Winter tip for dry hands

By: Jeanette Rupar, LMT BCTMB

Winter is definitely in full swing! And I am feeling it, especially my hands. They are constantly dry, irritated, and almost cracked. Mind you, as a massage therapist, I wash my hands… a lot. Even if you aren’t washing your hands as much as I am, I’m sure you are probably feeling the same effects. Hot water and the dry heat of the heater systems can leave the feeling less than nice.

I do have some tips that keep my skin as soft as I like.

First off, let’s talk hydration. Your body loves hydration, and between the freezing cold and the heating in your house, your body will lose some of that hydration. Make sure you drink enough water. This will help make your skin feel better, and will make you feel better as well. I know drinking all that water can be difficult. I promise it does help. And unfortunately, filtering it thru coffee beans doesn’t count, as coffee does tend to by a drink that dehydrates you more.

Water temperatures. While you are showering or washing your hands, the water you are using is important. To get the best clean for your hands and body hot water is a good thing. However, there is a thing as too hot. Water that is too hot can dry your skin out. If you turn the hot water down just slightly (to not scalding but still comfortably hot), your skin will thank you.

My biggest “secret” is lotion. I am constantly putting lotion on during the day. Yes, it gets washed off when you wash your hands, but it does help. The hint is lotioning before you goto bed. At night, as I go to sleep, I put a shea butter lotion on my hands. If my hands are really, really cracked, I will do that and put on gloves to heat my hands with the lotion on so that the lotion will better soak into the skin. You can use whatever lotion that works best for you.

Taking care of your skin will make your skin very happy, and you very comfortable.