hand-beautyYour hands are one of the most important parts of the body as they are used for an array of tasks. Interestingly, most people are not aware of the need to take good care of their hands, resulting on in rough hands.

These are often unsightly and cause one to look older than they really are. Granted, it causes discomfort to a great extent. For this reason, it is important to take good care of your hands.

There are different reasons why one gets rough dry hands. This can be due to dry weather, low humidity, continuous exposure to the sun’s UV rays, excessive use of water as well as the use of chemicals that are harsh to the skin.

For swimmers, the exposure to chlorine may also be a contributing factor. In some cases, per-existing skin conditions such as eczema may be to blame, as are allergic reactions. The good news is that here’s a handful of home remedies that you can use to manage rough hands. With the right remedies listed below and correct routines, it is possible to retain your hand’s smoothness and skin glow.

1. Coconut Oil:

Time Required: 10 Min preparation, overnight application.
What You Need: Extra virgin coconut oil, warm bath and gloves (optional). Coconut oil may be replaced by almond, jojoba, or avocado oil.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Coconut oil contains a wide variety of fatty acids which are extremely beneficial for healthy skin. It is this combination of fatty acids that makes the oil ideal for the home treatment of rough hands. The oil also helps soothe the skin, particularly in cases where the hands become rough due to exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. To get the most of this remedy, it is advisable to warm the oil and use gloves after application. Letting the remedy remain on your hands overnight is a great way to speed up the recovery process. Follow the directions below to use coconut oil for rough hands.

NOTE: Coconut oil may be substituted using any of the aforementioned oils in the directions below.

Directions:

  1. Place the coconut oil in a shallow bowl and then in the water bath. This is done to avoid heating the oil directly as it destroys the oil’s structure.
  2. Wash your hands using warm water prior to applying the coconut oil as this causes the skin’s pores to open up and absorb the oil with relative ease.
  3. Once the oil is comfortable enough on the skin, massage it on your hands.
  4. Wear gloves to lock in the moisture and the effects of coconut oil till the next morning.
  5. Use this remedy daily for best results.

 

2. Raw Organic Honey:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Raw organic honey, warm water to rinse, and skin moisturizer. Glycerin (optional)
Difficulty: Easy.

 

Raw organic honey has long been used for its natural moisturization properties which are beneficial for the skin. The honey’s humectant properties play a key role in treating rough hands as they help retain the skin’s glow for smooth hands. Honey also has is also rich in antioxidant properties which help get rid of free radicals. Left unchecked, free radicals cause the skin to age faster, resulting in rough aged hands. With its moisturizing and anti-aging properties, honey makes one of the best home remedies for the treatment of rough hands.

Directions:

  1. Scoop some honey and use it to massage your hands in gentle motions. You may add some glycerin to the honey to improve its efficiency.
  2. Leave the honey on for about 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
  3. Apply an appropriate skin moisturizer to prevent your hands from drying.
  4. Use this remedy at least thrice daily for best results.

 

3. Olive Oil Scrub:

Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: 1 Teaspoon each of virgin olive oil and coarse sugar, warm water to rinse, clean towel, and a skin moisturizer.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Olive oil is beneficial for the skin as it is packed with healthy fats that are great in maintaining smooth glowing skin. Additionally, the oil is rich in antioxidants which help prevent ageing that is characteristic of rough hands. You may use olive oil on its own, but to get the most of this remedy, add sugar to prepare skin scrub. The use of coarse sugar in the oil helps get rid of dead skin cells, thus allowing skin regeneration which results in smooth supple skin. Prepare this remedy as follows.

Directions:

  1. Warm the olive oil and apply it on your skin severally during the day. This is a simple remedy that you can use on the go.
  2. When using sugar, simply mix the oil with the sugar to get a gritty paste.
  3. Rub this paste on your skin and scrub in light motions. Do this for about 5 minutes for best results.
  4. Let the scrub dry on your hands for some 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel and proceed to apply a skin moisturizer. Use this scrub at least once daily to get rid of rough hands.

 

4. Milk Cream:

Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: 1 Tablespoon of fresh cream, 2 tablespoons of gram flour, warm water to rinse, and skin moisturizer.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Cream obtained from boiled milk is one of the simplest yet most effective home remedies for the treatment of dry rough hands. Milk cream has a high fat content, and it is this fat that nourishes and moisturizes the skin. What’s more, milk contains lactic acid, one of the key ingredients in skin care products. The lactic acid helps with exfoliation and the restoration of the skin;s natural pH levels. Gram flour is added because it provides a base for the paste. Use this remedy following the directions indicated below.

Directions:

  1. Mix the milk cream with the gram flour so that you have a thick consistent paste.
  2. Apply this paste on the hands and leave on for some 20 minutes before rinsing using warm water.
  3. Apply skin moisturizer to lock in the healing effects of the cream.
  4. Use this remedy once every two days until you notice your hands are not rough anymore.

 

5. Aloe Vera Gel:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Fresh aloe vera leaf, warm water to rinse, and skin moisturizer.
Difficulty: Easy

 

It is impossible to mention home remedies for rough hands without making mention of aloe vera. Long regarded as the best remedy for the skin, aloe vera’s natural moisturizing properties helps treat rough hands. By retaining moisture on the skin and creating a protective layer on the skin, aloe vera gel works quickly and effectively. Overall, the gel’s benefits for the skin make it a preferred choice for smooth supple hands.

