Take care of your hands
Taking care of your hands is important to keep them hydrated, soft and beautiful at all times. Undoubtedly an incomparable tool from the communicative and functional point of view, the hands are continuously subjected to the action of irritating and atmospheric agents, which undermine the integrity of the skin at all times.
Do not forget, then, that the hands reveal the age of a person (even before the face), consequently the care of hands and nails is always of fundamental importance to slow down the appearance of blemishes and imperfections.
Skin of the Hands
What are the characteristics of the skin of the hands?
The skin of the hands has almost unique characteristics, very different from that of the face and any other area of the body:
- In the palms, the hands have a thick epidermis, characterized by furrows, ridges and free of hair. Each palm is crossed by folds, which inevitably form whenever the hand moves or flexes. thousands of nerve receptors and sweat glands, very important for capturing any thermal stimulus, be it irritating or otherwise.
- In the fingertips there are concentric circles that form the so-called fingerprints (or dermatoglyphs).
- At the level of the back, the thickness of the skin is medium, neither too thick like that of the sole of the foot, nor too thin like that of the eye contour.
Hands and related problems
The hands, without a doubt, are among the parts of the body most exposed to external aggressions, since there is no work or activity that does not foresee their use.
For this reason, the hands are constantly exposed to the action of atmospheric agents and in contact with different types of substances that can irritate and damage them.
Also, unlike other parts of the body, hands are (rightfully) washed very often, over and over again a day.
The fundamental problem is that we tend not to pay attention to the composition of the detergent, thus risking to use highly degreasing and irritating products for the skin of the hands, which is already sensitive in itself.
By doing so, the natural hydrolipidic film that covers the epidermis is gradually damaged. With the damage to the hydrolipidic film that covers the skin, the hands are weakened and particularly sensitive to external aggressions, since their natural defensive barrier is This situation - in addition to the lack of natural moisturizing factors and sebaceous glands - makes the skin of the hands prone to cracking and redness.
Furthermore, as mentioned, the hands are constantly in contact with atmospheric agents because they are only rarely covered with gloves or other protective clothing. The UV rays of the sun and the action of the wind alter the integrity of the supporting fibers of the dermis: in addition to depleting the hydrolipidic film, the combined action of these elements can sometimes cause the accumulation of melanic pigment in some limited areas of the skin , laying the groundwork for the formation of skin spots in the hands.
How to take care of your hands
In light of what has been said so far, we can say that hand care already begins with cleansing.
In fact, washing hands is a gesture of fundamental importance for one's health, but it must be performed correctly and with the right products in order not to damage the skin and the delicate hydrolipidic film that covers it.
All this, of course, is not enough. In fact - exactly as it happens for the skin of the body and face - even the skin of the hands needs to be constantly hydrated, nourished and protected through the use of suitable cosmetics, in such a way as to provide it with all the elements it needs to rebalance the skin barrier function, thus preventing the signs of premature aging, skin spots, chapping and redness.
Not surprisingly, gentle cleansing and thorough skin hydration are the two golden rules for hand care.
Cleansing
As mentioned, washing your hands properly is important to keep the skin in good condition.
The method of washing is also important to take care of your hands: for this purpose, we recommend that you:
- Use warm running water and mild soap, scrubbing all surfaces of the hands, including wrists, palms, back, fingers and the space below the free edge of the nails.
- After rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds, you can proceed with the normal rinsing.
- To complete the procedure, it is recommended to thoroughly dry your hands with a soft towel. Many people tend to neglect this last step, which is instead essential to keep the skin smooth and soft for as long as possible. In fact, a non-optimal drying could, in the long run, cause dryness and cracking of the hands.
Hydration, Nourishment and Protection
For hand care it is necessary to regularly apply moisturizing, nourishing and protective creams on the skin: the regular use of these products is important not only to nourish the skin of the hands, but also to keep the hydrolipidic film intact and avoid altering the natural barrier function of the skin. Strictly speaking, we recommend specific products for the hands, formulated with glycerin, sericin (silk protein), allantoin, antioxidant vitamins, panthenol and natural butters and oils (shea butter, Argan oil, coconut, avocado oil, etc.).
Disorders of the Hands
Leaving aside the hand disorders caused by underlying pathological conditions, among the skin problems particularly felt by the population we find dry, red, chapped or stained hands.
The main characteristics of these disorders will be briefly illustrated below.
Red hands
Red hands can be the result of frequent washing with aggressive products, or the consequence of sudden changes in temperature. These factors predispose the skin of the hands to redness and irritation, often accompanied by burning, tingling and itching. The red hands, hot and dry to the touch, show evident cracks and redness, such as to make them extremely sensitive to external aggressions.
Red hand care
It is important to take care of red hands by choosing products that can restore the altered hydrolipidic film, and at the same time reduce the sensations of tingling and heat. Deeply nourishing and emollient creams are preferred, made with natural substances such as panthenol, allantoin, glycerin and chamomile extracts
Dry hands
Dry hands are often the expression of cosmetic treatments that are not suitable for your skin type, but not only. The dryness of the skin of the hands, in fact, can also be caused by exposure to atmospheric agents or by contact with aggressive substances (such as, for example, detergents for laundry, for dishes, for cleaning the house, etc.).
The color of dry hands is typically dull, gray; to the touch, the texture of the skin is uneven and, visually, the skin is very dehydrated. Dry hands, especially if they belong to an individual no longer young, can also be characterized by small sores or wrinkles.
Dry hand care
The choice of suitable cosmetics is essential to take care of dry hands. To moisturize dehydrated skin and promote the healing of cracks (typical characteristics of dry skin) it is necessary to regularly apply creams or products made with several functional substances on the hands:
- Moisturizers, to restore the water component of the skin.
- Emollients, to soften the hands.
- Occlusives, essential to create a film on the skin that can hinder or reduce the evaporation of water from the skin of the hands.
If the hands are so dry as to create serious ailments and discomfort, it is possible to pamper the skin with masks with an intensive action (the most used functional ingredients are antioxidants, panthenol, ceramides and anti-aging substances).
Chapped hands
The causes that lead to cracking of the hands are similar to those that cause dryness (exposure to various types of atmospheric agents, contact with irritants, use of poor quality cosmetics, etc.) and are characterized by the presence of cuts that they can bleed (bloody fissures) and cause pain.
It should be emphasized that, more often than not, chapped hands are the consequence of a condition of dry hands that has not been adequately treated or neglected.
Chapped hand care
The treatment of chapped hands involves the use of cosmetics similar to those used for the treatment of dry hands.
Furthermore, in order to promote the healing of cracks, it is good practice to use protective clothing, both to defend against atmospheric agents (wind and cold), and to avoid contact with irritating substances (dish or clothes detergents, cleaning products house or other potentially irritating, aggressive or excessively degreasing substances).
Hands with spots
A typical skin disorder of the elderly are dark spots on the skin. This problem often tends to affect the skin of the face and hands, as a result of an uneven distribution of melanin, which in turn is favored by UV rays, smoke, pollution, sudden changes. hormonal or, in severe cases, metabolic disturbances.
Hand care with spots
To improve the appearance of blotchy hands, the most suitable cosmetic treatments are exfoliants and lighteners.
To take care of blemished hands with exfoliating products, it is necessary to smooth the skin with specific functional ingredients: alpha and beta hydroxy acids are the most suitable.
For a more intensive treatment - with the advice of a dermatologist or an expert in the field - creams formulated with glycolic acid, arbutin, vitamin C and licorice extract can be applied.
