If you’re going to be anywhere in Canada this month, or in the next few months really, your hands are really going to feel it. Visiting Canada in the fall or winter means you’ll be visiting during the driest and coldest seasons, and the lack of moisture in the air will do a number on your hands. Because indoor heating will be cranked up, you won’t have respite indoors either, and your hands are likely to become dry, sore, and cracked unless you’re careful.
The most important thing to do during Canadian winters is to apply moisturizing creams to your hands before they start hurting. Prevention is the best cure and applying a good moisturizer to your hands several times a day can save you a lot of grief. You have to make sure to apply the cream to cuticles and nails as well as the palms of your hands, because those areas dry out quickly as well. Carrying a little pot of moisturizer in your coat pocket, purse, and in your car is good practice so you never forget to apply it.
Good moisturizing creams have emollients and humectants in them to maximize their moisturizing potential. Emollients, like jojoba oil, encourage skin cells to regenerate and help make skin supple again. Humectants, like glycerin, draw moisture from the air into the skin, increasing the skins moisture content. More intensive creams contain richer ingredients, such as honey, beeswax, and shea butter, and are better for hands that have cracked as a result of dryness.
No Comments