Let’s face it: many men simply don’t take care of their skin. We have all been guilty of this mindset from time to time. Whether it is because you feel that you don’t have time or you feel like that isn’t the “manly” thing to do, men are notoriously bad at maintaining their skin. Instead of viewing moisturization as something cosmetic, try thinking of it as routine maintenance for your hands.
You wouldn’t drive your car for 50,000 miles without an oil change. Why would you continue to beat up your hands without giving them some support as well? Today, we will review why hands get dry, cracked and damaged, how daily hand cream can mitigate this damage, and review a simple skin care maintenance routine for men.
Hard-Working Hands can Get Dry, Cracked, and Damaged
The Occupational Health & Safety Department recognizes common skin conditions which can negatively impact hard-working hands. It is estimated that occupational skin disorders such as occupational dermatitis cost employers an average of $3,500 and approximately 24 days of missed work per incident. As you can see, skin damage as an occupational hazard is no joke.
While there are a number of legitimate skin concerns that come with making a living with your hands, dry skin is often the result of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis can be caused by allergic reactions to substances or irritation due to overuse or exposure to skin irritants.
Regardless of the exact nature of your work, if you are using your hands, you are at an increased risk for painful dry and damaged skin. There are ways to avoid skin damage such as proper handwear, but we are also able to repair and restore skin after the fact with powerful moisturizing skin cream.
Why Men’s Hands are Susceptible to Skin Damage
Men’s skin is actually more sensitive and susceptible to skin damage than women’s, despite the fact that men’s skin is generally 20% thicker (or more). So why exactly is men’s skin more sensitive and prone to dryness?
The increase in skin thickness can cause men’s skin to dry out more quickly. Men also are at greater risk for sun damage including potentially life threatening skin conditions such as melanoma. Women’s skin is more adept at healing wounds, responding to infection, and many other outside issues as well.
Daily Hand Cream for Active Men
So what exactly can we do about this? If men’s skin is truly more susceptible to a host of skin concerns, it must be a difficult task to get that situation under control. Thankfully, this isn’t the case. There are simple ways to mitigate the risks of all of these conditions. When it comes to dry, cracked, and damaged skin, a once-daily skin moisturizer can make all the difference in the world.
Try looking for a moisturizer with the following:
- A robust ingredient list. No amount of frills can replace powerful ingredients. Look for moisturizing creams with active ingredients like amino acids which can repair your skin from within.
- A product which was designed specifically for active men. Women’s products are also fantastic, but men and women have different skin needs. Look for a product which will give you the restorative power you need.
- The ability to penetrate skin and not just sit on the skin’s surface. So many men’s “moisturizers” are really just variations of petroleum jelly. That might keep moisture in for a bit, but it will not penetrate your skin and attack the problem at the source.
- Moisturizers should be non-greasy. Again, so many products are haphazardly put together because they are cheap to make. Quality moisturizers should be non-greasy, water-based, and absorb fully.
Simple Skin Care Routine for Men
Now let’s put this concept into action. Routine maintenance for hard-working hands needs to be easy, convenient, and effective. By building moisturization into your daily s*&#, shower, shave routine, you will soon forget that it is even an extra step. Here is an example of how you can make that work.
It is a long held standard that the three tenets of a quality skincare routine are cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. We recommend using your moisturizer directly after your shower for a few reasons. The first is that moisturizers absorb better when the skin is slightly damp. The second reason is that skin should be clean before you use hydrating cream to allow for maximum skin penetration.
High quality moisturizers will work both as hydrators for your skin and as toners. In other words, by using a quality moisturizing cream, you are knocking out 2 of the 3 daily recommended skincare steps. Throw in your daily shower, and you are all set! Your hands will be ready for work and play after about 15 seconds of effort.
HEFF is a Powerful Moisturizer to Repair, Restore, and Renew Damaged Skin
HEFF cream for hands, elbows and feet has been specifically formulated for working men. Harnessing the power of amino acids, our lotion is ideal for even the most dry, cracked skin. Think of once-daily HEFF as routine maintenance for your body. Shower, shave, apply daily moisturizing cream, and you are all set for a day of hard work or hard play.
For every tube of HEFF sold, we are proud to donate a tube to Operation Gratitude. This is a small way of giving back to the men and women who keep our country safe.
To find HEFF, shop on Amazon, find us at any of these national retailers, or contact us directly for more information today!