Dermatovenerologist gave advice on hand skin care in winter

The skin of hands lacks resources for recovery in winter, so during this period it should be cared for more carefully than in summer, and first of all, attention should be paid to intensive moisturizing. Natalia Mikhailova, candidate of medical sciences, dermatovenerologist, scientific director of the company MARTINEX, told Izvestia more about it on November 19.

"In the cold season, due to temperature differences and heating in the room, the epidermis lacks moisture, as well as lipids that protect the skin of the hands from drying out. Sharp dehydration can lead to various damages - microcracks, peeling, redness, which in winter heal poorly. In winter it is necessary to protect the skin of hands and wear gloves, mittens, because hypothermia affects the blood vessels and worsens skin nutrition," she said.

According to the specialist, to cleanse the skin of the hands do not need alcohol lotions and disinfectants, soaps and gels are good enough to wash away bacteria and do not dry out the skin.

"It is advisable to use liquid hand cleansers rather than soap, because they do not contain alkali and minimally damage the hydrolipidic mantle. It contains lipids, that is, fats that protect the skin from drying out. When preparing food, we often wash our hands and wash off this vulnerable lipid layer from the surface of the skin, and hot water dissolves it better, so cool or slightly warm water will be more useful. You can draw an analogy with dishes: fat is better washed off with hot water," - said Mikhailova.

The doctor specified that in winter it is desirable to switch to a thicker nourishing cream and use it at night. It is also useful to add to the care of nourishing masks that contain oils, various plant extracts. If there is damage on the skin of the hands, you need to choose components that will contribute to the restoration and regeneration of the skin. Cream or mask with Asian cintella promotes the restoration of collagen production, with hyaluronic acid - intensely moisturizes and retains moisture in the superficial layers. With redness and inflammation in the composition of the cream will be useful licorice extract, calendula or chamomile.

"In your purse should always be a moisturizing cream, which should be applied after each hand washing. It is desirable to use it and at home, especially on the back of the hands, which is quite thin and quickly dry out. It is on it that cracks appear, pigmentation, so you should not be lazy and actively moisturize it in the winter season," - warned the dermatovenerologist.

"Today, very many people use oils instead of cream, considering them a more natural remedy. And indeed vegetable oils contain fatty substances that are good at softening the skin surface and retaining moisture. But there is another side of the coin here. Human skin produces animal fat, and vegetable fat is not suitable for it. When we apply vegetable oil to the skin, its acidity changes, the production of sebum secretion. Oils that are used in the cosmetic industry, undergo a certain treatment. Good creams usually use hydrolyzed oils, which stand up to a certain pH. Therefore, a modern cream is better than any oil from a bottle," she pointed out.

Mikhailova emphasized that alginate masks based on algae are useful for the skin. They moisturize the upper layers of the epidermis very well, make the dermis soft, promote its regeneration, improve its tone.

"To take care of the skin of the hands is necessary at any time of the year. Even if we carefully care for the skin of the face, make various injections, but forget about the hands, they are sure to give away our age. The skin of the hands is thin, it is very difficult to restore", - concluded the expert.

Earlier, November 17, dermatovenerologist, trichologist, cosmetologist Natalia Korpliakova told "Izvestia" how to care for the skin in winter. She advised, among other things, not to rub it with a loofah and brush.