More people are upping up their hand washing game now that the CDC and health officials have emphasized that regular hand washing is imperative to helping curb the spread of COVID-19.
But there’s one step we all tend to forget after washing our hands or applying hand sanitizer – that critical layer of hand cream. Ironically, by over-washing our skin, we can develop dry cracks in the skin, giving bacteria an entry point into our bodies.
Why is handwashing so harsh on our skin?
The outermost layer of our skin is composed of oils and wax, and it acts as both a shield from the outside and a guard that maintains natural moisture in the skin. This natural barrier is broken down by the suds created by soap while washing hands, which does not discriminate between unwanted oil, germs, debris and natural oils in the skin. Not applying hand cream can lead to dryness, redness, itching, flaking, discomfort and in severe cases, cracks in the skin. Those with preexisting dermatologic conditions like eczema can experience worsening symptoms.
Here is solution of problem by experts for hand and feet and step by step diy manicure and pedicure shown below:
For Hands
Galina Antoniuk, Spa Director, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, says, an easy way to counter the dryness that arises from excessive washing is by always making sure to moisturise hands after washing and sanitising.
She also swears by another pantry staple, coconut oil, and says a good way to get relief from dry skin is massaging hands with coconut oil before bedtime. The ritual also has the added benefit of relieving tension from all that WFH. ‘Just press the middle of your palm, stretch out your fingers by interlocking them in and out and rotate your wrists inwards and outwards for added relaxation.’
DIY Scrub For Hands
Want a homemade scrub for smooth, soft hands? Just mix ground coffee with honey and lemon and massage your hands with the mixture, leave for a few minutes and rinse.
For Feet
With pounding at-home workouts, our feet take quite the beating every day. This can be the perfect time to counter the effects of stress on your feet, both from intense exercise and the high heels/ill-fitting shoes we’ve worn to work. Galina recommends applying a good foot cream or a natural moisturiser before going to bed.
Galina also recommends using petroleum jelly on toenails to stop them from drying out and breaking. “If you’ve run out of petroleum jelly, use some glycerin and lemon juice,” she says.
And since we’re all indoors now, this is also a good time to reduce tan lines that develop on feet due to the different shoes and strappy sandals we wear. “Every two to three days, mix half a tablespoon of baking soda with enough rose water to make a paste and leave on your feet for 10 minutes.”
DIY Moisturisers
And in the frightening scenario where you’ve run out of moisturising cream, here are three options for a DIY moisturiser for hands and feet:
1. A mixture of a spoon of whipped cream/heavy cream with half teaspoon sugar and a few drops of vanilla essence.
2. Melt a tablespoon of unsalted butter and whisk half an egg white in until fluffy. Add a few drops of vitamin E oil for better results.
3. Make a paste of two tablespoons of coconut oil, a teaspoon of ground mint leaves and a generous pinch of turmeric powder. Leave this on for 15-20 minutes as a mask before washing off.
Step-by-Step Guide for a Manicure and Pedicure at Home
Step 1: Add warm water to a tub-like vessel with salt, along with a few drops of almond oil (you can substitute this with any oil, such as eucalyptus, or even aloe vera gel). Drop in some mint leaves and some hand-wash liquid. Soak your hands and feet for not less than 20 minutes.
Step 2: Wipe your hands/feet and follow with scrubbing with a pumice stone. You can use a towel to do this (works only for feet) if you don’t have a scrubber or pumice stone at home. Rub a little bit of an alcohol solution after the scrub (you can use sanitiser for its antibacterial properties) and rinse it with water.
Step 3: Clip your nails or file them as you prefer.
Step 4: Use a moisturiser or specialised hand/foot creams to complete, then neatly paint your nails.
