Spa day for my hands/nails?
February 26, 2022 2:29 PM Subscribe
My hands and nails are in awful shape, and I have two weeks to get them in good shape - what can I do?
I have a work event in two weeks, and I would love for my hands not to be a total mess. Currently, I have super short fingernails, cracked skin, my cuticles are a disaster - it's not good!
What can I do to get my hands in better shape in the next two weeks? I don't mind buying some products if needed - I have cuticle oil - avocado e for nails and skin, plus some intense lotions - kiehls and eucerin.
I definitely don't drink enough water, so I am probably not as well hydrated as I should be!
I have a work event in two weeks, and I would love for my hands not to be a total mess. Currently, I have super short fingernails, cracked skin, my cuticles are a disaster - it's not good!
What can I do to get my hands in better shape in the next two weeks? I don't mind buying some products if needed - I have cuticle oil - avocado e for nails and skin, plus some intense lotions - kiehls and eucerin.
I definitely don't drink enough water, so I am probably not as well hydrated as I should be!
There are gloves you can buy specifically for keeping large quantities of lotion on your hands overnight. You will be amazed at the results in just a couple of days. I would start there.
Also: wear gloves when washing dishes; minimize the number of times you have to wash your hands during the day and _always_ use lotion afterwards; and avoid propylene glycol (a common ingredient in lotions and soaps) since it might seem moisturizing at first, but is actually drying over time.
Also: you can get and start using clear nail polish today. It won't look awesome, but it will help protect your (incipient) nails from damage.
posted by amtho at 2:46 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Also: wear gloves when washing dishes; minimize the number of times you have to wash your hands during the day and _always_ use lotion afterwards; and avoid propylene glycol (a common ingredient in lotions and soaps) since it might seem moisturizing at first, but is actually drying over time.
Also: you can get and start using clear nail polish today. It won't look awesome, but it will help protect your (incipient) nails from damage.
posted by amtho at 2:46 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
CONSTANT moisture. If you can, put on gloves or mittens after putting on lotion. Lotion after each time you wash your hands. I like the Eucerine Eczema Cream. Some people like Corn Huskers Lotion. Aquaphor is also good for cuticles. I find it hangs around longer than a cuticle oil.
You may need to gently push back your cuticles after they heal a bit, and trim any extra dry bits that can snag with a cuticle clipper. But you want to be very careful. It's best to do this when they are wet or oiled and after some time to heal and only clip anything that's going to snag or tear.
I also really like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Strengthening Topcoat. (Can be found at most places that sell nail polish.) If you have bitten or picked at your nails they may be weakened. If your nails are already thick, then disregard. But I have thin nails and it helps immensely and it doesn't peel like many topcoats. I just do 1 coat. Otherwise any topcoat may help protect the nail as well.
Source: Used to bite my nails, in the process of stopping my absent-minded picking habit, have had some eczema, and work with my hands with sensitive skin.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:47 PM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
You may need to gently push back your cuticles after they heal a bit, and trim any extra dry bits that can snag with a cuticle clipper. But you want to be very careful. It's best to do this when they are wet or oiled and after some time to heal and only clip anything that's going to snag or tear.
I also really like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Strengthening Topcoat. (Can be found at most places that sell nail polish.) If you have bitten or picked at your nails they may be weakened. If your nails are already thick, then disregard. But I have thin nails and it helps immensely and it doesn't peel like many topcoats. I just do 1 coat. Otherwise any topcoat may help protect the nail as well.
Source: Used to bite my nails, in the process of stopping my absent-minded picking habit, have had some eczema, and work with my hands with sensitive skin.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:47 PM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
Seconding the gloves + moisturizer at night, or you can just use white socks. In fact if you are really going to use tons of moisturizer, the socks might work better because they don't absorb as much.
posted by BibiRose at 2:52 PM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by BibiRose at 2:52 PM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
O'Keefe's Working Hands is your friend here.
posted by essexjan at 3:16 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 3:16 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Has anyone suggested starting your rehab with a professional manicure? My local place offers paraffin gloves and collagen manicures and I have no idea of whatever science and I don't really care, it works wonders on skin and obviously, just the manicure part really cleans everything up. On short nails I just get a sheer pink polish.
posted by DarlingBri at 3:18 PM on February 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 3:18 PM on February 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
Depending on current location, this may not be an issue for you, but as a reluctant dweller of a high-altitude, low-humidity place, I feel obliged to mention it:
Avoid sudden sharp temperature swings like the proverbial plague.
