5 Skincare Routines for Dry Hands That Work Like a Charm

The skin on our hands has to put up with a lot of things every day. Itchiness, dryness, and skin irritation are common symptoms for many people that may become worse when they overuse sanitizers or wash their hands too often. But thanks to simple home routines that can be easily incorporated into your beauty regimen, it’s possible to save your hands without putting forth too much effort.

We at Bright Side have put together a list of tips and natural remedies that will help you keep your hands soft and beautiful no matter what you put them through.

Apply moisturizer every time you wash your hands.

Your skin loses moisture within 60 seconds after you wash your hands, so it’s essential to moisturize it right after every washing. Slightly wet skin is perfect for sealing in moisture. So choose thick, lubricating hand creams with the right ingredients. Petrolatum, dimethicone, and different kinds of butter will create a barrier on your skin keeping the water in, while hyaluronic acid and glycerin will add some moisture.

What to do: After you’ve washed your hands, apply hand lotion or hand cream to your slightly wet hands. Try not to touch anything until your hands are completely dry to let the cream set and get absorbed by your skin. Remember that wet hands may transfer germs more easily so it’s better not to hurry.

Use intensive overnight treatment.

Nighttime is the perfect opportunity to moisturize your dry hands by allowing the products to stay on the skin much longer. This way, the product can be absorbed by your hands overnight which may have a longer-lasting, healing result.

What to do: Choose a nutritious or moisturizing hand cream or lotion and thoughtfully apply it to your skin. You can substitute hand cream with natural moisturizers like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or aloe vera gel. Then put on cotton gloves and go to bed.

Don’t forget to exfoliate your skin.

Exfoliation helps get rid of dead skin cells, improves skin renewal, and makes creams absorb better into the skin which boosts their effect. For most people, it’s enough to exfoliate 1-2 times a week. If you notice skin redness, itching, or irritation after exfoliation or if your skin is already too inflamed, be gentle and let your skin heal first before incorporating this procedure into your routine.

What to do: You can make a scrub at home. Take 2 tsp of coconut oil and mix it with 2 tbsp of sugar. Apply this mixture onto your skin, massage for a minute, and rinse it off with water. You can also mix sugar with any moisturizing oil of your choice, like jojoba or grapeseed oil, and add essential oils or some vitamin E.

Try moisturizing hand soaks.

Hand soaking is another intensive treatment that can help relieve dryness and make your skin more hydrated. Choose a natural moisturizer, pat your hands nearly dry after the bath, and apply it to your skin.

What to do: Take a cup of powdered oats and 3 tbsp of olive oil. Put all the ingredients in a basin filled with warm water and mix them. Soak your hands in this mixture for 10 minutes. Olive oil has a moisturizing effect thanks to vitamin E and it also protects your skin from infection. Oats soften the skin and help keep it hydrated.

Pay attention to how you wash your hands.

Washing your hands too often may destroy a protective barrier of your skin, causing dryness and irritation. And products with the wrong pH levels and improper washing techniques only contribute to the skin damage which can make the skin appear flaky.

What to do: Avoid washing your hands with hot water because it just dries out your skin and isn't more effective against microbes than lukewarm or cold water. It's better to choose moisturizing liquid soap and avoid soap bars since their high pH levels may cause skin irritation. When you dry your hands, don't apply too much pressure: just pat them until they're dry.

What tricks do you use to keep your hands hydrated?