Hands Up for Hand Care

A good soldier will always look after their feet and a good worker will always look after their hands. Whether your hands are always busy or  have plenty of leisure time, a little TLC never goes amiss.

Hands go in gloves for protection from all sorts of irritants – water, washing liquid, garden hazards, heat, cold or chemicals. If in doubt, always use gloves to protect your hands. The skin on your hands may be hardy, but still deserves not to be abused! It will also become thinner and more prone to damage over time.

A good scrub

Hand care is for everyone. Men often protest that they don’t need it, but ladies, help keep the hands you hold as well cared for as your own.

Sugar scrubs are an easy indulgence. They smell divine, slough off dead skin and moisturise, all in one. Simply wet your hands and rub the scrub all over for a few minutes and rinse. Finish with a light oil or rich moisturiser.

Day care

If you are outdoors without gloves, remember to apply sunscreen to your hands and forearms as often as to your face. Keep moisturiser readily available and use it liberally as well.

Nail it

Fingernails can indicate health issues, so check them when you shape them and mention any changes to your pharmacist or GP. Ridges, spots, ingrown nails or infections around the cuticle can often be easily fixed, but can take time. It does take about six months for a fingernail to grow from root to tip, so be patient!

Trim nails straight across, not down towards the edges, to avoid ingrown nails. If your cuticles grow up the nail, soak your hands in warm water with a few drops of oil (almond or coconut works well), to soften, then push back gently with a cuticle stick. There are cuticle cutters on the market, but this is a job often best left to the professionals.

Use your hands for the power of good

Touch is healing in so many ways. Never miss an opportunity to hold hands with your loved ones, or to give a back rub, or just a touch of reassurance. Make your hands available and comforting to hold, always.