Your hands are busy throughout the day, exposed to the elements and all sorts of different materials. Plus, cold and dry weather can leave your hands feeling dry and rough. If you’re looking for some home remedies to make your hands soft and smooth again, you’ve come to the right place.
Dry hands are a problem that can be easily tackled, and with the right tips at your disposal, you can keep your hands looking and feeling their best. In this article, we explore some of the causes of dry hands and simple tips for achieving soft and smooth hands.
What Causes Your Hands To Become Dry?
Skin dryness can typically be chalked up to external factors like the weather or the environment you’re in. There are also some health conditions and irritants that can cause your skin to dry out more easily. The main offenders are:
There are a few things that can cause dry hands, and it’s important to be aware of them so you can take steps to prevent or mitigate the problem.
- Weather: Colder weather tends to cause drier air, which can in turn lead to drier hands.
- Environmental Irritants/Workplace Conditions: If you wash your hands multiple times a day with strong sanitizers, you’re more likely to experience dryness. The same goes for people who spend a lot of time washing dishes. Strong surfactants in detergents and soaps can strip away the natural oils that protect your skin, leading to dryness.
- Certain medical conditions: Conditions like lupus and diabetes that affect blood flow to the extremities can also make your hands go dry (1). Other skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema can also cause your hands to become dry (2).
Though dry hands are common, they are easy to restore back to health. We have listed below certain natural methods that can treat dry hands in most cases.
How To Get Softer Hands Naturally
There are a lot of ingredients that can be used to make a sugar scrub. But which ones are the best? We’ve compiled a list of our top picks to help you get started:
- Vaseline
- Coconut oil
- Oatmeal
- Egg yolks
- Sugar scrub
- Honey
- Aloe vera
- Almond oil
1.Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
Vaseline is a product with powerful moisturizing properties (3). When you apply it to your skin on a regular basis, it can make your skin softer.
You Will Need
For this project you will need:
- Vaseline
- A pair of cotton gloves
What You Have To Do
Before going to bed, apply a thin layer of Vaseline to your hands and wear a pair of light cotton gloves.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this every night.
2.Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can help improve your skin’s hydration and increase its lipid levels, making your hands softer in the process (4).
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of extra virgin coconut oil
- A pair of gloves
What You Have To Do
- Apply coconut oil to both your hands.
- Put on a pair of gloves to help the oil penetrate your skin.
- Leave it on overnight or for a couple of hours.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 1-2 times daily.
3.Oatmeal
Oatmeal can help relieve dry skin and make your hands softer with every use. This is because oatmeal moisturizes the skin and improves skin barrier function (5).
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of powdered oatmeal
- ½ tablespoon of coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Add half a tablespoon of coconut oil to the tablespoon of powdered oatmeal.
- Mix well and apply it to your hands.
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
- You can also use moisturizers made of oatmeal.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily.
4. Egg Yolks
Egg yolks are a good natural source of lecithin, an emollient that can help improve the condition of your skin. Lecithin is commonly used in skincare products as a way to help keep the skin moisturized and supple (6).
You Will Need
- 1 egg yolk
What You Have To Do
- Whisk the egg yolk well.
- Apply the yolk to your hands and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse with mild soap and water to eliminate the foul egg odor.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 3-4 times a week.
5.Sugar Scrub
The accumulation of dry skin cells on your hands can make them feel dry and rough. To help exfoliate your skin and improve its texture, try using sugar granules. Rubbing the sugar granules over your hands will help to remove the dead skin cells and leave your hands feeling softer.
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- ½ tablespoon of coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Blend a tablespoon of sugar with half a tablespoon of coconut oil.
- Apply it to your hands and scrub gently.
- Rinse with water.
- Apply a good moisturizer.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 1-2 times a week.
