The hands are one of the most active parts of the body. They do not just help us in normal everyday activities, but also play a fundamental role in communicating with others; it is therefore important to keep them in good health, like any other part of the body. You can have soft hands and improve their appearance in no time, like a week, by taking care of them regularly every day.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Wash Your Hands Daily
Step 1. Wash them thoroughly
You have to do this every day of the week, no matter how dry they are; in this way, you not only soften the skin, but improve your overall health by getting rid of germs. Be sure to wash them gently though.
- Use lukewarm water. If it is too hot it damages the natural sebum of the skin, especially near the surface.
- If your hands are really very dry, you should only rub your palms.
- Use a moisturizing soap or one without surfactants; also avoid those that contain perfumes.
Step 2. Hydrate them every time you wash them
You should apply moisturizer after each wash. Consider this a part of your daily body care routine, but you should also do it whenever your hands start to get dry and / or itchy.
- Check the moisturizer you are using; avoid water-based ones and look for oil-based ones instead. Generally, ointments and oily creams are better, as lotions are often water-based.
- Oils help soften hands faster - within a week - as they "trap" moisture better than water-based lotions.
- In this case, more expensive products are not always synonymous with better quality.
- Look for moisturizers like petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and lanolin. Products that contain glycerin, dimethicone and hyaluronic acid can also help the skin regain its natural hydration, as can those enriched with lactic acid and urea.
- Vaseline is a fairly inexpensive product that you can use; you can also make homemade cocoa butter and honey moisturizers if you like.
Step 3. Use overnight products to speed up the process
Petroleum jelly or other moisturizers need to stay in contact with the skin for a while, and in the meantime you should also wear cotton gloves to improve their effectiveness.
- If you use this method overnight, you also have the advantage that you don't have to use your hands, reducing discomfort as the product acts on the skin.
- Nighttime treatments help soften your hands within a week, and you should continue to follow them as a general care in the future as well.
Step 4. Use an exfoliating cleanser
It works by eliminating dead skin cells. You can rub your hands with specific products or prepare a homemade scrub with the ingredients you have available. You should have an exfoliating treatment no more than two or three times a week.
- If you want a homemade solution, know that there are several recipes that use readily available ingredients to make compounds that soften the skin of the hands. Among the different combinations you can try there are (but the list is not complete): sea salt and olive oil; lemon and glycerin; baby oil and sugar; oats and lemon; milk, honey and lemon juice; honey, cottage cheese and tomato juice; turmeric and lemon.
- Proceed with the treatment two or three times during the week, but it is not necessary to do this with every hand wash.
- You can also scrub during a spa treatment.
- Don't overdo the exfoliation. If you do it too often, you could damage the epidermis and / or skin blood vessels. Look out for signs of dryness, patches, dehydration, and / or increased sensitivity, as these are all indicators of excessive exfoliation.
Step 5. Repeat the steps described so far every day
To ensure the health of the skin on your hands, you should stick to this routine for well beyond a week; however, proceeding even for just a few days will improve the condition of the hands at least in the short term.
- If economics is an issue, consider making both your moisturizer and exfoliator with homemade ingredients.
- Remember that you don't have to exfoliate your hands with every single wash.
- It is better to take advantage of the night hours, when you sleep, to apply the long-acting products, since they must remain on the hands for several hours; remember to wear gloves while you sleep, although it is a good idea to wear them during the day as well, when applying these long-lasting products.
Part 2 of 3: Protect Your Hands
Step 1. Make sure you protect them
This is a fundamental aspect in order not to undo the improvements you are obtaining with moisturizing and exfoliating products, as well as not to aggravate the damage already present.
- Wear rubber or latex gloves when using irritating products. This is a great solution when doing normal daily tasks, such as washing the dishes, cleaning the house and during any work activity.
- Choose gloves with a cotton lined interior for a gentler contact on the skin.
- Try to be especially careful in wearing gloves during the winter season, when the weather is harsh and the air tends to be drier.
Step 2. Apply sunscreen when outdoors for extended periods
The damage resulting from exposure to sunlight can aggravate the situation.
- Do not mix sunscreen with other products when hiking outdoors.
- Make sure the SPF of the sunscreen you are using is adequate for the exposure.
- Follow the cleaning methods described so far, especially with regards to soaps, to get rid of the sunscreen before returning to your normal skin care routine.
Step 3. See a dermatologist
Unless you already know that you suffer from a more serious skin problem, such as eczema, you should ask your doctor for advice on specific products you can use to speed improvement, healing and increase hand protection.
- Ask for some ointments or creams that you can use on a daily basis.
- If you are using products to apply at night, consider using alternative substances or new application techniques with your dermatologist, in case you do not notice satisfactory results.
- Consider bringing the natural remedies you have prepared to your doctor's appointment so that they can confirm whether they are effective and suitable for your situation.
Step 4. Increase the humidity in the house
Find some ways to add some moisture to the air without compromising other health factors. This is especially important during the winter.
- Turn on a humidifier. It is a device that pumps moisture from a water source directly into the air.
