The risk of developing dry and chapped hands has escalated in the current conditions, particularly with the challenging weather and external factors. The fluctuating climate takes a toll on the skin throughout the year, accentuating the impact during dry and cold seasons. However, there’s no cause for alarm. When your skin faces constant moisture loss and depletion of natural oils, the solution might be readily available in your kitchen through natural ingredients. You don’t always have to allocate a substantial budget for luxurious skincare when an array of effective home remedies is available. Discover the simplicity and efficacy of these accessible solutions to nurture and rejuvenate your skin.
This article looks closely at ways to care for your dry, chapped hands using ingredients and materials readily available and often found in the home.
10 Ways to Care for Your Dry, Chapped Hands
1. Using Aloe Vera:
Aloe Vera is loaded with many benefits for your hair and skin. Its enormous benefits include skincare, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food giants worldwide using this natural soothing gel in many products.
How To Use –
- Carefully cut out a leaf of Aloe Vera.
- Press the leaf gently to extract the gel.
- Gently apply the gel all over your dry hands. The Aloe Vera gel contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants (1)
- You may apply it in the morning and evening for a better effect and put on a glove (2). This way, the nourishing, moisturizing, and soothing properties of Aloe Vera get to work more on your skin with visible changes as the days go by.
You may leave the applied aloe vera gel on your skin for as long as possible. If you leave it on for a shorter period, wash it off after a few minutes of application. Most importantly, the naturally resourced aloe vera gel can get absorbed into the skin without that greasy feeling certain products give.
Also Read – Try These Glycerin Masks for Dry Skin to Get a Soft and Healthy Glow
2. Using Olive Oil to Pamper Your Hands:
Olive oil is a beauty ingredient that rounds in many skincare products. Used in ancient times to lubricate the body and heal bruises and other skin wounds, olive oil has a reputation for providing soothing relief to the body. Also, olive oil is an excellent moisturizer for the body, with a high level of Vitamin E and Vitamin A (3, 4 ).
How to use –
- When other moisturizers are ineffective, gently apply a few drops of Olive Oil and massage your hands. It restores skin lipids and preserves elasticity.
- The best time to apply Olive Oil may be in the evening before bed so that your skin will absorb it while you are asleep.
3. Cultivate A Hand-Care Bedtime Routine:
If you notice that your hands are always dry and chapped, a thoughtful bedtime routine that helps you seal in moisture may make a tremendous difference.
How To Do –
- Before bedtime, soak your hands in lukewarm water for fifteen minutes.
- Then, gently dab your hands. Wiping your hands instead of cleaning them properly with a towel eliminates excess water but still has some left on your hands.
- Next, apply petroleum jelly, also known as mineral oil.
- Carefully rub it generously all over your hands.
- Then, cover up your hands with a pair of comfortable gloves. This ensures that moisture is trapped in your skin and gives your hands enough time to rehydrate and absorb moisture.
When you wake up in the morning, you may notice that your hands feel softer. For the greasy feeling that comes with this home remedy, gently wipe your hands with a soft tissue or cotton ball.
4. Incorporating Lemon Juice and Honey as a Weekly Treatment:
According to research (5), lemon juice is rich in potassium, rejuvenating dry skin. It also has sufficient Vitamin C that delays signs of aging caused by dry skin.
The antioxidants and antimicrobial properties of honey may go a long way to lock in moisture in your hands and keep them soft (6).
How to Use –
- Mix these two ingredients in equal amounts using a cup.
- Stir it well and apply it to your hands.
- You may leave them on for 15 minutes and wash them off with cold water.
Continuously doing this may leave your hands feeling soft and improve their appearance.
Also Read – Indulge in Bathing Luxury: 10 Best Shower Gels for Dry Skin in India
5. A Hand Soak with Milk, Honey, and Rosewater:
A combination of milk, honey, and Rosewater may give your hands much-needed nourishment and hydration. Milk is a natural, healthy moisturizer containing water, fat, and proteins that restore lost moisture to your skin. Widely known for its lactic acid properties, it boosts the skin’s natural moisture and helps it feel less dry.
Honey has a reputation for providing fantastic healing and moisturizing benefits to the skin since ancient times. It will draw moisture from your surroundings onto your skin as a humectant.
On the other hand, Rosewater is a go-to staple for women who need to soothe irritated skin. With this trio, your dry, chapped hands will feel better than before with regular application.
How to Use –
- Fill a small bowl with warm water.
- Then add a half cup of milk, a tablespoon of honey, and a few tablespoons of Rosewater.
- Soak your hands in this mixture for as long as possible.
With this trio, your dry, chapped hands will feel better than before with regular application.
6. Protect Your Hands From Chemicals and Harsh Ingredients:
Cleansing your hands with soap and water for approximately 15 seconds reduces bacterial count by 90%. However, some individuals use this handwashing routine excessively, incorporating various hand washes and soaps, often unnecessarily, leading to long-term consequences.
Certain hand wash brands may harbor chemicals and harsh ingredients that, with repeated use, strip the skin of its moisture, resulting in dry, flaky, and chapped hands. It’s crucial to recognize that the skin on the palms is delicate and doesn’t necessitate a specialized soap for dirt removal or germ elimination.
Selecting a soap that preserves your skin’s natural oils is paramount. Over time, the persistent use of harsh soaps and chemical-laden hand washes commonly causes dry and chapped hands.
