotions that contain shea butter, B vitamins, and retinol. These ingredients can keep the skin soft for a long time after the lotion is applied.
- Mineral oil and lanolin help retain water on the skin. In addition, lotions containing lactic acid and urea can soothe or soothe the skin. Glycerin and dimethicone work to moisturize the skin, while hyaluronic acid can maintain moisture.
Step 2. Treat your hands with natural oils
If you don't want to buy a lotion, you can also apply a natural oil to your hands, just like you would a regular lotion. In small amounts, the oil can be used for larger areas of skin so you can use it as a more affordable alternative. Although commonly used for cooking purposes, the following natural oils can nourish and add nutrients to the skin, nails, and hair if used regularly:
- Avocado oil
- Almond oil
- Aloe vera gel
- Coconut oil
- Chocolate butter
- Sunflower oil
- Olive oil
Step 3. Make a sugar scrub
Exfoliating scrubs are usually moisturizing lotions that contain fine particles to slough off dead skin cells. This product is available at most beauty product stores and pharmacies. However, you can also make your own at home at an affordable cost:
- Mix a few tablespoons of granulated sugar with olive or coconut oil to form a paste, then rub it on your hands for two minutes. When with warm water. After that, the skin of the hands will feel softer than it was before the scrub was used.
- If you want, you can add a few drops of peppermint or lavender essential oil to give your scrub a nice scent. Instead of sugar, you can also use grated beeswax or salt.
Step 4. Condition the skin of your hands once every few weeks in winter
When the air temperature drops, your skin is at risk of damage or irritation. If you live in a cold climate, apply a deep-conditioning skin care product and put socks on your hands to keep your skin soft. These effective steps can be easily followed:
- Warm a pair of clean socks in the microwave for 15 seconds. After that, apply lotion to the skin of your hands, but make sure you don't rub them.
- Put socks on your hands and let the skin absorb the entire lotion for 10-20 minutes. Take off your socks and rub off any remaining lotion.
- You can follow the steps above and leave it on overnight to restore very dry skin. While it may sound strange, socks are actually a better and easier to clean option than gloves.
Step 5. Use a deep-conditioning ointment if necessary
If the skin on your hands starts to peel or crack, it's time for you to use a more potent product. Use a hand conditioning ointment such as Bag Balm or a similar product. This gel-like cream works to heal very dry skin. Apply the ointment on the joints, palms, and other problem areas and repeat the treatment for a few days until the skin feels soft.
Step 6. Take a skin moisturizing supplement
Recent research shows that flax and borage supplement products increase moisture and reduce rough skin. These fatty acids are actually contained in all types of nutritionally balanced foods. However, if your skin is very dry, supplement products with flaxseed, borage oil, or evening-primrose are effective in helping control your skin condition.
Step 7. Avoid vaseline and lemon juice
Vaseline and lemon juice are commonly used in home remedies to soften the skin. However, these two ingredients should actually be avoided if you want to deal with dry skin and it would be better if you choose other treatments or remedies. The use of these two ingredients is discouraged by the medical community.
- Vaseline actually acts as a moisture barrier, not the moisturizer itself. While effective at treating chapped skin and “locking in moisture”, this product is not a moisturizer and cannot treat dry skin without the help of other products.
- There is controversy about the use of lemon juice to exfoliate and smooth the skin, and the citric acid in lemon juice which is predominately an irritant. Never apply lemon juice on your skin if you are going to be exposed to the sun because lemon juice makes your skin more prone to sunburn.
Part 2 of 3: Preventing Dry Hand Skin
Step 1. Use a mild hand soap with natural ingredients
Washing your hands regularly is good for personal hygiene, but on the other hand, this habit can also make the skin very dry. Look for soaps that are suitable for sensitive skin and contain moisturizing ingredients such as jojoba or olive oil. Both oils can treat and restore dry skin.
- Avoid hand sanitizers containing alcohol or glycerin as they can dry out the skin.
- Replace your regular soap with a product that contains moisturizing ingredients so you don't damage the skin on your hands when you shower.
Step 2. Avoid using very hot water
Water with a very high temperature can burn and dry the skin of the hands. It doesn't always look like a "burn," but if your skin looks red when you wash your hands or take a shower, the water temperature is too high.
Step 3. Wear protective gloves when washing dishes
Dish soap is the harshest and most irritating type of soap. When washing dishes, especially in winter or cold weather, it's a good idea to wear a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands dry. This is also important to remember, especially if you need to put your hands in the water.
Step 4. Wear gloves when doing outdoor activities
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, take whatever steps you can to keep your hands soft, especially in inclement weather. In autumn or winter, wear gloves to protect your hands from the wind.
Step 5. Use sunscreen
Like any other exposed part of the body, the skin on the hands is susceptible to sun damage. Since people usually don't like wearing gloves in the weather or summer, sunscreen products can be chosen as an alternative.
Choose the product with the highest SPF level. If you are active in the sun, products with an SPF level below 20 will not provide significant benefits
Step 6. Maintain body fluids
If the body lacks water, the skin can become dry. Food plays an important role in skin health so it is important for you to drink at least 8 glasses or about 2 liters of water every day.
Alcohol can cause dehydration and lead to dry skin. If you want to restore dry skin conditions, avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages
Part 3 of 3: Practical Lotion Recipe
Step 1. Mix shampoo, hair conditioner, and lotion in a bowl or palm
Step 2. Add a little hand soap or liquid soap, then stir with your fingers or a spoon
Step 3. Pour the mixture on your hands and rub thoroughly
Step 4. Use a towel to remove as much of the mixture as possible
Don't forget to wash the towel after use.
Step 5. Let the mixture sit and soak into the skin for half an hour
Step 6. After half an hour, your hands will feel a little sticky and stiff
At this point, you can go to the sink.
Step 7. Pour and rub lotion and hand soap on the skin
Step 8. Wash your hands, then dry them by patting a towel against your skin
Step 9. You are ready to enjoy the charm of smooth hand skin
Tips
- Use castor oil to soften the skin of your hands.
- Make sure you continue this step or method of skin care periodically. Otherwise, your skin will feel dry again.
- Do not wash your hands with hot water.
- Rub the inside of an avocado on your hands to moisturize and soften your skin.
