Home remedies for dry hands- A DIY simple guide

Dry Hands treatment with simple DIY home remedies

Dry hands is a very common phenomena that occurs during winter season. It is dry and flaky skin on the hands. The reason behind it is the weather; when it gets chilly, the air dries up, and the body is unable to retain moisture. Dry skin/hands are caused by this due to lack of moisture in the air. There may be several other reasons, which leads to dry hands. 

In this article we will discuss the home remedies, causes, symptoms and preventions of dry hands in detail.

Symptoms of dry Hands 

The signs of dry hands vary based upon the level of dryness.

• Mild: Due to increased sensitivity, they may appear slightly red.
• Severe: it refers to fine fissures or scaly tight areas around the skin.
• Atopic Dermatitis and other underlying diseases can cause the skin to become rough, itchy, and irritated.

Symptoms frequently worsen in the winter after bathing or showering.

Read | Role of Vitamin D in skincare and skin-related other ailments

Cause of dry hands

There can be many reasons for dry skin such as the follows:

• Environmental elements such as severe weather and temperature swings
• Dry Air (caused by central heating and air conditioning)
• Excessive hand washing and using hot water (especially)
• Ultraviolet light (which causes skin to age prematurely)
• Inappropriate skincare: the use of items that do not support the skin's natural pH (It destroys the skin's protective barrier)
• Mechanical irritability (i.e. the abrasion of the outermost skin layer).
• Chemicals (found in some detergents)
• There can be few skin infections also such as psoriasis, eczema or atopic dermatitis. Diseases like diabetes can also cause Dry hands.

Home remedies for dry hands

There are several effective home treatments to cure dry hands such as mentioned below:

• Dab a cotton swab in raw/lukewarm milk. And gently apply it on your hands area. After 15-20 minutes wash it off with warm water.
• Mix 1tsp of flour with pinch of turmeric and ½ tsp of Sesame/Coconut oil. Add water to create a good consistency. Then scrub this paste on your hands and leave for 10 minutes. Later remove it off by scrubbing, as it will remove all dry skin.
• Take 1 tsp fresh cream and add a pinch of turmeric. Apply and massage it on your dry skin. Later wipe it off with any cotton cloth dipped in warm water.

Read | How to avoid skin dehydration especially in winter? (A complete DIY information)

Home-mads moisturizer for dry hands

DIY Moisturizer with Honey and Glycerin for Dry Skin

• Ingredients: 1 teaspoon honey, 2 tablespoons glycerine, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (diluted) and 2 tablespoons green tea

Preparation Method

• Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
• For a few minutes, gently massage the mixture into your dry skin.
• Leave it on for the night.
• Wash it off the next day

Glycerine and honey are ingredients that keep your skin hydrated and nourished. Lemon brightens your skin, while green tea soothes and protects it from illness.

How to prevent

There are many ways that you can keep your hands nourished and soft such as:

• Keep your hands moisturized: Apply a high-quality moisturizing cream or lotion to your skin many times per day. 
• Put on gloves: Consider wearing gloves if your hands are frequently immersed in water, such as when cleaning dishes. Gloves protect your skin from being stripped of its natural oils by the water.
• Give overnight treatment: One of the greatest cures for dry hands is to apply lotion or a petroleum-based moisturizer, such as Vaseline. After that, put on a pair of soft gloves or stockings to protect your hands. You can also use sesame or coconut oil.
• Stay away from soap: The chemicals commonly present in soaps can be drying to the hands. To avoid drying out their hands, people should avoid washing them excessively.
• Use aloe vera gel: It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics and thus can be used as a natural and safe moisturizer.
• Avoid excessive use of sanitizers: Sanitizers have alcohol in it which can dry up the skin due to chemical disposition. It is better to use it in limited amount.
• Avoid harsh rubbing: After washing your hands do not harshly rub your skin with rough towel/fabric. And gently dry up the hand completely. (In between the fingers too)

Read | How to get rid of body Itching? Learn about its causes, symptoms, and useful herbs

Frequently asked questions

Q. What do dry hands indicate about health?

Dry hands occur in people having illnesses such as diabetes or lupus that decrease blood flow to the extremities. Other skin illnesses, such as psoriasis and eczema, can also turn your skin dry, peeled off, and cracked.

Q. What vitamins are beneficial for dry, cracked hands?

Certain vitamins and nutritional supplements, such as vitamin D, fish oil, collagen, and vitamin C assist in enhancing skin moisture and keeping the skin healthy and nourished.

Q. Why the skin remains dry although after drinking a lot of water?

Excessive exposure to external irritants such as chemicals, solvents, detergents, and excessive water can cause the skin to dry up. It increases water loss and weakens the barrier function of the top layer of skin.

Q. Does taking hot water baths cause dry skin?

Hot baths can irritate and dry out your skin. Hot water damages the keratin cells on our skin's epidermis. It causes dry skin by disrupting these cells and preventing the cells from locking in moisture.

Q. Do cotton gloves help with dry hands?

Yes! After applying the moisturizer cotton gloves traps the moisture on your skin, helping it to absorb better and keeping your hands soft and smooth.

Q. Which foods should be avoided if one has dry skin?

A diet strong in fats, sugary meals, and baked goods, for example, may interfere with skin functioning, resulting in irritation and dry skin. Furthermore, drinking alcohol and smoking can hasten the aging process and impair skin thickness and moisture.

Ghar ka Baidya is dedicated to provide you all skin related issues solutions in the best possible manner and suitable time. We focus on deliver high quality content generally on demand. if you like this article, please write to us. If you need coverage on specific skin topic, let us know. In severe condition, we would recommend you to consult to the respective doctor(s).