Welcome to dry skin season. The cold air is relentless at the best of times, but during a pandemic that continues to spur constant handwashing, cracked, scaly skin is nearly unavoidable.
We have rounded up three ways you can incorporate hydration into nail services that will aid in the parched skin debacle.
1. Ingredients Matter
While it is always important to be aware of the ingredients found in the products used in your salon, during the winter months, label reading is even more vital. According to an article from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), products with hyaluronic acid are great for moisturizing dry skin.
Joyce Davis, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York City, was quoted in the article as saying, “Using hyaluronic acid in body products is new. Hyaluronic acid absorbs 1,000 times its weight in water, but until recently, it was primarily used in products for the face." Other ingredients that work well for dry skin are jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum and shea butter.
The article also suggests that ointments and creams from a tube or tub are often thicker formulations than those in a bottle with a pump, making these products a good choice for added moisture.
2. Invest in a Humidifier
Indoor heating has a nasty habit of sucking the moisture out of the air. Utilizing a humidifier near your service station can help return some of that moisture that your clients’ skin craves. In fact, Harvard Health Publishing recommends setting the humidifier to around 60% to help replenish the top layer of the epidermis.
3. Short Soaks for Moisturized Folks
The AAD also suggests shortening the time that skin is in contact with water. When soaking feet for a pedicure, limit the soak to five minutes, using warm (not hot) water. According to the AAD, after the feet are removed from the water, leave your client’s skin a little damp, and then apply a moisturizing cream or ointment. Applying the moisturizer within five minutes of the soak will help seal in moisture.
