The ManicaPost
WE are dedicated to making sure your hands feel strong and healthy!
Despite being one of the most used parts of our bodies, hands are one of the most overlooked when it comes to skincare.
A proper hand care routine is essential if we want our hands to look as good as the rest of our body.
Use our tips to find the best way to care for your hands.
The most common hand care factor to consider is exposure to harsh ingredients and chemicals.
These include harsh soaps, hand sanitisers, and other disinfectants, especially if you find yourself cleaning your home or washing your hands more than usual.
These chemicals can also include common household cleaners like dishwashing liquid and detergent as well as topical or oral medication that can have side effects on your skin.
Weather and the environment are additional factors.
Sun, wind, and humidity all play a role in skin dryness and hand care.
Even small temperature changes, like going outside from an air conditioned house to a sunny sidewalk, can affect your skin.
Lifestyle choices and your daily activities make up the third factor.
Lifestyle choices include the food you eat as well as personal habits like sleep, alcohol use, smoke intake, weight loss or gain, and stress levels.
With that out of the way, let’s get down to the business of caring for your hand in the best possible way, using expert advice.
Wash and dry your hands the right way
Handwashing is one of the most important parts of your skincare routine.
Depending on your daily routine, your hands may be exposed to chalk, dirt, and grease, all of which can cause irritated or dry skin on your hands.
The first thing to know: use a mild soap or moisturizing hand wash when it comes to your hands to avoid drying your skin out.
For water, use cold or lukewarm, not hot.
Hot water dries out your skin more quickly without being any more effective than lukewarm water.
Similarly, stay away from prolonged heat.
Instead of using a hand dryer to dry your hands, shake your hands dry and gently pat them down with a soft towel.
Moisturising
Your hands tend to be one of the most exposed areas of your skin, so the skin on your hands tend to shed skin cells faster and more often.
Regular moisturising allows the skin to retain its natural supple texture.
The best times to use moisturizers are after a bath, exfoliating, dishwashing, and before going to bed.
For those with extra dry hands, it’s best to moisturize each time you wash your hands. Keep a wet skin moisturiser near your sink for easy and fast-absorbing hand moisturisation.
To moisturize your hands overnight, slather lotion or an ultra-hydrating hand cream on your hands and wear cotton gloves overnight to retain the moisture for several hours.
Use a hand balm if needed.
Yes, they exist!
Hand balms are meant to treat damaged or extra dry areas of the skin and can be applied after moisturizing.
Humidify
Sometimes it’s not enough to moisturise.
During the winter, or if you live in a dry climate, you may want to get a humidifier.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air by producing water vapor or steam, so it’s known to help hydrate your skin.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the process of sloughing away dead skin cells to expose the fresh skin cells underneath.
Use the exfoliation method best suited for your skin type.
Scrubbing is more effective for oily skin, while chemical exfoliators are recommended for dry or sensitive skin.
It’s best to exfoliate your hands twice a week, as more frequent exfoliation can irritate the skin and abrade perfectly healthy skin cells prematurely.
If you have sensitive skin or open cuts on your hands, avoid exfoliation as it can lead to irritation.
Exposure
To prevent prolonged contact with cleaning supplies, use gloves when doing the dishes, the laundry, or other household chores.
In the winter, keep your hands covered to prevent your skin from drying out.
Low humidity and cold temperature often means less moisture in the air, which can lead to dry and cracked hands.
Ditch cuticle cutters
Cuticles are like the root of the nail.
Cutting them off can result in tougher or jagged outgrowth.
Instead, use cuticle oil or hand cream to keep them in check, and push them back occasionally. — Online.
