The palms are our business card, moving in the space between the body center and the environment, giving, taking, "talking", writing or reaching out for peace. The hands have meaning in communicating with the environment, hence their importance in creating a personal image. Besides, they provide so much from touch, hugs, and saying hello to cooking and food preparation.
The palms are exposed to the sun in the summer, and winter to the cold, and to the wet environment, so the care of the palms is important throughout the seasons. However, in winter, the palms are more vulnerable because of the skin's sensitivity to low temperatures, the dry and humid air characteristic of this season, the chilly and dry winds, and the dryness created by the air conditioners and home ovens. All of these create environmental conditions that damage the layer that protects our skin. As a result, the deeper skin layers suffer from moisture loss. The visible result is very dry, red, shrunken, and irritated skin. The accompanying sensation is discomfort, itching, and painful irritation, leading to itching and cracking of the skin. In extreme cases of very dry skin and intense itching, even a secondary infection may develop.
The face is also more exposed than the other body organs, so the face and palms are the first organs to be harmed by environmental conditions. Especially among children and adults who are generally prone to sensitivity and dryness of the skin, including those with "atopic dermatitis".
How to dry skin?
- With a few simple steps, you can minimize discomfort and benefit your skin:
- Moisturize your skin, especially the palms of your hands, after every contact with water and/or soap. You should apply lotion immediately after showering or washing your hands.
- Keep a cream tube at your fingertips, in your personal bag or on the desktop, and apply lotion occasionally. It is advisable to choose a quality hand cream that gives great moisture and restores the skin. A systematic hand cream smear at least three times a day will help prevent skin damage and maintain its health and well-groomed appearance.
- A large amount of soap and water that comes into continuous contact with the body during the shower, for example, can cause skin drying. It is therefore desirable to shorten the abode of showers and baths lasting more than five minutes. Prefer lukewarm water over hot water, and reduce the use of soap as much as possible. Alternatives can be used with moisturizing enriched baths.
- At the end of the shower, it is advisable to quickly absorb excess water from the body and avoid rubbing the towel as much as possible. After washing, apply moisturizer in areas that are sensitive to dryness and avoid using alcohol-containing preparations.
- In winter, wear cozy warm gloves to keep you safe from the cold and dry.
When is it particularly important to apply hand cream?
- After washing dishes.
- After a shower.
- In the morning, before leaving for work.
- At night, before going to bed.
And when else? Whenever the hands ask, that is when there is an unpleasant feeling of dryness in the hands. If your skin is still 'thirsty' to moisturize, you should re-apply it again.
When the skin of the hands is very dry, the skin can be applied with quality cream the night before bed, and wear thin cotton gloves.
How to choose hand cream?
Hand cream is at least as important as face cream, look for a reputable and reliable company. The list of ingredients on the hand cream is long and not always understood. Look for Vitamin E and Urea - a naturally occurring skin, whose job is to absorb water and preserve it within the epidermal layer. By doing so, it helps regenerate the skin and helps soothe its irritation. It has anti-itch and anti-bacterial properties, and therefore also helps to prevent infections.
