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I know lots of people out
there suffer silently from dry palms. It may not always look like a serious
problem because other people don’t always notice it. It’s only when we have to shake
hands with someone (especially the opposite sex) that we become conscious of
the fact that our palms seem to have the smoothness, texture and consistency of
sand paper. This can be irritating and very embarrassing for anyone (no
exceptions!).
There are many reasons for
this condition and using harsh chemicals like detergents and soap daily doesn’t
help. I know that a lot us who suffering from this are men (hey, no disrespect
to the ladies) so let’s concentrate our efforts on finding a remedy that is quick,
inexpensive and practical. I did a little research and here’s what I found:
1.
MOISTURIZE.
Every time you wash your hands use a good moisturize or hand cream immediately.
Don’t wait for it to dry up. Keep your moisturizer in your car or hand bag always.
Coconut Oil is an excellent moisturizer. It absorbs quickly
and easily with no thick greasy feeling.
2.
USE FACIAL SCRUB (ON YOUR HANDS!) This is
interesting. I didn’t realize that you can exfoliate your hands as well as your
face?! The ladies are very familiar with exfoliation of the face but maybe not
so much with the hands. It’s important to remove or slough off those dead skin
cells which only make our skin look dull, dry and wrinkled. Some parts of our
hands are just as sensitive as the skin around our face. There are lots of inexpensive
and effective facial scrubs in the market.
3.
PUMICE
STONE. These are those rough looking stones that you can get from most
supermarkets or beauty shops. If you have severely dry palms then you better
get one of these soon as possible. Use it after bathing (please don’t leave it
just lying around. Stepping on one is not funny!) Keep it clean and dry so it doesn’t
collect bacteria. Please remember to be gentle on those hands.
4.
SUGAR
(or SALT) AND OLIVE OIL. A combination of 1 or 2 spoons of sugar (or salt) mixed
with some olive oil makes an excellent scrub and moisturizer for your hands. Use
regularly (as often as necessary) for both the front and back of the hand. You may want to add a little bit of liquid (hand)
soap to make it easier to rinse off after use.
5.
PURE COCONUT OIL. Coconut oil is perfect for extreme
cases of dry skin. It is an excellent moisturizer and very available in the local
shops. It’s also very inexpensive.
6.
AVOID
SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE (SLS or SLES). I know I am sounding like a broken record
but I need to repeat this; always read labels. Be patient and consistent. Soon
you will be able to identify what ingredients are good or bad for you. SLS
(which also appears as SLES on some products) is very common in liquid soaps
and shampoos. It is also very bad for your skin. Please avoid it as much as possible.
7.
USE
QUALITY HAND CREAMS. Find an effective and gentle hand cream. Apply it regularly
and generously especially before going to bed at night.
8.
USE SUNSCREEN. As we enter the rainy season and start
experiencing long hours of intense roasting sunshine sunscreen is a must (for
me, that means Spf30 or above) Unfortunately, I am sure that 99% of our
population never use it. I am Nigerian and I know that most Nigerians are
ignorant of its existence. We are just comfortable getting fried and roasted in
the sun day in and day out. Anyway, just
know that sunscreen is good for you.
9.
AVOID HOT WATER. Hot water is bad for your skin. Widening
pores are easily exposed to the harsh elements and that’s not a good thing. It
will only lead to dryness and premature aging (that means you start looking
like your great grandmother sooner than later).
1.
USE GLOVES WHEN NECESSARY. If you work with or
come into contact with harsh chemicals on a regular basis always remember to
wear appropriate gloves. This is also good advice for those who work with tools
or heavy equipment (engineers and technicians) and some sports people (weight
lifters and cyclists).
The
above regimen should get your hands back on the healthy road to recovery. They
will soon be soft and fresh again. Just relax and remember not to get too hard
on yourself.
References;
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