Go ahead, give your own hand a shake, get to know those wonderful hands you wear everyday. If you notice some serious signs of hand neglect, it may be time to start the hand recovery process. The best way to begin is to take a good look at your hands and see what you are dealing with. Consider these types of hand situations:
Level 1 Hand Situation: Hand and cuticle areas have no signs of broken skin. Nails look to be in fairly good shape.
Level 2 Hand Situation: Hand and/or cuticles have signs of mild skin dryness or mild abrasions.
Level 3 Hand Situation: Hand and cuticle areas appear mainly dry, chapped, possibly scarred; abrasions, bad cuticles, split or torn nails.
Level 4 Hand Situation: Mainly all of the above with possible wavy, ridged nails or skin discolourations.
Skin on the hands can also be checked for hydration or elasticity:
Hydration
To check for levels of hydration, pinch some of the skin on the top of the hand between two fingers. If many vertical lines are visible, this may indicate possible signs of skin dehydration. Hydration begins with drinking plenty of water for the skin from the inside, and hydrating the skin from the outside.
Elasticity
To check for levels of elasticity, pinch the skin on the top of the hand, this time lifting it up and releasing it. Elasticity is measured by the amount of time it takes to go back down. Slower pull-back time may indicate a decrease in the skin’s elasticity.
After assessing your hand situation, you can better deal with some of the problems your hands may be enduring. The best way to begin, is by cleaning and disinfecting the hands and nails. This can be achieved by using the right cleansing solution for the situation.
Cleansing & Moisturizing in one easy formula:
Using a mixture of olive oil and salts makes for a wonderful hydrating and disinfecting hand solution. When used weekly, hands receive a quick exfoliating and moisturizing treatment, giving them a youthful feeling and appearance.
Level 1 and 2 situations can easily use this mixture with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1/2 tablespoon Epsom salts. Gently work mixture into hands and cuticles leaving mixture on for 5 minutes. The olive oil can be warmed lightly for drier skin as this helps the oil penetrate into the skin.
Level 3 or 4 situations may want to start off using a mild disinfecting soap, rinsing, then gently working warmed olive oil only onto the skin, as using Epsom salts may sting or burn any cuts or abrasions. Leave the warm oil on the hands for 10 minutes. After this, a healing stage is necessary. Healing the broken skin is extremely necessary at this point, and can be achieved by applying a topical antibiotic, or zinc oxide cream. Applying healing antibiotic creams sparingly to cuticles and abrasions daily as well as overnight can greatly improve severe situations in a few days.
Once the hands have begun to improve in their appearance it is important to avoid the situations that caused the damage in the first place; always wear gloves if exposing them to harsh chemicals or the damaging effects of weather. For the nervous-habit types, who enjoy chewing their nails or picking their cuticles, it may be time to find a new hobby to help protect the hands from this type of abuse! Once hands have healed and the skin is no longer broken, a good hand maintenance program should continue. Whether seeking a professional manicurist or helping yourself, here are some easy tips to help keep your hands looking youthful and feeling wonderful.
Hydrate & Moisturize
Drinking plenty of water helps internally hydrate the skin for that less-dehydrated look, and by using your favourite protective hand lotion or cream daily, will help ward off harsh elements from penetrating into the skin. Hand creams containing SPF sun protection are also available and are a good choice to consider. Paraffin, a system involving the use of a warmed wax preparation, can be applied to unbroken skin and hands for a soothing deep treatment.
Cuticle and Nail Care
Sometimes it is not always easy to avoid peeling cuticles or cuts; any new cut or tear of a cuticle must be cleansed, disinfected and given time to heal again. Attempting to peel off cuticle or use some strange tool to cut the skin can cause bleeding, making the situation worse. Sometimes a soft nail file may be used to soften the skin, then moisturizing is the best solution. Oils, such as olive or almond, make great economical solutions; apply lightly and as a daily routine to help the hands.
Professional Care
Discoloured skin conditions such as vitiligo or age spots can be assessed by a micropigmentation specialist. This type of specialist introduces colour pigments back into the skin, giving the skin an even skin tone, or to camouflage age spots more permanently. They are able to work on a variety of skin conditions as well as scars. Some age-spot removal creams may help the condition of age spots–results will vary.
Though caring for your hands may sometimes seem like a "handful", practicing good hand and nail care is well worth the effort.
