Hands represent an essential tool in our daily lives, as they perform multiple tasks, ranging from manual work to non-verbal communication. This extremely important part of our body deserves special care and attention, especially considering that its skin is constantly exposed to various environmental factors, which can compromise its health and appearance.
Proper hand protection and care is not only an aesthetic issue, but also an important aspect of general well-being, influencing the ability to carry out daily activities without discomfort or pain. Let’s see together how to keep them healthy and beautiful.
Protect your hands physically
Gloves can help protect your hands while keeping them soft. Cold air can dry and crack your skin when you’re outdoors. By wearing gloves, you reduce moisture loss and preserve the natural oil that characterizes the skin.
You can also think about wearing rubber gloves for household chores: in this way, your skin will be protected from the action of hot water and aggressive detergents.
Finally, to amplify the action of the moisturizing cream, you can put on a pair of cotton gloves after applying it, preferably before going to bed.
Use sunscreen
The skin on your hands can be susceptible to damage caused by solar ultraviolet rays, just like the skin on the rest of your body. When conditions make wearing gloves uncomfortable, applying a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) is recommended. This precaution will help preserve the health of the skin of the hands, keeping it soft and elastic.
Wash your hands without damaging them
One of the main reasons why we wash our hands is to avoid spreading the germs that we inevitably come into contact with by touching surfaces. Health institutes suggest washing them for at least 20 seconds, according to the following rules:
- use warm, not hot water;
- choose a moisturizing soap with ingredients containing lanolin and glycerin;
- do not aggressively rub your hands;
- dab with the towel instead of rubbing them;
- apply a moisturizer after washing.
What if you’re not at home? CreamClean is a cleansing and sanitizing hand cream with nourishing properties, perfect when you are away from home and with 70% v/v of denatured alcohol.
Drink enough
Water plays an essential role not only in cleaning the hands, but also in the internal purification process of the body, helping to improve the health of the skin and giving it a brighter appearance. To ensure adequate hydration, it is recommended to consume at least 8 glasses of water a day.
Moisturize your hands
Moisturizers retain water in the outer layer of the skin. Most creams contain wetting agents (glycerin, urea, alpha-hydroxy acids) that draw water into the skin, occlusive agents (petrolatum, shea butter, allantoin) that retain it, and emollient agents (jojoba oil, lanolin, sunflower oil) which smooth the skin.
One of the most effective ways to make your hands softer is to apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. After washing, dry your hands with a towel, allowing some moisture to remain, and apply a moisturizer – this method will help trap water in your skin.
How to prevent dry skin
Are your hands already dry? Do it like this:
- apply a quality moisturizing cream or lotion several times a day – it will help restore moisture and “seal” water in the skin;
- consider wearing gloves if your hands are often immersed in water, for example while washing dishes: they will prevent the water from stripping the skin of its natural oils;
- reduce stress: stressful states worsen eczema;
- If you have severe eczema, you may need medication to help your skin heal (your doctor may prescribe topical steroids or even an antibiotic to take by mouth);
- in some cases, ultraviolet (UV) therapy can help the skin heal: however, always talk about it with your doctor;
- one of the best remedies for dry hands is to spread a lotion or moisturizing cream containing Vaseline overnight, and then wear cotton gloves;
- For very dry, scaly skin, your doctor may recommend a special lotion containing lactic acid or urea.
