Dry hands can be caused by a number of factors such as long term exposure to harsh weather, water or eczema. If you have dry hands, they can look very painful and also be an embarrassment if you’re at a special event.
The weather, especially in winter is hard on your hands. Even if you have smooth, supple, and soft hands in September, they can become red, chapped, and rough by March. Luckily, there are emergency treatments available for those that suffer from dry hands. These come in particularly useful when you have to attend a job interview or a wedding and need smooth looking hands in a hurry. In this article we will tell you how to rid yourself of the dry look by heavily moisturising your hands and keeping them protected.
Cracked and dry hands are prone to picking up infections due to the open skin. We recommend treating your dry hands with an antibiotic ointment which you should apply over any cracked areas. Protect your cracked skin, and then apply a rich moisturising cream to keep the skin smooth and healthy.
Avoid using exfoliates regularly as the skin on your hands is thin and very sensitive. Whilst it is okay to exfoliate once in a while, doing it a lot could irritate your existing dry skin problem. Using a rich moisturiser on your hands that contains vitamin E and shea butter is advised. Apply it over the entire surface of the hand, and then put on some cotton gloves to insulate the hand and allow for greater moisture penetration.
There are many daily activities which we expose our hands to that may cause them harm and counteract our moisturising efforts. Using water that is very hot or indeed very cold to wash dishes or hand wash clothes can cause the skin to dry out further. When you can, wear gloves to do these activities and keep applying moisturiser to help them heal.
Some experts recommend applying moisturiser five or six times a day as this will provide round-the-clock protection. To try and achieve this, consider keeping a big jar or tube of your moisturiser in your bathroom, smaller versions in your handbag, gym bag and on your desk. Having it everywhere you go will help applying it to become a routine.
Another tip is to apply a light dusting of face powder to your hands if you can’t quite shift that dry look. This will help momentarily hide your cracked skin by camouflaging drier areas.
Remember though that it’s best to start moisturising before there's a problem if possible. The best prevention is to begin using a moisturiser and caring for your hands before there are any signs of dryness.
