We all know how important it is for our skin to be moisturised! But how many of us take care to do this every day? Not many I bet! I’m the same. It’s usually only when I’m getting extremely dry hands or rough elbows that I realise I’ve been slack in applying moisturizer.
My dermatologist recommends I use a soap-free hand wash and then apply moisturizer every time after washing my hands. With a toddler around, that’s a huge amount of applications a day! And he also said to wear rubber gloves for any washing activity. That’s an even harder habit to start for me!! But I must admit it does help with the dermatitis I tend to get under my wedding ring.
So how about you join me in a 28 day challenge to have caring hands (not neglected hands)! 28 days of applying a moisturizer to your hands twice a day. Morning and night!
If we do that morning and night for 28 days we should have formed a new habit of caring for our hands (as it takes 21 days of repeating an action to create a new habit). And we’ll have super soft, beautifully smooth hands!
So get out your calendar/diary (or app if you prefer digital) and mark in those two times a day with a check box to tick for the next 28 days. Or download my Caring hands calendar to use.
Then grab your bottles of moisturizer (I know you probably have more than one!) and put it in a place where you will remember it during the day.
This could be your bedside table – do it when you wake and before you go to sleep. Or place next to bathroom sink for when you wash your hands. (My dermatologist said to put one in every place where you will wash your hands). Even pop a small one in your handbag!
Now what type of moisturizer should it be? You want a non-greasy formulation, that is pleasant smelling and won’t have you cursing the idea of putting on moisturizer immediately afterwards. I personally used to love Nourish from Jamberry! It is so smoothing and the scent is not too overpowering. It’s available in a 4 oz and 8 oz size.But for the 28 day challenge use what you have at home. I probably have a half a dozen different tubes around the place from various presents, and I will use them all up. I also keep some of the small mini sizes in my handbag! (Though be careful with the metal tubes one. My latest one sprang a leak from the seams and coated some of the contents of my bag, Not pleasant!) If you would like some suggestions on moisturisers, check the link down the bottom of the page. But for the 28 day challenge use what you have at home. If you stick to the challenge you will be going through your old stash fairly quickly.
Comment below if you are joining me to have Caring hands- pop in your start day and then come back and let us know how you went after 28 days.
I’ve already applied my first lot! Now to print off my planner, as I need that accountability. Say yes to caring hands!
As a person with Multiple Sclerosis I have often found myself in situations where it is difficult explaining just how I feel and what it can be like to have this illness. There have been many analogies used to describe this and other chronic illnesses, in particular the fatigue part. Some days I feel it is like trying to move my limbs through deep wet cement. But my absolute favourite would have to be defining myself as a Spoonie, based on the Spoon Theory.
Using the Spoon theory to explain how I am feeling on any day is a lot easier than any other way I’ve tried in my 12 years with MS. It allows my friends to know that even though I may keenly want to meet up with them, but that my body used up all the day’s energy on simply having a shower and washing my hair. They know on a low spoon today to not expect too much from me, as even mental processing is slower on those days. And it’s at those times that my dear friends keep a close eye on me to see I’m not pushing myself through it all and over doing it, as they know I’ll feel even worse come the next day!
So I’m proud to call myself a Spoonie! My disease doesn’t define me, but being a Spoonie allows me to share with others a little bit of what my life can be like.
