Hand cream is a must-have for those who frequently touch water or have rough hands. Some people, however, apply expensive nourishing creams to provide more moisture to their hands. On the other hand, some use hand cream on their face when they run out of lotion. But is this a good idea? Let’s explore whether using lotion instead of hand cream or vice versa has any functional differences.
The Need for Frequent Reapplication
Lotions or creams for the face have less oil content, so if you apply them to your hands, you must reapply frequently. While this doesn’t pose any significant issues regarding nutrition or skin troubles, the lower oil content can lead to your hands drying out quickly. This can become somewhat inconvenient, especially if you require constant moisturization.
What Happens When You Apply Hand Cream to Your Face?
Applying hand cream to your face can lead to skin troubles. Unlike the face, hands have fewer sebaceous glands and none on the palms, which makes them more prone to dryness. Therefore, hand creams often contain many ingredients that form a protective layer to prevent moisture evaporation. However, the face has many oily sebaceous glands, so misusing hand cream can lead to excessive oil, clogged pores, and acne.
Fragrant Scents Can Be Harmful to the Face
Fragrances are combinations of compounds added to create a specific scent, but consumers cannot know what ingredients and how much of them are used. Fragrance can be as dangerous as a harmful toxin to the skin, causing problems like pigmentation, itching, and headaches. Most hand creams contain a lot of fragrance, which can harm the sensitive skin on the face.
Each Product Has a Specific Purpose
The skin on the face is complex, so it’s best to use products specifically designed for facial use, and even better if you choose products according to your skin type. For oily skin, use moisturizers; for dry skin, use products with a balanced oil and moisture content.
Main Ingredients in Hand Cream
Hand cream often contains ingredients like urea and petrolatum, which are more effective at creating a protective barrier on the skin’s surface to prevent moisture evaporation than moisturizing. Applying a hand cream that serves as a protective layer rather than a moisturizer is more effective for hands, as it is easily wiped clean.
Hand Cream Is Better Than Expensive Nourishing Creams For Hands
Face lotions and expensive nourishing creams contain high-moisture ingredients, but their effects on the hands can be minimal. Nutrient creams contain advanced moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which supply moisture to the thin skin on the face. However, these moisturizing ingredients have difficulty penetrating the thicker skin of the hands. Moreover, touching objects with hands where moisturizing ingredients have not properly penetrated can be easily wiped off.
How to Apply Hand Cream Properly
Hand cream should be applied thoroughly to the spaces between your fingers and the tips of your fingers. This creates a thorough protective layer over the entire hand. If your skin is so dry that it cracks and hurts, it helps to apply a generous amount of hand cream and then wear disposable gloves.
Is Hand Cream Good for Eczema-Prone Hands?
If you suffer from eczema, it is best to visit a doctor first. The skin barrier is broken and cannot be moisturized, so dermatitis can worsen, and eczema can become more severe. Avoid using hand creams that contain allergy-triggering ingredients.
Is It Dangerous to Touch a Receipt After Applying Hand Cream?
The black print on receipts contains Bisphenol A, an environmental hormone and carcinogen. Continuous exposure can increase the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer, so caution is needed. If you touch a receipt after applying hand cream, the amount of this carcinogen absorbed can increase up to 60 times, so be careful!
Can You Wash Your Hands Right After Applying Hand Cream?
Will the moisturizing effect last if you wash your hands right after applying hand cream? The answer is YES! However, the moisturizing effect will diminish compared to when first used. If your hands feel sticky after applying, it’s recommended to rinse them under running water lightly.
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