The Editors
Having dry, sandpaper-like hands is definitely one of the most annoying feelings; it is just as frustrating as chapped lips. The dry winter air often contributes to drying and cracking in many people’s hands. Another, less appealing, explanation for your sandpaper-like hands could just be that you are a teenager. Out of whack hormones usually make the body function improperly; this may contribute to certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies, such as a lack of iodine for your thyroid gland, which is often associated with dry skin. Make sure you check with a doctor about the condition of your thyroid before you decide to stock up on iodine.
If you are truly disturbed by your dry hands, there are measures you can take to reduce that sandpaper-like feeling. Limit the amount of hot showers you take; long hot showers break down the lipid barrier on the skin, which causes the skin to dry. Swimming in chlorinated pools also has the same effect. Stay away from harsh soaps and detergents, especially ones that are scented; these strip away lipids and water from your skin. To smooth out your hands, you can, before you go to bed, rub Vaseline on your hands and then put on cotton gloves— it may be uncomfortable to sleep like this all night though. You can also keep miniature bottles of medicated lotion in various places, which you may access throughout the day.
Don’t be distressed though; your hands will not stay dry forever. In the mean time, let your boyfriend know that you are trying to fix your dry hands. He will appreciate that you take the comments he makes seriously and are willing to go the extra mile for the relationship, even with a problem as simple as dry hands. However, make sure that you are doing all of this for yourself primarily. It is nice of you to consider his suggestions, but in the end this should be for your own benefit not his.