Natural Remedies | How to Take Care of Dry Hands?

Photo by Tora Chu

While often considered a minor issue, dry hands can be extremely bothersome. Environmental factors like weather, frequent handwashing, exposure to chemicals, and specific medical conditions are common culprits behind dry hands.

Healthcare professionals advise following a specific handwashing routine to prevent illness and the spread of germs. This involves wetting hands with running water, applying enough soap to cover them, scrubbing all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, and then rinsing thoroughly. Nevertheless, frequent handwashing can strip the skin of moisture, leading to dryness, cracking, and inflammation.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Dry Hands?

Signs and symptoms of dry hands include:

• Rough or scaly skin texture
• Flakiness or peeling
• Redness or irritation
• Itching or burning sensation
• Tightness or discomfort
• Cracks or fissures, especially around the fingertips
• Decreased flexibility or mobility in the skin
• Appearance of fine lines or wrinkles, particularly on the back of the hands.

Understanding Dry Hand: Causes and Triggers

Factors Contributing to Dry Hands:

• Environmental conditions such as harsh weather and temperature changes
• Dry air from central heating and air conditioning
• Frequent hand washing with warm water
• Exposure to UV light, accelerating skin aging
• Skincare products disrupting skin's pH and barrier
• Mechanical irritation in certain occupations
• Chemical exposure from detergents and cleaners

To combat dry hands, wash with lukewarm water, avoid hot water. Internal factors like poor diet, dehydration, alcohol, smoking, stress, and age can worsen dryness. Dry hands may signal underlying conditions like atopic dermatitis, diabetes, psoriasis, allergies, or thyroid issues.

5 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Hands Soft and Healthy

• Keep your hands slightly damp after washing and apply hand cream: After washing your hands, dry them with a clean towel but don't make them completely dry. Apply hand cream while your hands are still slightly damp, making sure to moisturize your nails and fingertips.
• Apply hand cream after using hand sanitiser: When you use hand sanitizer, make sure to apply hand cream immediately after it dries to prevent dryness and cracking.
• Choose a hand cream with moisturising ingredients: Look for hand creams that contain ingredients like glycerin and Shea butter which lock in moisture and protect your skin.
• Soak your hands in a rich body oil bath: At night, add a few drops of body oil containing rich oils such as sweet almond or coconut oil to a warm bath. The oil will provide moisture, reduce inflammation, and eliminate dry skin.
• Wear gloves when doing housework involving water: If your hands are frequently exposed to water during housework, consider wearing gloves to prevent the water from stripping natural oils from your skin.

Essential Ingredients for Hydrated Hands

Discover the essential components found in hand creams that effectively prevent dryness and keep your hands hydrated and nourished.

• Vitamin B5: Known for repairing damaged skin and maintaining optimal hydration levels, vitamin B5, or panthenol, traps moisture in the skin and improves its appearance.
• Vitamin E: A natural moisturizer and antioxidant, vitamin E protects the skin from chemicals and pollutants, enhances UV defense, and reduces UV damage.
• Shea Butter: Derived from the seeds of the shea tree, shea butter relieves symptoms of acne, burns, dandruff, eczema, and dry skin, thanks to its rich content of vitamins A and E.
• Glycerin: Clear, colorless, and odorless, glycerin locks in moisture, hydrates the skin's outer layer, and improves skin barrier function, providing long-lasting hydration.
• Natural Oils: Including argan oil and evening primrose oil, these oils contain essential vitamins and fatty acids that nourish the skin, absorb well, and reduce moisture loss.

Opt for balms or creams with a balm-like texture to effectively seal in moisture. These products work by reducing evaporation, helping the skin retain essential moisture. Look for thicker creams enriched with skin-loving ingredients such as Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and Glycerin, which provide intense hydration and a protective barrier for optimal results.

Additional Natural Oils for Dry Hands

If your hand cream includes these natural oils, it can further enhance its moisturising and nourishing properties, providing relief for dry hands.

1. Coconut Oil: Known for its moisturizing properties, coconut oil deeply hydrates the skin and helps repair dry and cracked hands.
2. Jojoba Oil: Similar to the skin's natural oils, jojoba oil is easily absorbed and helps regulate moisture levels in the skin, making it effective for dry hands.
3. Avocado Oil: Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, avocado oil nourishes and softens dry, rough skin, promoting smoothness and elasticity.
4. Olive Oil: With its high content of antioxidants and fatty acids, olive oil moisturizes and soothes dry hands, leaving them feeling soft and hydrated.
5. Sweet Almond Oil: Lightweight and easily absorbed, sweet almond oil is gentle on the skin and helps alleviate dryness and irritation, making it suitable for sensitive hands.

Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil-Scented Hand Creams

The benefits of hand cream scented with lavender essential oil include:

1. Relaxation: Lavender essential oil is known for its calming properties, which can help reduce stress and promote relaxation when applied to the hands.
2. Soothing: Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, making it effective for soothing dry, irritated skin on the hands.
3. Aromatherapy: The pleasant aroma of lavender essential oil can uplift the mood and enhance overall well-being, providing a sensory experience with each use of the hand cream.
4. Moisturising: Hand creams containing lavender essential oil often have moisturising ingredients that help hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving hands feeling soft and smooth.
5. Sleep Aid: Lavender has been traditionally used to promote better sleep. Using hand cream scented with lavender essential oil before bedtime may help relax the mind and body, facilitating a more restful sleep.

Overall, hand creams scented with lavender essential oil offer not only skincare benefits but also therapeutic effects for the mind and body.

As a lavender farm situated amidst the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand, we take pride in harvesting the finest lavender flowers for our products. Through a meticulous steam distillation process, we extract the pure essence of lavender essential oil to infuse into our hand creams. This ensures that each application of our hand creams delivers the full spectrum of benefits that lavender essential oil has to offer. If you would like to learn more about our farm click here to discover our farm.