Many people view the approach of the winter with anxiety. The reason for their trepidation is not so much the fear of the icy temperatures but the chapped hands that those icy temperatures bring forth.
As the year comes to an close, and the Christmas celebrations approach, some people have little to celebrate when they consider the condition of their skin. Poor skin health, it appears, is a recurring problem for a significant number of people. The icy climate can make you susceptible to a drying of the skin. This, in turn, can result in sore and chapped hands.
But, the onset of the winter season does not necessarily have to mean sore, painful chapped hands. By employing a bit of care and attention, even the more harsh cases can be treated. Basically, it comes down to just commonsense and taking preventative measures.
Most people who suffer from dry skin find that the condition does not really bother them during the warmer months. For these people, skin dryness is just an everyday triviality that does not cause many problems until the chill winds of late Autumn arrives. Then, in the course of just a few days, dry skin can very swiftly degenerate into the red soreness of chapped skin which can be painful and unsightly.
The rear side of the hands, along the ridge of the knuckles, is a region usually vulnerable to chapped skin. This is because the hands are more often open to the harsh external environment. The hands are also subjected to regular rubbing as you go about your daily chores. Recurring contact with cleansing products can also play a role in skin deterioration.
The inner surface of the hand has a reasonably tough epidermis. Here, extra protection is needed. A surface layer of cells referred to as the lucidum has evolved on the palms to facilitate them to withstand the regular wear and tear of everyday life. However, the skin of the hand does not have a consistent thickness. More fragile, thinner skin covers the back of the hand. As fate would have it, both the front and the back of a person’s hands are typically subjected to the same rigours and this is when problems can develop.
As the hues of autumn retreat into winter, chapped hands may make their occurrence felt just as the first frosts drape the dawn countryside. Those who are particularly likely to encounter chapped skin are people who work mainly outside. Similarly, those who follow private lives that necessitate lengthy time out of doors are similarly prone. Even if your only extensive venture out of doors is to tidy up the scattered leaves from the lawn, chapped hands can be an unwanted annoyance.
If you experience wintertime prompted chapped skin or sore hands, you will have only one basic question. What is the most beneficial course of action to help alleviate the condition?
Lessening the dryness of your skin is a vital first action. By being certain that your skin is adequately moisturised, you will help conserve its healthy pliability. This will promote a silken, soft epidermis. This, subsequently will minimize the chance of sore and chapped skin. Certainly, daily moisturising underlies the foundation for any effective treatment.
Care will need to be used when using cosmetic moisturisers. Any additional fragrance can produce an unfavourable response. Remember, the aim is to have velvety, supple skin – not sore, chapped skin that carries a nice scent.
Somewhat illogically, often wetting of the hands can instigate a drying of the skin. This is because the continual wetting, cleaning and drying of the hands may damaged the outer layering of lipids that safeguard and help maintain the correct moisture content of the skin.
Wearing latex gloves may be a enticing solution to avoid the hands getting wet. However, wearing rubber gloves can cause avoidable skin abrasion and also hinder normal perspiration. In addition, some people have an allergy to latex. The last thing you want to do is aggravate existing sensitive chapped skin.
Utilizing a barrier cream is another favoured approach for protecting the skin from wetness. However, to be successful, many barrier creams leave a thick, greasy and slippery film on your hands. This can help to make your hand feel less clean as you go about your normal everyday jobs.
When buying a barrier cream check for one that is alcohol and fragrance free. If possible, the product you settle upon should also feature some protection against contact allergens.
When used together with the following tips, a good quality barrier cream can make a beneficial difference to anyone suffering from sore, chapped hands:
- Plan to wash your hands as little as possible during the day, but always remember the need for cleanliness.
- When you do wash, use a mild, scent free soap.
- Washing in lukewarm water places the skin under less strain than washing in very hot water. Similarly, a shower is preferential to a bath.
- Use a soft cotton towel, with a blotting action, to dry. This will reduce the amount of friction that your skin receives.
- Last but not least, make sure you do not scratch any part of your skin that is sore or chapped. Scratching may provide temporary relief for any dry itchiness, but it will likely increase the sensitivity of the skin. Continual scratching will also very likely damage the epidermis.
With just a little care and attention you will soon discover that your chapped hands are as distant a memory as the sunshine of last summer.