A drop in mercury signifies the onset of winter as well as a drop in our skin’s natural hydration level and radiance. As a result, our skin becomes lifeless and dry, appearing uneven and dull, particularly on the hands and feet. The skin of hands and feet gets dry, flaky, and rough that may even begin to itch and crack. So, how do you treat dry hands and feet? You can find the answer right here.
Health Shots spoke to Dr Amit Bangia, Associate Director – Dermatology, Asian Hospital Faridabad, who rolled out these 7 ultimate tips which can help you cure your dry hands and feet.
Tips to deal with dry hands and feet during the winter
Although there are many causes, chilly weather and decreased humidity levels are the major ones, which can make it difficult for your skin to maintain proper hydration.
Dr Bangia says, “When the weather turns dry and cold in the winter season, the body cannot hold onto moisture. The lack of moisture in the air causes the skin of hands and feet to become dry and dull.” A person can try the below mentioned simple and tested remedies to get rid of dry hands and feet during winter.
Here are 7 tips for dry hands and feet:
1. Moisturize your hands
A variety of moisturizers are available in the market and many are designed particularly for hands and feet. Dr Bangia says, “Moisturize your hands every time you wash them to help restore the natural moisture to the skin. Several oils such as coconut oil can also help produce similar results.”
2. Overnight treatments are worth a try
People with extremely dry hands and feet can try overnight treatments for better results. For this, apply copious amounts of moisturizing creams or lotions to your hands and cover them with socks, gloves, or mittens. The coverings help with better absorption of the moisturizer in the skin giving soft, supple hands in the morning.
Also read: Got dry skin? Keep it soft with these DIY gel moisturizers this winter
3. Protect the skin
Though winter sunlight is not really harsh, protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun is essential in winter as well as it can dry out the skin, cause burns, and lead to other, more severe health problems. Therefore, make sure to protect all areas of the body from prolonged exposure to the sun and hands are no exception. Make use of a good quality sunblock (sunscreen) to prevent the sun from drying out your hands.
4. Use aloe vera
Aloe vera has many health benefits and is a common ingredient in skincare products because of its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is easily available over the counter and can be applied to the skin as a natural moisturizer with zero side effects.
5. Avoid using soap
The chemicals found in soap are often responsible for a drying effect on the hands. If possible, people should try to avoid or limit excessively washing their hands to refrain them from drying out.
6. Consider wearing gloves
It is a great idea to use gloves when you need to spend a lot of time keeping your hands submerged or in contact with water. Excess exposure to water washes away the natural oils in the skin leaving your hands dry and dull. Rubber gloves help prevent dry hands when they are submerged in water for a long by giving a layer of protection and keeping the natural oils intact.
Also read: Frequent hand washing making your skin dry? This is how you can keep them soft and supple
7. Stay away from using hot air dryers
Hot air dryers are an excellent way to dry your hands in seconds. However, they tend to dry out the skin and the hot, dry air can especially over-dry the hands. A better way is to use paper towels when possible and pat the hands dry.
So, next time you face the issue of dry hands in winter, follow all these remedies to get soft, baby-like hands.
