With so many different products on the market today promising to put moisture back into your dry hands, it can get confusing when trying to make the right choice.
For hand lotions to work, you have to make sure you are using the right ones for your type of skin.
For example, according to dailyglow.com, oilbased lotions are the best to choose if you have severely dry skin.
You may also come across many products containing glycerine and lactic acid. Here is some information about these two elements:
Glycerine is a colourless liquid that absorbs water from the air. One of the benefits of this is that when it is applied to the skin it “soaks” the moisture in from the air, thus moisturizing the skin.
Glycerine in soap and lotion form is safe to use, as it is not considered a carcinogenic, but it is probably a good idea not to wash out any mouths with it.
How lactic acid works on your skin is not quite certain, but it has been shown to increase the amount of water on the skin, making it feel softer.
However, lactic acid may cause burning on cracked or dry skin, so it is a good idea to avoid lotion with lactic acid in it if you have sores on your hands.
Unless ingested in large quantities, lactic acid is not harmful to you.
Other ingredients to look for include water and shea butter.
Dailyglow.com also suggests you may want to try two different creams if you have extremely dry hands, one for during the day and one at night.
During the day use cream that is light, water-based, and fast-absorbing to keep hands hydrated. At night, try a heavy-oil based cream. You might want to consider putting socks over your hands to keep the moisture locked in over night.
And remember, your skin needs water. Increase your water intake during the day as well, to help keep skin looking healthy.
