Chapped Hands: Tips

1. Avoid excessive washing

2. Avoid alkaline soaps and detergents

3. Use a cotton lined vinyl gloves when you are washing vegetables, meat, fish etc in the kitchen

4. Housewives: change your kitchen habits! Do all the washing at a time rather than one at a time- wash all vegetables together, wash the meat and whatever you are going to cook for the day same time. LIkewise, wash all the utensils together and keep them ready.

5. Wash the utensils with a brush with long handle rather than holding the sponge in your hands

6. The acidic juice from raw vegetables, especially lemon, tomato, onion, garlic etc can further cause damage. You can use skin thin plastic gloves while cutting them or, if it does not interfere with your salad, apply a layer of cooking oil or butter on your palms before cutting them up.

7. For regular wash, use a soap free liquid cleanser

8. Immediately after washing, apply a generous amount of emollient cream to the palms

9. Better still, apply one layer, rub in well and reapply another layer of the emollient for maximum benefits. Repeat before going to bed every night.

10. If the chapping is severe and there is vesiculation and secondary infection, you need to see your dermatologist before it gets worse. The dermatologist may prescribe an antibiotic-steroid combination, antihistamins and urea containing emollient creams for the hand.

11. I always prescribe an occlusive barrier cream to my patients to be used during daytime.

 

 

Men's Skin Care Store from Greatskin.com