How to treat dry hands and cracked feet at home

Having dry hands and cracked feet is not a great look. You could have a fabulous outfit on and look well put together, but having ashy hands and feet can dilute the entire look. Knuckles and cuticles on the hands on the heels on feet are most prone to dry and cracked skin.

Common causes of this dryness are genes, weather changes, daily activities that require manual labour or side effects from medication. Regular care on your hands and feet will prevent dry and cracked skin, and a little extra TLC goes a long way to make you feel pampered and looking great.

Knuckles and cuticles on the hands on the heels on feet are most prone to dry and cracked skin? (Image: Shutterstock)

Prevention

First things first, prevention is better than cure. Prevent or alleviate extreme dryness by protecting your hands and feet, to begin with. Always wear protective gloves when handling chemicals or washing up and avoid harsh cleaning products.

For your feet, make sure you wear your correct shoe size to reduce friction and try to limit the amount of time you spend with footwear on as well as the time you spend standing.

Hand scrub

You can make your very own rejuvenating hand scrub right from your kitchen. Mix together 1 tsp. of grated ginger, 1 tbsp. of sugar, 2 tbsp. of coconut oil and 1 tsp. of lemon juice. Massage your hands with the scrub for three minutes, then rinse and moisturise.

Ginger contains antioxidants that will help rejuvenate tired skin, the sugar will exfoliate the skin, coconut oil nourishes and repairs and lemon juice disinfects and brightens the skin.

Cinnamon powder is antifungal and helps clear dirt that's beneath your nails (Image: Shutterstock)

Hand mask

Your face is not the only part of your body that needs a mask every now and then. Create this simple mask yourself by combining 2 tbsp. of cinnamon powder, 1 tsp. of olive oil and a few drops of lemon essential oil. Spread it on clean hands and leave it on for 10 – 15 minutes before rinsing and moisturising your hands.

Cinnamon powder is antifungal and helps clear dirt that's beneath your nails, olive oil nourishes and hydrates the skin and the lemon essential oil is an aromatherapeutic addition because it will make your hands smell great.

Cuticle oil

Our cuticles are susceptible to extreme dryness, so keep them soft and nourished with this simple cuticle oil. Mix together 2 tbsp. of jojoba oil with a few drops of lavender essential oil. Massage this into your cuticles as frequently as you would like so that they are constantly nourished.

Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties that heal cuts and chaffing on cuticles, and lavender essential oil soothes the skin around your cuticles and simply smells divine.

Moisturise your hands after each treatment to restore moisture (Image: Shutterstock)

Foot scrub

This basic scrub only needs two ingredients and it will leave your feet feeling baby soft! Combine five tbsp. of baby oil and three tbsp. of sea salt. Scrub your feet with this for five minutes and then rinse the residue and moisturise. Baby oil repairs flaky skin and dry patches, and sea salt exfoliates the dead skin.

Milk contains lactic acid which restores and hydrates the skin (Image: Shutterstock)

Foot soak

Give your feet extra love with a luxurious foot soak. Fill a small basin with warm water and add to it a cup of milk and a few tablespoons of rosewater. For added nourishment and hydration, and a tablespoon of honey to the mixtures. Soak your feet for 15 – 20 minutes, and then rinse and moisturise them.

Milk contains lactic acid which restores and hydrates skin, and rosewater soothes any irritated skin. Honey is an ancient-old remedy for amazing skin because it acts as a humectant by drawing moistures from its surroundings into your skin.