Constantly washing your hands dries the skin of your hands out. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer dries your hands even faster. Every girl knows that hygiene is important. We are all taught that, from a young age.
You may have noticed that it’s easier for your skin to become dried out during the cold winter months. The reason is that when the weather is hotter we tend to drink more water and that helps keep our skin hydrated from the inside.
So before I get into any of the specific tips for managing dry skin on your hands, remember to stay hydrated. Drink more water, especially during winter. When it comes to hydrating your skin from the inside, coffee, tea, soda, and alcohol don’t count. You need to be drinking enough plain water.
Now that you are getting your skin properly hydrated from the inside, what is a girl to do who wants to protect her hands while practicing proper hygiene?
Luckily, there are some tips that you can add to your daily routine to make ugly, dry, skin on your hands a distant memory.
1. Keep Your Moisturizer Close
This has to be my top tip. Always have moisturizer with you at all times. No purse or handbag should be without moisturizer for your hands.
Taking this a step further. Just having moisturizer with you at all times won’t do you any good if you don’t use it.
The one time when I don’t carry a moisturizer with me is when I am out for a run along the trails. However, there is a trick that I learned that works a treat. There are a lot of olive trees along the trails here in Spain. What I do is pick an olive and roll it between my hands gently squeezing out the fresh, extra virgin oil.
2. Best Time To Moisturize
You may not be aware that there are specific times when it is more beneficial to moisturize your hands than others.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you should moisturize immediately after you have finished gently patting your skin dry after washing your hands.
This will allow any of the moisture remaining on your skin to be trapped by the moisturizer.
3. Not So Hot
The temperature of the water that you use to wash your hands is important.
During the winter, you will likely be tempted to turn up the heat for a few seconds of comforting warmth to your hands.
However, the AAD guidelines state that using lukewarm water instead of hot temperatures when washing your hands will be a better idea. This is because hot water dilates the pores of your skin which can dry out your hands faster.
4. Gentle Soap
Not all soap is created equal. When it comes to washing your hands, certain types of soap can be too harsh especially if your skin is already dry.
Look for soap that is gentle and free of fragrances, which can further dry out your hands.
Also, be aware that some formulas contain alcohol as a way to make the claim of being medicated of anti-bacterial in their marketing. The alcohol dissolves the natural oils in your skin and dries it out faster. If this is the only soap available don’t delay moisturizing at all.
5. Extreme Cases
If the skin of your hands is already for extremely dry, look for a moisturizing cream or ointment one that contains either olive or jojoba oil, as suggested by the AAD.
6. Gloves
Protect your hands from the harsh winter elements by putting on gloves before going outdoors. It is also a good idea to put on a pair of soft gloves after applying a liberal amount of your hand moisturizer or ointment at night. This helps to lock in the hydration.
7. Humidifier
I am sure that you already know that humidifiers can benefit your facial complexion. However, they can help the skin on your hands in the same way.
According to the AAD, using a humidifier will add moisture to the air and help soothe dry skin. That includes your face and hands.