Have you ever struggled with dry and peeling skin on your hands every time it gets a little too cold? When winter sets in, your hands begin to show neglect and ageing sooner than most parts of the body.
Dry, chapped hands are one of the most common winter skin woes. Not only can they crack, peel and bleed when your skin barrier is compromised, but eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions can worsen it. Your hands are one of the most used body parts and need to be taken care of.
Most of us face a similar problem during the harsh winter when our hands react terribly to the cold air and harsh winds during peak winters leading to lizard skin. You may also find that dead skin tends to accumulate quicker in the winter and rough patches of skin seem to be all over. This is because in winter, the cell turnover rate is decreased. If you are washing your hands frequently to avoid coronavirus, you could sap whatever natural oils are left in your skin.
The skin on the back of the hands is thin and lacks oil glands. That is why the hands are prone to wrinkles and lines. The nails also become dry and brittle, breaking or chipping easily during peak winters.
Exposures of hands during winter can lead to skin issues like pain, redness, flaking and itching. Ironically, by washing hands with chemical-laden soap, we can develop dry cracks in the skin giving bacteria an entry point into our bodies. This could lead to conditions, like eczema.
The outermost layer of our hands is composed of oils and wax, and it acts as both a shield from the outside and a guard that maintains natural moisture in the skin. The skin barrier is a mix of proteins, lipids and oils. It protects your skin and how good a job it does is mostly about genes.
Here are a few easy tips to take care of your hands:
Protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves/mittens for your washing chores/vegetable chopping/cleansing etc to retain the moisture you already have. Always wash your hands with tepid water. Make sure the water is not too hot or cold. Limit exposure to high heat. Surgical gloves are easily available at a chemist’s store.
Apply freshly extracted aloe vera gel on the hands and let it dry in the natural environment on your skin. You can apply it twice a week. The best prevention is to begin using aloe vera gel before your hands show signs of dryness. Apply raw milk cream if you have dark knuckles, it will help lighten the colour.
Bath time is appropriate for pampering the hands and supplying them with the oil and moisturising they need. Before your bath, apply warm oil on the hands and massage it into the skin. This helps to soften the skin. You can use coconut oil, which is very nourishing.
Coconut oil is recognised for its anti-inflammatory, moisturising and anti-microbial properties. Applying coconut oil over damp hands helps in sealing the moisture. Or, use pure almond oil immediately after your bath. Apply a moisturising lotion or cream while the skin is still damp. This helps to seal in moisture.
Twice a week, have a pre-bath treatment by mixing ground almonds with curd and a pinch of turmeric. Apply on hands. After 15 minutes, rub the paste gently on the skin and wash it off with water. At night, massage cream on your hands, working it into the skin.
You can also try some home remedies to keep the skin soft and smooth.
Among the many kinds of moisturisers, hand creams are better than body lotion because they are more nourishing. Lotions which are primarily water-based can further dry out the skin because the water evaporates. Creams which are often oil-based are more effective after washing hands. Once your hands are dry, immediately use hand cream to seal in the moisture.
A luxury treatment for hands: Take four teaspoons of almond oil and mix one tablespoon of rose water. Add half-teaspoon tincture benzoin, drop by drop. Mix together. Apply this on the hands. Wear loose cotton socks on the hands and leave on the preparation all night. Rinse off with plain water the next morning.
Use hand ointment or cream instead of a lotion as these are more effective. Vaseline is still the most effective moisturiser out there.
Lemon juice and sugar rubbed together with the hands help to soften the skin.
Take two tablespoons each of sunflower oil and lemon juice and three tablespoons of coarse sugar. Mix till it becomes a paste. Apply and rub into hands. Wash off after 15 minutes. Do this three times a week.
Take fresh orange peels and pierce them with a fork. Rub the peels on the hands to brighten them.
Choker (wheat bran) and besan (gram flour) can be mixed with turmeric and milk into a paste and applied on the hands. Wash off after 20 minutes. This softens, cleanses and tightens the skin.
Mix almond oil and honey in equal parts and massage into the nails and cuticles.
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