- An equally effective solution is to place a bowl of water next to the radiators.
Step 5. Reduce the water temperature when bathing or showering
For the same reason that you shouldn't wash your hands with boiling water, you should avoid using water that is too hot on other occasions as well, so as not to aggravate the situation.
- Set a mixer on the faucet, to regulate the temperature when bathing / showering.
- Consider applying bath oil to your hands before entering the shower or tub and then hydrate them again.
Step 6. Put the moisturizing products in the rooms where you wash
By leaving the creams and exfoliants near the sink, you are more encouraged to use them.
- If you wash at multiple sinks, get a container of soap, moisturizer, and exfoliator for each individual site.
- You can also decide to keep a larger bottle where you wash most often and other smaller bottles in the others.
Part 3 of 3: Choose Unverified Home Remedies
Step 1. Make a mixture of olive oil and sugar
It is probably one of the simplest exfoliating products to make to soften your hands, as it uses ingredients found in almost every home or easily purchased at the supermarket.
Mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with a few drops of olive oil. Pour in enough oil to make a paste that you can rub into your palms until the sugar mixes with the skin
Step 2. Use olive oil and oatmeal
Since there are different types of oatmeal, try a few to find the right combination; however, the basic process is similar to that with sugar.
Combine a couple of teaspoons of oatmeal with a few drops of olive oil; rub the mixture into your palms until it spreads evenly. Let the product work for about 15 minutes before rinsing off
Step 3. Try a solution of butter and almond oil
These are two readily available ingredients to create an emollient "ointment".
Combine two teaspoons of butter with one of almond oil to create a spreadable mixture; let it sit for 20 minutes before washing it off
Step 4. Evaluate a mixture of rose water, honey, and almond flour
Again, these are products readily available at home or in stores to create a solution to rub on your hands that will soften them in a week.
For this mixture you need to mix a teaspoon of honey, half of almond flour and a few drops of rose water. However, the important thing is to rub the mixture evenly into your palms for several minutes and then let it sit for another ten before removing it
Step 5. Try other remedies, such as a mixture of glycerin, rose water, and lemon
Generally, glycerin is on sale in drugstores / parapharmacies.
- In this case, you need to create a new batch of compound each time and avoid storing it for later use.
- Mix the three ingredients in equal parts (one teaspoon for each) and let the mixture sit just enough for it to dry.
Step 6. Mix the lemon with the sugar
This is one of the simplest home remedies you can get to soften your hands in a week.
Take half a slice of lemon, pour the sugar on the pulp and rub it all in the palm of your hand until the sugar dissolves; repeat for the other hand
Step 7. Make a mixture of honey and sugar
This is also one of the more accessible solutions, but in this case you have to keep the mixture on the skin for 20 minutes before rinsing off.
To obtain it, combine a tablespoon of honey with the same sugar and massage the mixture on the palms until the sugar has dissolved; at this point, let the mixture act for 20 minutes
Step 8. Try a combination of tomato juice, glycerin, and lime juice
These are also among the most readily available ingredients that you can use to create a blend to massage into your hands and represent a treatment that can be completed in a week.
Take the three ingredients in equal quantities and mix them to create a paste to be applied every night; for this treatment it is necessary to wear gloves
Step 9. Consider making a mixture of talc and bath salts
These are easy to find ingredients, they are generally quite inexpensive, and they help you soften your hands within a week.
Sprinkle some talcum powder on your palms and then pour some natural bath salts; add a few drops of mild hand soap and then carefully rinse your hands with warm water
Step 10. Make a blend of almond and sandalwood oil
You can find these ingredients in supermarkets and they are particularly useful for skin health; they can therefore also help soften hands in a week.
- Grind ten fresh almonds still green and add several drops of sandalwood oil, then apply the mixture by massaging it; wait for it to dry and then rinse.
- Generally, you should proceed with this treatment twice a day during normal hand washes.
Step 11. Rinse off any type of compound you have applied
Remember to use warm water, not too hot.
- Wash your hands gently; you don't have to damage the skin you are trying to heal and soften.
- Make sure to always rinse your hands after applying the remedy respecting the recommended application times.
- Check the soaps you use to make sure they are fragrance-free and do not contain other harsh and skin-irritating substances.
Step 12. Restart your moisturizing treatments and put on gloves after applying and rinsing off each home remedy
After rubbing these compounds, you must apply a moisturizer of your choice to "maintain" the effect obtained with the treatment; put on gloves to protect your hands from possible damage.
If you perform the procedure during the day, wear gloves that are best suited for the various daily tasks, rather than just cotton ones for the night; however, whichever model you choose, make sure it has a cotton lined interior
Advice
- Follow the directions on the product packaging without overdoing the quantities.
- Some hand moisturizers already contain a sun protection factor and are a useful combination.
Warnings
- If your skin health deteriorates, the problem spreads to other areas, or you have some allergic reactions to the products you are using, see a dermatologist right away.
- Make sure you are not allergic to any products you are using, including the glove material.
