Many of us suffer from dry hands and brittle, discolored and peeling nails in the winter. Indoor heat and a lack of moisture in the air take their toll. Add to that taxing toll the alcohol-based hand sanitizers we typically use to prevent colds and flu, and your hands probably appear rough and dry.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation isn’t just for the face, your hands greatly benefit from removing dead skin cells regularly as well. While many of us pamper our faces with preventative and restorative skin-care products and procedures, we neglect our hands.
Use a Moisturizer
Find a good moisturizer like Sattva Pure (Paraben & Petroleum Free
Made with certified organic ingredients
Made with non-GMO ingredients) and apply often during the day. Keeping moisturizer on your hands is essential, especially after washing your hands. Remember to apply just before you retire to bed for the night.
Wear Gloves
Wear gloves whenever possible outdoors. Gloves not only protect your skin from the harsh winter elements but when worn in public places they negate the need to regularly apply hand sanitizers which sap your hands of moisture via the germ-preventing alcohol ingredients.
Use A Humidifier
The best way to prevent dry skin is to keep moisture in the air! Hot, dry indoor air can dry out skin and promote itching and flaking. By keeping a humidifier in the rooms you frequent most you’ll keep moisture in the air and therefore in your skin as well. Portable home humidifiers come in many varieties. You can also attach a humidifier to your furnace to accommodate the whole house. Choose the humidifier that suits your personal needs and be sure to keep it clean to ward off fungi and bacteria.
Avoid Hot Water and Harsh, Drying Soaps
Hot water removes important oils from your skin, use warm, not hot, water when you bath. If you have dry skin, it’s best to use cleansing creams or gentle skin cleansers and bath or shower gels with added moisturizers.
Professional Manicure
A manicure will clean and shape your nails and treat your cuticles, which is vital for keeping your nails healthy and strong
A professional manicure also helps to increase suppleness and flexibility in the hands and wrists.
As part of a manicure, the hands are massaged with creams to help increase blood circulation. Manicures also exfoliate and cleanse the skin, and improve nail texture. Manicures have the added benefit of soothing and relaxing the person being treated. Overall manicures serve to promote smoother, softer and younger-looking hands, fingers and nails.
