The dryness of hands is a common problem nowadays. You might have felt the discomfort when your hands are dry. The real cause behind dry hands varies from person to person. It might occur due to working in a rough environment, or it might be the weather that is causing this dryness. However, dry hands aren’t something that can’t be treated or prevented.
Proper care of hands can help you get rid of this simple problem. With the appropriate knowledge and some effective home remedies, you can make your hands much smoother and softer. In this article, we bring you 8 Home remedies that you can try to treat/prevent the dryness. But before we discuss these home remedies, let’s take a look at the possible causes that are making your hands dry.
Causes of dryness
Dryness of skin or hands can be triggered majorly by environmental factors. In some people, it can occur due to certain health conditions. There are several irritants also that can make your skin dry. Some major causes of dry skin or hands:
Weather: Most of you might have observed that their hands become drier in winters as compared to summers. This is because of the weather conditions. In winters, the air doesn’t contain moisture content thus, making our skin dry.
Irritants: Some of you might be washing their hands with strong sanitizers, thus resulting in dryness of skin. Some people who work in rough working conditions are more likely to get their hands dry. Certain soaps and detergents can wash off the natural moisture of your skin, causing your hands to become dry.
Medical conditions:
Some people who have medical conditions like lupus and diabetes can notice dryness of skin or hands. This happens because these diseases slow down the flow of blood to the skin, thus making it dry. Other skin problems like eczema and psoriasis can also cause dryness.
Though dry skin or hands is very common these days. It is quite possible to make your skin restore its moisture with few home remedies that we have discussed further in this article.
( Also See – Best Foods for Healthy and Glowing Skin )
8 home remedies for naturally soft hands or skin
These simple but effective home remedies can help you in getting a much softer and smoother skin. Provided that you follow the instructions properly. Since these are natural remedies, so there are no side effects or any sort of allergies. They are easy to use and can prevent your hands from getting dry. Now, let’s take a look at these home remedies:
Coconut Oil
- Improves skin hydration
- Increase lipid levels on the surface of the skin
- Regular application can prevent dryness
How to use
- Apply coconut oil to both of your hands or on dry skin.
- Gently massage and let it penetrate into your skin.
- Leave it on your skin for 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Do this 1-2 times daily.
Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
- Powerful moisturizing properties
- Regular application can make skin softer
How to use
- Apply a thin layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to the dry hands or skin.
- Wear a pair of gloves and leave it overnight.
- Do this daily for fast results.
Egg Yolks
- Rich in Lecithin that helps in conditioning the skin
- Used as a skin conditioner and moisturizer
How to use
- Whisk the egg yolk.
- Wear gloves and apply the mixture to the dry skin or hands.
- Leave it for about 20 minutes.
- Wash it off with a fragrant soap to remove the foul smell of egg from your hands.
- Do this two times a week.
Honey
- Hydrates and soothe the dry skin
- Acts as a natural moisturizer due to emollient nature
How to use
- Apply a little raw honey on dry skin or hands.
- Spread it properly over the affected area.
- Leave it on for about 20 minutes
- Wash it off with a mild soap
- Do this two times daily.
( Also See – Oily Skincare Tips To Make Skin Look Flawless )
Oatmeal
- Moisturizes the dry skin
- Improves skin barrier functions
- Help restore smooth and soft skin
How to use
- Blend 1 tablespoon of powdered oatmeal with half tablespoon of coconut oil.
- Mix it well and apply the mixture to your hands or dry skin.
- Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse it with water properly.
- Do this at least once daily.
Aloe Vera
- Rich in polysaccharides that help in smoothening of dry skin
- Acts as a natural moisturizer
How to use
- Extract a tablespoon of aloe vera gel from its leaf.
- Apply the gel to your hands or dry skin.
- Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Do this at least 2 times daily.
Sugar Scrub
- The grainy texture of sugar helps in exfoliating dry skin
- Removes the dry skin cells
How to use
- Blend a tablespoon of sugar with half a tablespoon of warm coconut oil.
- Apply the mixture to your hands or dry skin.
- Gently massage it for about a minute or two.
- Rinse it off with water.
- Do this 2-3 times a week.
Sweet Almond Oil
- Contains fatty acids that help in moisturizing the skin
- Acts as a natural moisturizer and skin conditioner
How to use
- Apply the sweet almond oil to your hands or dry skin.
- Leave it on until it penetrates into your skin.
- Wear gloves if you want to leave it overnight.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Do this once daily.
There are several other home remedies also but these 8 are enough for making your skin soft and smoother. They not only moisturize your skin but make sure that the dryness doesn’t appear again on your skin, provided you try these home remedies as recommended. You can take certain precautions in order to prevent dryness from coming back.
Precautions to prevent Dryness
- Avoid the use of hard soaps and detergents that might be triggering the dryness onto your skin.
- Wear gloves if you are working in rough conditions.
- Use a humidifier especially in winters to maintain the proper moisture content in the air.
- Reduce the use of air dryers as they make your hands dry.
- Moisturize your skin regularly using any of the above home remedies.
If the dryness of the skin still persists, then see a dermatologist as soon as possible. Otherwise, these home remedies will work best for you as they act as natural moisturizers for your skin.
