Ever looked at your hands and saw that they were peeling? It could be probably when you just finished doing the laundry or you just woke up to see them that way. If this has happened or is happening to you, in this article are solutions for that. These solutions are what to do when your hands are peeling.
What Causes Peeling Skin?
Your hands are one of the most used parts of your body. Right now, there’s a high chance you are reading this with your phone in your hand. You type with your hands; you touch your face with your hands; you open the door with your hands; you bathe with your hands. Is there anything at all you do without your hands?
We’ve used our hands so much that we even forget to pay them adequate attention. The only time we perhaps do so is when we notice they peel. And this is uncool.
Before you know what to do when your hands are peeling, it is important that you recognise the causes of chapped skin in the first place. Therefore, the following are what causes your hands to peel. Do check them out and make adjustments in case you’ve been unknowingly bringing them upon yourself.
- Over-exposure to the sun (sunburn)
- Dry skin
- Weather change
- Frequent washing your hands with harsh soap and forgetting to moisturise.
- Allergic reactions from soaps, creams, detergents, shampoos, etc.
- Exfoliative keratolysis: skin condition that makes your palms and the sole of your feet peel
- Chemicals
- Psoriasis and other skin diseases
What to Do When Your Hands are Peeling
The first thing to do when your hands are chapped and flaky is to identify the cause of the problem and tackle it from there. If perhaps, if yours is an allergy, you know you have to avoid the allergens at all cost. If yours is a skin condition, a visit to your doctor will do much good.
Nonetheless, these are what to do when your hands are peeling:
1. Immerse in Warm Water
When you notice your palms are peeling, soak them in a bowl of warm water for ten minutes every day. This will make your skin soft so the dry skin can fall off easily. Once you take your hands out of the water, pat them dry and apply a moisturiser.
2. Cucumber
This edible fruit isn’t just for the stomach alone. It offers ample benefits to the skin. Hence, you should add it to your skincare routine.
To treat peeling hands, apply the juice from a slice of cucumber on your hands. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, wash your hands with lukewarm water. If available, apply Vitamin E oil or any natural oil after patting to dry.
3. Aloe Vera
Just like cucumber, aloe vera gel can treat peeling hands. To use, apply them on your hands before going to bed. And when you wake up at dawn, wash your hands with warm water, not forgetting to moisturise.
4. Apply a Hydrating Hand Cream
When your palms get dry especially during dry season or in high or low humidity, they are prone to peel. To avoid this, always apply a hand cream. If your hands are chapped already, a hand cream will help ameliorate matters. Just get a good one and you are good to go.
Above all, endeavour to hydrate your skin regularly by moisturising and drinking enough water every day. You can as well follow the skincare tips for dry skin as they are also what to do when your hands are peeling.
