Hands are the most vulnerable part of our body; because with the help of our hands, we do everything. Frequent cleaning of hands is essential to avoid diseases, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors have recommended giving more time to the cleaning of hands. It may have resulted in slowing down the virus, but it has also resulted in the dryness of hands. Having dry hands is not a big problem, but it is quite irritating. Thus soothing of dry hands after hand washing is very important.
In today’s blog post, I am going to tell you the basic reasons for hands dryness and how you can prevent and treat it yourself. Jut read on!
Basic Reasons for Dry and Cracked Hands
The upper layer of our skin is made up of oils and wax, and they act as a guard to protect and maintain moisture in the skin. When we use soap, it cleans our hands of all the unwanted debris as well as the important oil. This creates dryness, itchiness, and cracks in our hands.
People, especially women who tend to wash more dishes than men (ha), spend a lot of time with their hands in water.
- This is due to washing clothes and dishes.
- Excessive use of hot water.
- Exposure to chemicals.
- Use of antibacterial soap.
- No use of moisturiser after having hands in water.
Initial Symptoms of Hands Dryness
Red and tight skin of hands may occur due to excessive hand washing. Extreme symptoms like intense itchiness and cracks may appear in the skin, which can create infections. The cold season pushes this even further.
Try These 5 Best Dry Hands Cures
To soothe your hand’s dryness, try some of the following highly recommended remedies by our experts:
1. Never Underestimate the Power of a Moisturizer
Use a good quality moisturising lotion tree times per day. Moisturisers help with restoring the humidity of your hands and lock it again into the hand’s skin. Consider the moisturisers containing:
- Glycerin
- Aloe
- Cocoa Butter
- Jojoba Oil
2. Wear Gloves While Washing Dishes
Use rubber gloves while washing dishes and clothes. It would decrease stress and friction on hands, and they would not be directly affected by water. Applying any good hand crème and ointments to fingertips and nails after every wash is recommended. While using hand crèmes and ointments, keep it in your mind that you are using petroleum and mineral oil products only. The crèmes that you choose to apply should be ‘fragrance-free’ and and ‘without any die.’ Hand crèmes usually dry up quickly in 15 to 20 seconds, so the risk of having an infection due to wet hands disappears.
3. Try Diluted Bleach Bath
If you develop hand eczema you should soak your hands in a “diluted” bleach bath to stop the bacteria from getting worse. In severe cases of eczema or infections, you should contact your GP or a dermatologist.
4. Go for Wet Dressing
Wet dressing is also one of the best treatments recommended by dermatologists. In case of severe dryness and cracked skin, the doctors prescribe a very strong moisturiser. The generally recommended moisturiser for wet dressing is Bag Balm. It’s a good moisturiser as it goes deeply into the skin and heals the dryness.
5. Consider Medication
Doctors also prescribe medicines that contain lactic acid or urea. The use of these may result in the betterment of dry hands. In the case of dermatitis (skin becomes red and inflamed), a lotion containing hydrocortisone is recommended. Doctors also recommend skin protectants like ceramides, petrolatum, and dimethicone. These products protect the skin from getting dry and keeps them moisturised.
Conclusion
Dry hands are a very common occurrence especially now in the cold season. But for a woman, perfectly moisturised hands are one of the basic ingredients of elegance. So great care should be taken to make your hands look more beautiful. You can usually treat dry hands easily with any good moisturiser. But, if your dry hands don’t get soothed with natural remedies or if you see any other critical symptoms, such as the affected flow of blood or infection, you should seek out medical attention.
I hope you find the article helpful. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