Directions:

  1. Slice the aloe vera leaf and extract the gel that oozes out of the leaf’s edges.
  2. Collect this gel until you have a sufficient amount that you can apply on your hands.
  3. Let the gel air-dry for 20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
  4. Apply skin moisturizer to prevent your hands from drying out after rinsing.
  5. Use this remedy thrice daily for best results.

 

6. Oatmeal:

Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: 2 Tablespoons of oatmeal (ground), 1 tablespoon of raw honey, a few drops of lemon juice, and warm water (both for the remedy preparation and for rinsing after use).
Difficulty: Easy

 

If you need a simple and easy-to-get home remedy (from your kitchen) for dry rough hands, look no further than oatmeal. This natural cleanser not only helps unclog the pores on the skin, it also helps exfoliate the skin. This makes it a great healer for those with chapped hands. Additionally, the protein present in the oatmeal helps lock in moisture on the skin so that the skin remains hydrated. Honey is added for its moisturizing benefits mentioned above.

Directions:

  1. Prepare the remedy by mixing the ground oatmeal with the honey and the fresh lemon juice.
  2. Add just enough water so that you have a consistent paste for topical application on the skin.
  3. Rub a generous amount of this mixture on your hands and use to massage.
  4. Leave the remedy on for about 20 minutes and then wash off using warm water.
  5. Remember to apply a skin moisturizer for faster treatment of rough hands.

 

7. Bananas:

Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: Overripe bananas, 1 tablespoon of raw honey, a few drops of olive oil , warm water, and a hand moisturizer.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Wondering how to get rid of rough hands? Do not waste those bananas sitting in your fruit basket. Instead, let them overripe in order to get a simple home remedy for the treatment of rough hands. Bananas are packed with moisturizing properties that make them a perfect skin mask for healthy smooth skin. Add the honey and olive oil combination for its benefits listed above. Prepare the remedy following the directions outlined below.

Directions:

  1. Peel the overripe banana and, using a spoon, mash it until you have a thick paste.
  2. Add the raw honey and olive oil and mash some more so that the ingredients are well mixed.
  3. Apply the banana mix on your hands and leave on for half an hour.
  4. Rinse the skin using warm water to wash off the mixture and then apply a hand moisturizer.
  5. Use this remedy at least thrice daily until you notice progress on your hands.

 

8. Vitamin E Oil:

Time Required: 10 Min
What You Need: 1/2 Teaspoon of olive oil.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Vitamin E oil is a wonder remedy for the treatment of rough hands as it is packed with potent antioxidants that ensure the skin’s health. Other benefits of this oil include skin rejuvenation and faster healing of dry broken skin. You can purchase Vitamin E oil from your local chemist or use Vitamin E capsules for the same purpose.

Directions:

  1. Simply place a few drops of Vitamin E oil on the palms of your hands and apply.
  2. If using Vitamin E capsules, puncture the capsule to extract the oil and apply in the same way.
  3. Use this remedy thrice daily for best results.

 

9. Homemade Skin Lotion:

Time Required: 1 – 2 Hrs
What You Need: 1 Cup Shea butter, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/8 cup beeswax, 1 tablespoon each of aloe vera gel and honey as well as a few drops of essential oil/Vitamin E oil (optional). You also need a double boiler and a refrigerator.
Difficulty: Easy

 

One of the most effective ways to get rid of rough hands is to make sure that you moisturize your skin on a regular basis. Sometimes, however, store-bought skin moisturizers do not work for your skin type. why not take up the challenge and prepare home-made lotion using pure natural ingredients? Most of these ingredients have been mentioned above, and the additional ones all have a wonderful role to play in maintaining healthy skin.

Shea butter for example, both nourishes and moisturizes the skin, while the beeswax provides a perfect base for the lotion in order to ensure it prevents loss of moisture. Some of the vegetable oils you can choose from include peanut, olive or sweet almond oil. The constituent ingredients of these oils help retain the skin’s moisture. Follow the directions below for a seamless preparation process.

Directions:

  1. Mix the coconut oil with your preferred vegetable oil before adding to the shea butter.
  2. Pour in the beeswax which will act as a base for the lotion.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a double boiler to heat on low setting. This is an important part of the procedure since direct and high heat will destroy make- up of the lotion, thus reducing its efficiency.
  4. Once all the ingredients have melted and mixed well, turn off the heat.
  5. Add the aloe vera gel and raw honey to the warm mixture.
  6. Proceed to add the Vitamin E and essential oil of choice and then stir to mix well.
  7. Allow the mixture to cool until it attains room temperature.
  8. Refrigerate the lotion for it to harden.
  9. Once hardened, transfer to a blender and blend for some 5 minutes.
  10. Pour the blended mixture into a jar then cover with the lid to allow solidification.
  11. Apply this lotion daily at bedtime. Remember to refrigerate the homemade lotion.

 

Other home remedies that you can use to manage rough hands include baking soda, natural yogurt as well as ripe avocado skin mask. In addition to using these remedies, it is important to take practical tips to prevent rough hands in the first place. This means avoiding excessive hand washing, using mild soaps as well as avoiding extremely hot water as it strips the skin of moisture. Weekly hand scrubs also go a long way in treating rough hands at home.

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