What is one part of our body that does the most work?
Certainly, our brain, but it is undoubtedly our hands for actual physical work.
How much time do we spend taking care of our hands? Between soaps, detergents, hand sanitizers, cleaning
products, all the other things we touch, and general lack of care, maybe it should be more.
So, how can we make our hands look and feel better? A weekly trip to the salon may be helpful, and there are treatments for hands comparable to high-end facial care...but this is definitely a more
expensive way to go.
There is plenty we can do at home.
1. Wear gloves when washing or cleaning. So easy to say, but for many of us a hard habit to get into. Who wants to grab a pair of gloves to wash a couple of dishes and the silverware from lunch?
2. Exfoliate once or twice a week. Exfoliation removes dirt and dead cells, unclogs
pores, and can help fight signs of aging. You can buy hand exfoliation products or make your own with sugar and olive oil or other “recipes” easily found on the internet.
If you have an
exfoliating product you bought for your face, you may be able to use that. Just be aware that the skin on our hands is thicker and may need a little bit of a stronger scrub.
3. Follow exfoliation with a good hand cream. Keeping our hands moisturized is always a good idea. I keep
bottles of lotion in the kitchen and my office, as well as the bathroom. Nice-smelling ones make me more likely to use them.
4. Use gloves when gardening or doing other work outside. Don't be tempted to do your gardening or yardwork without protective gloves.
5. Stretch your hands/fingers. f you spend a lot of time on the keyboard or your phone, pause periodically and stretch your hands. Make wrist circles. Massage your hands.
6. Avoid cutting your cuticles. You risk getting an infection. Instead, use cuticle oil or cream, then gently push the cuticles back. I get my nails done professionally now and then, and I always tell the tech NOT to cut the cuticles. 7. Avoid extremes. Avoid very hot water if possible. Or very cold. Wear gloves or mittens on cold winter
days.
9. Have a DIY hand spa day
with a hand mask or paraffin dip. Follow with a manicure and more moisturizer. Or make an appointment at the salon and enjoy the pampering.
Like all self-care, from brushing your teeth, to conditioning your hair, to an at-home face mask, it’s usually just a matter of getting into the habit
of doing it. Your hands are worth the effort.