I’ve battled chapped hands for decades, and steep jumps between warm and cold weather always seem to exacerbate it — worse than frequent washing with harsh soap, worse than dehydration, worse than failing to apply lotion at regular intervals.
If your indoor and outdoor environments are thermally mismatched, or if you are currently in a place where the climate pulls this kind of back-and-forth nonsense from day to day, hand cream and water-drinking will only go so far. Make sure your hands aren’t exposed to the shock. If it’s cold out, put on heavy mittens before you leave any heated indoor environment. Keep an eye on the weather for bait-and-switch patterns.
posted by armeowda at 3:48 PM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Avoid sudden sharp temperature swings like the proverbial plague.
I’ve battled chapped hands for decades, and steep jumps between warm and cold weather always seem to exacerbate it — worse than frequent washing with harsh soap, worse than dehydration, worse than failing to apply lotion at regular intervals.
If your indoor and outdoor environments are thermally mismatched, or if you are currently in a place where the climate pulls this kind of back-and-forth nonsense from day to day, hand cream and water-drinking will only go so far. Make sure your hands aren’t exposed to the shock. If it’s cold out, put on heavy mittens before you leave any heated indoor environment. Keep an eye on the weather for bait-and-switch patterns.
posted by armeowda at 3:48 PM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
> Has anyone suggested starting your rehab with a professional manicure? My local place offers paraffin gloves and collagen manicures and I have no idea of whatever science and I don't really care, it works wonders on skin and obviously, just the manicure part really cleans everything up. On short nails I just get a sheer pink polish.
Agreed, and I don't even get sheer or clear polish because I just can't stand polish. I have them buff my nails instead. Some places offer this kind of manicure at a lower cost as a "gentleman's manicure" or some such gendered euphemism.
posted by desuetude at 3:57 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Agreed, and I don't even get sheer or clear polish because I just can't stand polish. I have them buff my nails instead. Some places offer this kind of manicure at a lower cost as a "gentleman's manicure" or some such gendered euphemism.
posted by desuetude at 3:57 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
I really like this cuticle cream: https://www.dermstore.com/elon-lanolin-rich-nail-conditioner-jar-0.25-oz./12901327.html It is a teeny tiny jar but it's very nourishing.
Once you have healed the cracks in your skin, you may want to try a once-daily application of a hand cream with urea or AHAs/BHAs like Eucerin Advanced Repair or Amlactin. (I would only do it once a day since it can make your skin more prone to cuts.)
posted by Lycaste at 4:09 PM on February 26, 2022
Once you have healed the cracks in your skin, you may want to try a once-daily application of a hand cream with urea or AHAs/BHAs like Eucerin Advanced Repair or Amlactin. (I would only do it once a day since it can make your skin more prone to cuts.)
posted by Lycaste at 4:09 PM on February 26, 2022
Regular liquid soap is guaranteed to turn my hands into masses of bleeding cracks at the tips and knuckles. If you think that might be part of the problem, switch to pure glycerine liquid soap or a gentle bar soap.
posted by kate4914 at 4:38 PM on February 26, 2022
posted by kate4914 at 4:38 PM on February 26, 2022
The Sephora lady sold me the Fenty hand mask (you apply it before bed every night) and it has changed eeeeeeverything. My hands were so painful and scaly and dry and like, spontaneously bleeding. Ugh. Now I have some good Kiehls for the day and the Fenty hand mask at night and I have the soft soft hands of a baby or someone who doesn’t have forced air heat.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 5:40 PM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 5:40 PM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
I am prone to scaly nightmare hands, and jojoba oil (or a mix of jojoba, sweet almond, and grapeseed oils) do the trick for me, but I have to apply it constantly when I'm in rehab mode. At least five times a day or once every other hour. Alternate with a good thick hand cream (I like O'Keefe's, Eucerin, and Kiehl's) at least twice a day, and bonus points if the cream has urea or AHAs in it.
In a few days, your cuticles will start to soften, so that's a good time to push them back gently(!) with a wooden cuticle stick and clean up the nail edges with a glass file. The key is consistency. Two weeks is enough to get them in decent shape, but they need to be lubed up as all get out. It's pretty amazing how quickly they'll plump up with oil and transform if you stick to it.
posted by mostlymartha at 8:24 PM on February 26, 2022
In a few days, your cuticles will start to soften, so that's a good time to push them back gently(!) with a wooden cuticle stick and clean up the nail edges with a glass file. The key is consistency. Two weeks is enough to get them in decent shape, but they need to be lubed up as all get out. It's pretty amazing how quickly they'll plump up with oil and transform if you stick to it.
posted by mostlymartha at 8:24 PM on February 26, 2022
If I wanted to achieve a reset I’d get a manicure or give myself one. My focus would be evening out all the things and removing anything that would cause me to fiddle or pick. You do need a cuticle trimmer because that allows you to get much closer to the skin. Get one even if you decide to pay for a manicure because it will allow you to do maintenance much more easily. Then I’d focus on moisturiser and preventing further damage by wearing gloves for washing up/cleaning.
