From all parts of the body, hands are exposed to most adverse effects. Because they have a lot of work. They are digging and watering, washing and ironing, sewing, knitting and embroidering. As a result, signs of aging become visible on them earlier than on other body parts. If you do not provide hand care, they can look 5-10 years older than your real age. Therefore, they should be given no less attention than face.

First of all, it is necessary to protect hands from harmful influences from outside. In the cold season you must wear warm gloves. Make a habit of wearing rubber, and preferably vinyl gloves while doing homework, or putting hands to chemical exposures (such as cleaners or detergents). If you also grease hands with rich, nourishing cream, you will get an excellent curative poultice. After work, wash your gloves inside and out and dry. When work is not related to water, use cotton gloves. If you do not wear gloves, then at least brush hands with a protective cream before work and wash it off after work.

Avoid hot water: it degreases skin making it dry and rough. Cold water causes skin peeling and rigidness. Wash hands with warm water. Do not use cheap sorts of soap or soap with a strong odor. Use only mild soap. Baby soap will always fit.

Once or twice a week it is necessary to peel skin to remove dead skin cells. This will allow moisturizing cream to penetrate deeper into skin. For these purposes, you can use peeling face creams, but you can also use one of the following ways:

· After washing, rub skin with a rough towel intensively.
· Mix 1 teaspoon sugar with 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Rub this mixture into your hands for 1-2 minutes, then rinse with warm water and mild soap.
· Sprinkle a little salt on hand skin and rub it soaking in water.

After peeling, bathing, shower or washing hands skin should be moisturized. To do this, use hand creams or any greasy creams. Creams protect skin better than lotions, as they have a denser structure. It is good to rub petroleum jelly, but as it is very fat, so as not to stain clothes, this procedure should be done at night, then wear cotton gloves, and remain so until the morning. In the morning your skin will be much softer. Applying cream should be combined with a little massage. Cream is applied to the back of hand in the direction from fingertips to the wrist. Massage each finger from all sides, as if pulling tight gloves. Then massage back of your hand. Palms do not need cream. In the evening, massage hands under running warm water with a soft brush (you can use an old toothbrush), and then apply moisturizer.

Hand care creams can be cooked at home:

· Pour a table spoon of any herbs - chamomile, plantain, marigold, succession - or their mixtures with a glass of boiled water and leave for 8-9 hours under the cover. Strain. Then pound 5 g butter with a teaspoon of honey, add a teaspoon of herb and mix all thoroughly;

· Whip 1 / 2 cup sour cream with two egg yolks in a blender, and, still whisking, gradually pour juice of 1 / 2 lemon and 2 tablespoons vodka or 1 tablespoon alcohol or brandy;

· Mix 50 g glycerol, 50 g cream, a few drops of lemon juice.

If your hands turn red, coarse, there appear cracks or fading, then hand masks will help you:

· Massage two tablespoons warm olive oil in hands, pull plastic, and wool gloves on top and leave overnight or for several hours.

· Boil potato, mash it with hot milk and cover hands with a mixture. After 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water and rub cream into skin.

· Rub a mixture of 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon oatmeal into skin, put on cotton gloves and leave overnight or for several hours.

· Mix cottage cheese and sour cream to the consistency of soft paste. Smear on hands, wash off after 10-15 minutes. Besides softening skin, this mixture also bleaches.

Hand baths also help skin well. They are useful at night before bedtime, and then lubricate hands with cream:

· For baths you can use water after cooking potatoes or pasta.

· Keep hands in hot milk for 5 minutes, this will not only moisturize skin, but also strengthen nails.

· For two liters warm water - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Take a bath for 15-20 minutes.

· If hands are sweating, dilute 1 teaspoon salt in 1 liter warm water, keep hands in the solution for 5-10 minutes.

Another way to soften hands - bath of starch. A teaspoon of starch is diluted in a glass of water, the resulting paste is diluted with warm water, a little cream is applied on damp skin.

Starch bath is very useful for elbows, if skin on them is dry and rough.

Ultraviolet rays damage and dry hand skin, so do not forget to apply sunscreen on hands.

Skin on elbows requires special care. To prevent coarse skin, apply baths of warm vegetable oil. Pour it into two bowls and immerse elbows in them for 5 minutes, then scrub with pumice stone and apply moisturizer. During shower, rub elbows with a washcloth, and then lubricate them with cream.

When blisters, apply warm soap-soda baths with addition of ammonia (can not add soda in rain water). Per liter of water add 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons liquid ammonia, 1 teaspoon soap powder. Keep hands in such bath for about 15-20 minutes, then wipe dry and rub with a pumice stone.

Hand care gymnastics will help removing accumulated stress and fatigue, and warn hand deformation:

· Do circular motions in wrists.
· Squeeze fingers into a fist and unclench slowly.
· Hold fingertips of both hands to each other, not connecting palms and springing, clasp and release them, not tearing apart.
· Firmly press fingers and hands to each other and shake hands one against another right-left.
· Tightly clasping hands, turn down your fingers as far as possible in opposite directions.
· Tilt your thumbs to the palms and back.

Well-groomed hands should be complemented with beautiful nails.