Are Your Hands Becoming Dry? Use These Natural Treatments

ByAmanda Ramirez
hands becoming dry

Our hands, one of the body parts we use the most, are often resistant to the weather. However, regular tasks, contact with cleaning supplies, and external causes might harm our hands.

Dry hands can be uncomfortable and even painful when left untreated. Still, they may not necessarily be a major medical problem. Simple actions like writing, washing, or even typing a message can be uncomfortable when your hands are dry.

Factors That Cause Your Hands To Dry

Numerous reasons might make hands dry, scratchy, or sensitive even in regular life. A few of these include:

Harsh Substances: Some soap might dry your skin and make it sensitive or redden your palms. Hands can become rough and calloused over time if they frequently come into contact with harsh chemicals and substances, such as dish soap and detergents, which can deprive them of moisture. Many household chemicals, cleaners, and disinfectants can dry out your hands.

Cold Air Exposure: Your hands may become dry from cold, dry air, particularly in the winter. Winter is a crucial time to take good care of your skin. Lower humidity is often associated with winter temperatures, making your hands more prone to drying.

Sun Exposure: Our arms and hands often receive the most UV radiation from the sun, along with the face and neck. Our hands are often not provided with sun protection. It’s true that your hands, like your face and body, need to be adequately protected from the sun if you don’t want to see aging signs on them.

Over Washing: You could have been washing your hands more frequently than usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequent washing is necessary to halt the transmission of germs. Still, it can cause severely dry skin due to the loss of natural protective oils and increase your risk of developing hand dermatitis or eczema.

Medical Conditions: Flaking and dryness are symptoms of some skin diseases and medications and can also affect the hands.

Chlorinated Water: Our skin usually becomes inflamed when it comes in contact with chlorine. It strips away the natural oil content from the healthily moisturized skin. Over-chlorine exposure dries up the skin and causes irritation and itchiness. Swimming in chlorinated water for long durations may result in red/swollen eyes and dry skin.

Lemon Essence: Do you enjoy experimenting at home with homemade natural remedies? You may already be aware that lemons are a fantastic source of vitamin C. However, lemon though rare, can also cause your skin to become drier when applied externally. So, if you have dry skin, restrict your lemon use.

Internal Triggers: An unbalanced diet, skin aging process, dehydration, alcohol and nicotine, and depression may also cause your hands to dry.

Simple Home Remedies For Dry Hands

Dry, rough hands can be discomforting, but you can protect them by adding these skin care tips to your routines:

  • Apply petroleum jelly, honey, or aloe vera gel regularly
  • Wear gloves when using harsh soap and chemicals and during winter months
  • Use soothing heavy-duty hand moisturizers daily
  • Go for manicures or do one yourself at home
  • Use high-quality sunscreen before heading out in the sun
  • Apply a skin lotion after using sanitizer
  • Use a humidifier in your room (for people who live in cold regions)
  • Deep sleep can magically cure your anxiety and stress. Include some sleep-triggering foods in your diet.

Try out these ingredients from your kitchen cabinet to treat your dry hands.

Cinnamon

If the skin on your hands feels dry all the time, it’s time to add cinnamon to your daily skincare routine. Cinnamon improves blood flow to your skin, resulting in moist skin.

Cinnamon has rich antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help the skin fight infections and repair tissue damage.

How You May Use It: Make a scrub by mixing olive oil, salt, almond oil, honey, and cinnamon powder. Apply this mix on your skin as an exfoliator and see the results within a few weeks.

Thyme Essential Oil

The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of thyme can protect the skin from infections. It even relieves burns on your skin and acts as a natural remedy for skin rashes.

Thyme oil can make your hand soft by reducing the symptoms of eczema with dry and itchy scales. The high antioxidants in thyme help slow down the normal aging process.

How You May Use It: Mix lavender and thyme oil (2:1) and apply them to your hands. Using it twice a day can be more effective in reducing dryness and adding moisture to your skin. It is an effective remedy for symptoms of atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Basil

Research says that topical emulsions with basil extract will increase your skin’s moisture content. So, for dry skin, go for cream or lotion with basil extract. It will help you reduce the dryness and roughness of the skin.

The basil essential oil can also prevent fungal skin infections, one of the causes of dry skin on the hands.

Phenolics and flavonoids in basil have antioxidant properties that minimize skin damage on your hands due to sun exposure.

How You May Use It: Finely grind the dry leaves of basil and mix it with fuller’s earth and yogurt. Apply this mix on your dry hands and leave it for some time. This remedy will remove the dead cells from the outer layer of the skin, making your hands soft and moist.

Rosemary

The antioxidant properties of rosemary extracts and essential oils help in anti-aging by delaying lipid oxidation. The terpene element in rosemary soothes redness and irritations on your hands. The astringent properties in this herb improve skin texture.

How You May Use It:

  1. Combine two drops of rosemary oil, two drops of lemon essential oil, and two drops of tea tree oil, and stir well.
  2. Apply this on your clean hand and leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Rinse with cold water and pat dry.

Along with these, you may also nourish your skin with cleansing oils.

Things To Avoid While Hands Becoming Dry

  • Avoid soaps with harsh chemicals and drying effect
  • Stay away from excessive hand washing
  • Limit your hot shower bath time
  • Restrain your hands from soaking in the water for too long
  • Reduce stress
  • Avoid using hot air dryers
  • Cut down on alcohol intake
  • Avoid junk and sugary foods
  • Dress appropriately to avoid frostnip during cold weather

Pamper Your Hands

You may be using a variety of creams and lotions on your face and body as part of your skincare regimen. Your hands, however, also need care. Incorporate home remedies, natural oils, and a healthy diet to prevent and treat dry hands. Don’t forget to moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize!

FAQs

Q:  Does vitamin D deficiency make my hands dry?

A:  Yes, dry hands, face, cheeks, and legs are the most common tell-tale symptom of vitamin D deficiency.

Q:  What happens if we leave our dry hands without proper care?

A:  If we leave our dry hands without care, the skin may become too dry, and these deep cracks end in bleeding. There are many chances for bacterial infections too.

Q:  When do you need to see a doctor for dry hands?

A:  If you experience the same dryness for long days, it is time to see a dermatologist. They can help you analyze the cause and recommend appropriate treatments.

References

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