For daytime moisturising the light/fast absorbing/you won’t know you’re wearing it stuff doesn’t do anything for me. I need shea butter and I will happily clean my devices and keyboard regularly because yes, I’ll leave marks. My favourite hand cream is l’occitane. A little goes a long way.
For nighttime I like the creams used to soften the skin of your feet/treat cracked heels - no reason not to use them on your hands and rub it into your cuticles. The active ingredients you are looking for are urea and AHAs/BHAs. Apply to both your hands and feet at night when you’re going to bed. For daytime I prefer other creams because I find that urea feels a certain way on my hands - not unpleasant or bad but I notice it as different and prefer other creams for daytime.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:06 AM on February 27, 2022
For daytime moisturising the light/fast absorbing/you won’t know you’re wearing it stuff doesn’t do anything for me. I need shea butter and I will happily clean my devices and keyboard regularly because yes, I’ll leave marks. My favourite hand cream is l’occitane. A little goes a long way.
For nighttime I like the creams used to soften the skin of your feet/treat cracked heels - no reason not to use them on your hands and rub it into your cuticles. The active ingredients you are looking for are urea and AHAs/BHAs. Apply to both your hands and feet at night when you’re going to bed. For daytime I prefer other creams because I find that urea feels a certain way on my hands - not unpleasant or bad but I notice it as different and prefer other creams for daytime.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:06 AM on February 27, 2022
I was a patient at a wound care center and the nurses would apply Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening to our cracked skin and cover it with gauze. The Crisco made my skin incredibly soft. I would apply a little Crisco at night and cover my hands with a pair of cotton gloves or socks.
posted by 1smartcookie at 8:09 AM on February 27, 2022
posted by 1smartcookie at 8:09 AM on February 27, 2022
If part of your problem is built up skin/callus around the nail bed (and have no "open" cracks/wounds in the skin) consider a lotion with alpha-hydroxy acid in it, it's a gentle exfoliant.
Also, if you're hand washing your dishes, get some gloves, because the detergent + hot water combo is deadly on skin, especially in the winter (when most indoor areas are very dry).
posted by radiogreentea at 11:37 AM on February 27, 2022
Also, if you're hand washing your dishes, get some gloves, because the detergent + hot water combo is deadly on skin, especially in the winter (when most indoor areas are very dry).
posted by radiogreentea at 11:37 AM on February 27, 2022
To expand on the "get some gloves" suggestion: get some nitrile gloves that fit your hands and a bottle of jojoba oil. Put a couple of drops of jojoba oil in each fingertip before putting the gloves on, then go do dishes or scrub the tiles or whatever you need to do.
It's basically a spa "nail oil" treatment while getting stuff done at the same time.
I recommend double-layering the gloves (I do the nitrile+jojoba thing under heavier Mamison dish gloves), but even just doing the nitrile+jojoba will help.
And if you're not already wearing gloves when doing dishes/other chores, that should be a priority.
posted by Lexica at 4:15 PM on February 28, 2022
It's basically a spa "nail oil" treatment while getting stuff done at the same time.
I recommend double-layering the gloves (I do the nitrile+jojoba thing under heavier Mamison dish gloves), but even just doing the nitrile+jojoba will help.
And if you're not already wearing gloves when doing dishes/other chores, that should be a priority.
posted by Lexica at 4:15 PM on February 28, 2022
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Get a glass nail file and give your short nails a nice little whip around the edges every day. It'll smooth them out gently as they grow so they will be neat and tidy without any jags or rags as they get longer.
I'm guessing you're not a nail polish person but if that's a route you want to dip your toe in just to look really put together, my strong rec is to skip the clear nail polish. Instead, grab a "smoothing base coat" from the drug store. Rather than shine you up and maybe draw attention, this stuff is like a magic eraser for your nails. Hides all your problems and looks like nekkid nails.
And yeah drink more water.
posted by phunniemee at 2:45 PM on February 26, 2022 [5 favorites]