While there isn’t a specific frequency for handwashing, it’s crucial to be mindful of the regularly used soaps, disinfectants, and hand washes. Opting for a gentle, mild, or homemade soap becomes a prudent choice. Although proper hand hygiene is essential in the current times, it’s equally important to take extra care to prevent the adverse effects on your hands.
7. Create a Homemade Mask for your Hands:
Face masks are a popular beauty trend that won’t disappear soon. However, your face is not the only part of your body that can enjoy this luxury treatment; your hands can also use them.
How to Make-
- Mix two tablespoons of cinnamon powder, one tablespoon of olive oil, and a few drops of lemon essential oil.
- Wash your hands and apply this mask evenly.
- You may leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse your hands and apply a moisturizer.
Cinnamon helps maintain radiant skin by limiting fine lines and damages caused by dry weather. Olive oil has properties that nourish and hydrate the skin, while lemon essential oil contains vitamin C, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties.
8. Eat Foods Rich in Vitamins, Minerals, Complex Carbohydrates, and Proteins:
A healthy appearance goes beyond external skincare products; it’s intrinsically linked to a nourishing diet. The beauty industry, though thriving, finds synergy with a wholesome meal, creating a harmonious balance that enhances your skin, including your hands. This amalgamation of internal and external care amplifies the effectiveness of your skincare efforts and yields visible and enduring results—a testament to the belief that healthy skin originates from within.
The significance of Vitamin and Mineral-rich foods in promoting skin health is undeniable. Rough, dry, and chapped skin often signals a potential Vitamin A deficiency. Elevating Vitamin A and Vitamin D levels through consuming foods like fish, egg yolks, and cod liver oil can offer internal nourishment, imparting a healthy glow and minimizing the likelihood of developing dry, chapped hands. Embracing a diet rich in essential nutrients becomes a holistic approach to radiant skin that transcends the superficial aspects of skincare.
9. Wearing Protective Gloves:
Washing dishes at home and other house or job-related chores that demand certain chemical-infused products may strip your hands of moisture and dry them out. Hence, it is recommended to use appropriate household or work gloves whenever you do certain chores.
Constant use of disinfectants like bleach may weaken your skin’s natural barrier and make it prone to more damage. In addition, being constantly exposed to various soaps and varying water temperatures 90% of the time has long-lasting effects on your hands. These factors make keeping a glove readily available (7) essential. Even hand models attest to this safety precaution.
Also Read – 10 Best Soaps For Dry Skin In India To Look Moisturized And Healthy
10. Exfoliating Your Skin With Kitchen Counter Ingredients:
Showing your skin tender and loving care doesn’t have to be expensive, even when dry and chapped. Often, we get a facial exfoliation; hence, it is no different to do the same for your hands.
Exfoliation is a great way to remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, and it is also applicable to your hands. There are practical and soothing ways to exfoliate your hands at home. Here are a few you can try out today.
- Using Olive oil and grainy sugar – Pour about a teaspoon or half of the olive oil on your palms, then add a teaspoon of granulated sugar. With this coarse mixture on your palms, gently rub this mixture onto your palms and the back of your hands. Please wash it off with warm water for 2 or 3 minutes.
- Add two tablespoons of honey to a tablespoon of coconut oil with a small cup, and mix thoroughly. Add half a cup of sea salt and sugar in a separate bowl. Slice a lemon into two and squeeze half into the same bowl. Stir thoroughly and add this mixture to the coconut oil and honey mix. Scoop a small quantity into your palm and gently rub it over your hands. Rinse it off with warm water after a minute or two.
- With a small bowl, add a handful of almonds. Grind this almond into a fine powder, then add half a teaspoon of honey and milk. Make a smooth paste from this mix, gently massage it on your hands for 3 minutes, and then rinse it with warm water.
Summary
Our hands are always busy and as such, they are constantly exposed to several elements like heat, dust, pollution from the environment, and various chemicals in the products and materials we use daily. They play a vital role in our everyday lives and deserve to be cared for in the best way possible. Natural remedies and DIYs make it easy to care for this part of the body without breaking the bank. Taking out time to incorporate these remedies into your weekly skincare routine may improve the appearance of your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some immediate home remedies for dry, cracked hands?
To deal with dry hands at home, moisturize your hands daily with petroleum jelly (vaseline), wear gloves when doing house chores or jobs that demand that you frequently use water and several chemical variants in products, and treat your hands overnight with natural oils.
Can you have an overnight hand treatment?
Yes. Slather your hands overnight with natural oils like olive oil and lemon essential oil, and do a hand soak often in milk, honey, and Rosewater.
What about winter hand treatment tips?
Moisturize your hands often; waiting till it’s dry before moisturizing makes it even worse. Instead, use mild soap and warm water to wash your hands when needed. If you are outdoors most of the time, always put on gloves.
References –
- “What are the benefits of aloe vera?” – medicalnewstoday.com
- “Evaluation of aloe vera gel gloves in the treatment of dry skin associated with occupational exposure” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils” – mdpi.com
- “Powerful Properties of Ozonated Extra Virgin Olive Oil” – researchgate.net
- “Lemons 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits” – healthline.com
- “Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Prevent and Soothe Chapped Winter Hands” – webmd.com
