5 Remedies for Dry Hands: Are You Washing Them Too Often?

Having dry hands is a prevalent condition, especially during winter months. It is not a dangerous condition, but it is a rather annoying one. Aside from the cold weather, washing hands too often can lead your skin to dry out.

Remedies for Dry Hands

Fortunately, there are various remedies to correct the problem. Below is a closer look at five of those remedies to get softer hands again.

Moisturizing Products

Having a quality moisturizing cream or lotion to use daily is highly recommended when it comes to dry hands. These creams help bring back moisture into the skin, where it can work to heal and repair the skin. You can get more details about the different products online. Here you will see various moisturizers, creams, lotions, and oils. You can then determine the best products to help the condition of your dry hands.

Wear Hand Protection

If your job requires your hands to be immersed in water frequently, then wear gloves to protect them from exposure to water. Also, if you work in a lab or the kitchen of a restaurant, make sure you are using the lotion dispensers often. Gloves will help prevent the water from removing natural oils from the skin. In colder temperatures, it is also advised to wear gloves to protect them from drying out.

Treat Your Hands Overnight

Before going to bed is the best time to apply hand moisturizer. This is because, for the next six hours or more, your hands will not be in the harsh elements of water. Choose a petroleum-based moisturizer to cover your hands in.

If your hands are extremely dry, consider wearing gloves to bed to trap in the moisture. This will help your skin to absorb more of the moisturizer so that you can wake up to smoother hands. Do this for three to four nights or until you are happy with the condition of your hands. Remember to use lotion or moisturizer every single day.

Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal is a natural ingredient that is good for a lot of things, including dry hands. You can add powdered oatmeal to a bath or use creams that contain the ingredient. Oatmeal has antioxidant properties that will help relieve and treat dry skin.

Wash Your Hands With Cool Water

Many people wash their hands with hot water because it feels good, but it is not suitable for your hands. Hot water irritates the skin and dries it out. This happens because the skin’s protective layer stays put under cold water, but it can disappear under warm water. Once that lipid layer is gone, the moisture in the skin escapes until the layer is able to replenish itself.

As a person ages, it takes the skin longer to replenish the lipids lost when washing under warm to hot water. If you are prone to dry skin, consider washing your hands in lukewarm or cold water.

There are various products and remedies to use when it comes to dry hands. Some are quite affordable, while others are rather expensive. Choose a product that is going to help you achieve the skin you want. Some people turn to their pantry for ingredients, such as honey or coconut oil, to rub their hands with. Such items work well also and are everyday products found in many homes.