Hands ruined by work? Not necessarily!

For those who perform certain tasks, damaged hands are considered almost an unavoidable ‘side effect’. Mechanics, farmers, electricians, metalworkers and builders are some of the professionals who put their hands to the test, taking it for granted that they have to deal with dryness, wrinkles, calluses and dirt that is almost impossible to remove from fingerprints, nails or skin folds.

It is the desire to achieve their goals that drives these workers to always give their all to their profession, never backing down even in the face of the most difficult challenges. Moreover, it is through constant commitment ‘in the field’ that their skills can grow, creating a solid career and good financial security. In short, for true professionals, giving up is impossible, not even in the face of those daily ‘fights’ in which their hands are involved in dangerous risks to their integrity.

The skin that is ruined because it is always on the front line at work is considered by many to be a symbol of the commitment and dedication channelled into one’s job: they are there to remind one of the daily sacrifices, made for oneself and for those one loves, and that fatigue that can lead to great satisfaction.

But is it really necessary to resign oneself to the consequences of mistreated skin? Today, it is possible to totally rethink the approach to hand health, thanks to new discoveries and cutting-edge research, which have led to the formulation of products specifically designed for the skin of working people.

Indeed, there are many problems that can arise when the epidermis is excessively neglected: while imperfect skin can be a sign of tenacity and willpower, occupational dermatological diseases must be avoided at all costs if one wishes to keep one’s productive capacity and ability to work intact.

 

Skin problems: really unavoidable?

Professionals who, like you, use their hands as a key tool of their job tend to underestimate skin care, but today it has become increasingly easy to keep your hands in optimal condition, without having to put the advancement of your career alongside a constant deterioration of their situation.

In fact, the need to feel confident with presentable, clean and soft hands, for a handshake or a caress, is becoming more and more common: the solutions to achieve this today are there and they are more and more numerous.

In fact, in step with the evolution that has undoubtedly also characterised your profession, strategies to preserve the well-being of your hands and products to treat the skin during cleansing, protection and restore have also evolved. Research has identified and fine-tuned formulations dedicated to professionals and their specific needs, which enable the epidermis to avoid unnecessary stress, discomfort and health problems.

Professional creams for workers are characterised by specific formulations that take the best of chemistry to provide you with tailor-made products that are truly effective for your job. Borrowing simple moisturising creams or similar products is no longer necessary: it is something you certainly do not like to do, either because they are almost always products designed for a different need or because they are not specific to your problem.

By turning instead to professional hand care products, you can be sure that you are entrusting your health and your ability to work to truly effective propositions. But why is it so important to care for your hands? And what are the consequences they can suffer?

 

What happens to working hands?

At work, your hands are constantly exposed to stress factors such as irritating chemicals, harsh weather conditions, ultraviolet radiation or frequent washing with aggressive detergents. These stimulations undermine the integrity of the hydrolipidic film that lines the surface of the skin, causing it to lose moisture and elasticity and reducing its ability to protect itself against exogenous aggressions, bacteria and unfavourable climatic agents.

Fortunately, the skin has an extraordinary capacity to react and is able in most cases to remedy treatments that are not exactly gentle and respectful of its physiological needs. But it has a point of no return, beyond which it is not always able to return to its initial condition. In these cases, the epidermis starts to become dry, reddened, flaky and inflamed, jeopardising the efficiency of your number one working tool.

Have you ever stopped to think about the consequences of neglected skin? Dry hands may seem like a minor ailment, but when your skin is left without nourishment and protection, it actually exposes you to even serious health consequences. Simple dryness can turn into real dehydration, with deep cracks, wrinkles, cuts and fissures, a particularly painful and disabling phenomenon. In winter, the condition can worsen due to low temperatures, while in summer, UV rays can exacerbate dry conditions, but also accelerate skin ageing, oxidation and cell damage.

Skin without a surface barrier is also more susceptible to attack by pathogens, such as viruses, fungi and bacteria. In addition, the chemicals you use at work are often capable of causing eczema, contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis, with fissuring, scaling and the formation of itchy blisters.

These are undoubtedly unpleasant situations that, in addition to heavily impacting on your daily work capacity, also negatively affect the way you relate to those around you.

 

How to support damaged hands?

Already during your work shift, take appropriate precautions: for example, wear protective gloves and wash your hands frequently using only non-aggressive products. You can also effectively shield your skin by using protective creams tailored to the work you do, defending them against oily substances, the risk of maceration or UV radiation, for example.

There are also extra moisturising creams designed for those who subject their hands to strenuous activity every day, such as Protexem Rinnova. Their mission is to regenerate extremely dry and damaged hands, immediately relieving the symptoms of dehydration. The formula of Protexem Rinnova is moisturising and emollient and can be applied to both hands and face: thanks to its nourishing ingredients, it stimulates skin regeneration and restores the skin’s natural protective film.

The effect of this hand care product is obviously complementary to that of adequate prevention. You cannot neglect your hands and rely solely on the regenerating effect of moisturising creams: to keep your skin soft and healthy, you must follow the best practices for gentle cleansing and skin protection on a daily basis, combining these with the application of a nourishing cream whenever you feel the need.

Would you like more information about our hand care products? Contact us!