Hand Care:
Hands are continuously exposed to climatic changes. If there is any part of the body which shows ageing, it is the skin of your hands. Your hands are the evidence of your advancing years. Your hands are exposed daily to indoor and outdoor jobs, they are washed with many kinds of soaps and detergents throughout the day, chlorine can also dry your hands and nails, especially after swimming. So, protect your hands with a good moisturizer or Vaseline (petroleum jelly). Sunscreen lotion should be used when you are out in the sun. In winter, protect your hands with clean and warm gloves. While working, do not wear soiled gloves or let sweat get trapped in them. This can worsen an existing hand or nail condition. At night before sleeping, mix a little glycerine with rose water and use it as a hand lotion. It works well. A good emollient like cocoa butter, olive or almond oil will help. Our “SIGNATURE HAND/BODY LOTION” is excellent for keeping your hands moisturized, smooth and supple too. Clammy hands are often a sign of nervousness and anxiety. You can wash your hands with cold water and pat them with some cologne. This will help you to relax.
Special Hand Treatment:
Essential oils can be added to a base lotion and used after each time you wash your hands. Patchouli is one of the best oils for cracked and dry skin, and clary sage oil helps delay cellular aging on the hands. You can give your hands an exfoliating mask treatment before going to bed. After using an exfoliating face/hand mask on your hands, apply your hand lotion. Cover your hands with a plastic wrap. Then put on a pair of cotton gloves or cotton socks over the plastic wrap. Keep the mask on your hands for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off with water.
Hand Massage:
Massaging hands helps increase blood circulation and keeps them soft and supple. For massaging your hands, coat both your hands with a cream or oil. See that you have applied the cream or oil between your fingers too. Stroke down from wrist to knuckle. Do this 6 times for each hand. Also, gently massage each finger (tip to the base) 6 times by holding the finger with your other hand and stroking it with the ball of your thumb.
Foot Care:
Spend some time each week giving your feet a thoroughly relaxing massage, which would benefit your feet and the rest of your body at the same time. Keep your feet very clean as your face, regularly removing dead skin at the heels and drying properly between the toes. Watch out for any broken skin between the toes, as this may be an early sign of athlete’s foot-a fungal condition, which can be difficult to treat once it has begun. Plastic shoes are a common cause of athlete’s foot, as they create moisture and cause the feet to sweat, creating the ideal conditions for fungus to develop. Essential oils can be used to treat fungus-type infections, as well as warts.
Feet take the burden off your body. Always use footwear which are well-fitting and comfortable. This helps you in getting support. High Heels make you lean forward, placing your back and bottom at an awkward angle. This puts more pressure on the toes. This also results in tingling of the toes and backache. The spine also gets affected. Choose your footwear carefully. You can wear high heels in the evening for a short duration. Tight socks or stockings also constrict the feet and toes. During the day, try to use footwear that is flat and comfortable.
For Diabetics, the feet are particularly vulnerable to infection. If you have diabetes, pay careful attention to foot care and consult your doctor about any foot problems. Diabetics should consult their doctor even if they have corns, calluses or cracked feet. Diabetics should not wear rubber slippers, especially in the garden. Diabetics should also not wear tight fitting shoes or tight socks.
Common Foot Problems:
Corns and Calluses are caused by friction between shoes and the bony areas of the foot. The bony parts of the foot become less padded with age, making corns and calluses more likely. Prevention consists of wearing padded insoles, padding vulnerable areas of the feet and wearing well-fitting shoes. You can even treat corns and calluses with over-the-counter medication.
Ingrown toenails occur when the toenail pierces the skin of the foot, and are more common on the big toes. The problem is usually caused by trimming the toenails in the wrong way. To prevent ingrown toenails, always cut the nail square across, and level with the top of the toe. A doctor or podiatrist can help with ingrown nails.
Bunions are painful and severely affect mobility. They are caused by the overgrowth of bone tissue. The problem is made worse by wearing ill-fitting shoes. In mild cases, the bunion can be treated by wearing wide-fitting shoes or a protective pad on the toe joint. In severe cases, consult a doctor.
For skin cracking, using petroleum jelly can help. You can also alleviate dry skin by increasing the amount of essential fatty acids in your diet. Essential fatty acids are found in extra virgin olive oil, sunflower seeds and oily fish. A Vitamin E supplement or taking a tablespoon of linseed oil weekly can help. A podiatrist can also greatly help with skin cracking on the feet.
Foot Massage:
Giving yourself a foot massage not only feels good, but energizes the many reflex points on your feet, which correspond to different parts of the body. For tired or swollen ankles, a cool compress soaked in Roman chamomile and lavender oil, is soothing and refreshing, and can also alleviate any inflammation.
Tips to maintain the health of the Feet:
Nails:
Nails are made up of protein and keratin. Nails give an indication of inner health. The average growth of a nail is about 6 mm in a month. When dirty, wash the nails with soap. To remove the dirt, brush them with a soft nail brush. Soak brittle nails in warm oil. Then pat them dry. Nail Polish Removers tend to dry nails. Do not keep removing the nail polish with the remover. It is better to re-touch the nail polish. Try using an oil-based remover. Let your nails breathe for a few days in between without the nail polish. If your nails continue to be dry and brittle, take a diet consisting of an adequate amount of protein, nuts, vitamin A and calcium. Psoriasis and fungus under the nail tips, can be treated with lavender or geranium essential oils.
Tips for strong and healthy Nails:
Special Nail Treatment:
To pamper your nails, you can use a weekly treatment which will keep them healthy and strong. This treatment is helpful for people with weak or damaged nails. You will need a bowl with a cuticle stick and a cotton bud (Q-tip), to apply a mixture of warm water with 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil. Apply the mixture to each nail cuticle to strengthen them. You will see improvement in your nails after a few months.
Strong, well-manicured nails on the hands and feet play an important role in a woman’s appearance. These are your beauty assets! Check out all our Nail Care products on our website (under Accessories and Skin Care). They include a Nail Cosmetic Bag, Nail Brush, Nail Art Stamper, Nail Polisher and Callus Remover.
GHG GLOBAL POWERHOUSE-giving you the power to lead a happier and healthier life.
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