The hands are the most used part of your body. They are the tool of your trade, the shovels that dig in the soil, and the brushes that paint a beautiful picture. Hands are also where we show our age. They can tell you we’ve been hard at work or they can tell you we’ve been resting all day. However, they need to be taken care of for healthy and youthful-looking hands.
Tips for proper hand care:
• Wash your hands:
You should wash your hands before and after food preparation, after sneezing or coughing, after handling pet dander or other contaminants, before and after medical procedures, after changing diapers (especially if you have small children), and any time you feel they may need to be cleaned. Hand washing reduces the transmission of many common microorganisms that can cause disease.
• Avoid unsanitary living and work conditions:
The less contact you have with dirt, the less likely it will be that bacteria will spread to your hands. Some common items that can increase your risk of hand contamination include animal feces, dirty or soiled clothing, public restrooms, and public telephones. These places may harbor germs that could lead to symptoms such as itching and painful boils in the hands.
• Reduce your exposure to tobacco smoke:
Smoking is known to increase infection rates. It is also known to make your hands look older and more wrinkled. In addition, smoking can worsen the wrinkles you already have on your hands.
• Avoid contact with harsh chemicals:
Some common ones include bleach and ammonia. These chemicals can irritate the skin and make it more susceptible to infection. Avoid getting them on your hands, and get medical attention if you do.
• Wear gloves for certain tasks:
If you have a medical condition that makes you susceptible to infection, wear gloves when handling objects that might increase your risk of contact with microorganisms. You may wear gloves during the cleaning or handling of viruses or bacteria that could lead to illness, especially if you are around people who are sick. Tips for proper hand care
