The sharp temperature drops, cold and dry air, frigid winds, pouring rains and constant exposure to heating devices indoor suck the moisture from our skin, remove its natural oils, especially on the skin of your hands. This leads to dry, cracked, flaky on the uppermost layer of the skin, loss of hydration and skin inflammation.
Therefore, it is very important that we take extra care of our skin in winter to keep our skin healthy throughout the season. Though we can’t control the weather, there are a few simple things that you could do to combat the dry winter skin and keep your skin happy all season long. In this blog post, we'll discuss some tips on how to look after your hands' skin the winter season.
7 useful tips to keep your hands happy in winter or winter handcare tips
Tip #1 - Moisturise Regularly, Especially Your Hands
One of the simplest ways to keep your hands' skin hydrated is to moisturise regularly. Choose a thick, nourishing hand cream or a hand lotion that contains ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin. or ceramides. They create a protective layer to prevent loss of hydration from the skin. Hence play an important role in keeping dehydration and dryness at bay.
Apply the cream or lotion to your hands after washing them or whenever they feel dry throughout the day.
Healthcare professionals could consider using overnight hand masks to fully recover from damaged caused by constant hand washing/scrubbing.
Tip #2 - Protect Your Hands
Wear gloves or mittens to protect your hands from the cold and wind. Cold temperatures can cause the skin on your hands to become dry and chapped. Mittens are better than gloves because they keep your fingers together, providing more warmth.
Tip #3 - Stay Hydrated
One of the most effective things you could do to maintain your skin’s health and improve your general well-being is drinking water throughout the day.
In winter months, the cold and drier air leads to increased water loss simply from breathing. Additionally, your kidneys excrete more urine in colder months. This results in dehydration as your body loses more water than it takes in and is also linked with inflammation.
The feeling of thirst is associated with minor dehydration. Hence, you would need to drink water even when you are not thirsty to stay hydrated from the inside.
Your water needs change from day to day depending on many environmental factors and the specific activities that you would have done during the day.
For that reason, try to have a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables as many of them consists of 90 to 95% of water, alongside with keeping up the fluid intake will benefit your general health and so your skin.
Tip #4 - Avoid Hot Water
Prolonged contact with hot water will cause your skin to turn red as its natural moisture is stripped and leave the skin drier than it was before. Instead, use lukewarm water to wash your hands. After hand washing, while your skin is still damp, apply moisturiser right away to lock in the hydration. You could also try gentle soaps or hand washing gels with are fragrance free and gently for the skin to minimize skin’s irritation.
Tip #5 - Exfoliate Exfoliating your hands can help to remove dead skin cells and promote new cell growth. Use a gentle hand scrub once a week to exfoliate your hands.
Tip #6 - Use a Humidifier During the winter season, the air inside your home can be dry, which can cause your hands' skin to become dry and cracked. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, which can help to keep your hands' skin hydrated.
Tip #7 - Protect Your Hands from Harsh Chemicals
Harsh chemicals, such as those found in cleaning products, can be tough on your hands' skin. Wear gloves when using these products to protect your hands.
Tip #8 - Apply Sunscreen Daily, Don't Forget Your Hands
The sun’s harmful UV rays can still penetrate through our skin on cloudy and rainy days or indoor through glass, so using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher daily is very important to protect our skin.
Before you go outside, apply a moisturising sunscreen with SPF 30+ or higher at least 20 to 30 minutes prior to fully protect your skin.
By following these tips, you can keep your hands feeling soft, smooth, and healthy throughout the winter months.