The Washington times., 1902-12-14
Winter Trouble With the
Hands-Chapped Surface a
Common Affection Among
Women Some Practical
Suggestions. X u u -

lH SKIN OF ire uaula. Ike ludN b
OF the surface senorelly, has two chief
layers. a superficial called the epider-
mis-. and a deeper layer known as the
true skin. The latter is very richly
supplied with blood vessels: these are
absena from the epidermis. which has
to depend for its nutriment on the lymph
exuded by the vessels lying below it. .
TO a great extent the skin is kept .
supple by the secreuons Of the tiny
sweat and sebaceous glands whose ducts
open uDon it's surface.
Why Chronic Redness Appears.
The pa!mar aspect Of the hand is the .
more vascular. and here. too, the skin
glands are more numerous. Hence the /
palm seldom suffers by the action OF
cold so greatly as does the back Of
the hand. Ordinaril- the smallest YES
sells carrying nutrient blood, and styled
oapillaries, are In a state Of tonic con-
traction. They are capable Of dilating.
and Of becoming diminished in caIiber.
Ordinarily also their contents do not
render the skin red. The repeated ap-
phcation OF any irritant may occasioy
a permanent dilation, and hence chronic
redness may obtain. However. our
attention must be confined to the action
OF cold
Its first effect is always to contract
the capillaries. This contracted state
may be so transient as to escape no
tice- II may be known by the skin
become whittier. Upon the scarf skin
cold acts as an astringeut How this
occasions roughness and chapping may
be understood by considering the fol-
lowing facts:
How "ChaPped Hands" Are Caused.
The lymph exuded from the capH-
laries for the nutrition Of the scarf
skin does not run in vessels, but pene-
trates between the scarf skin cells in
manner not unlike that in which
water or any other fluid. when thrown
on a heap Of sand. will find a way be-
tween the grains. q. When the epidermis
contracts these permeable channels get
SO narrow here and there that no fluid
can pass. Heuee the skin becomes dry
and rough Further contraction causes
it to crack, the assure being termed
chap"
Side b. side with this we get the white
ness Of the skin changed to a deep red.
due to the fact that the cold temporarily
paralyzes the caDillaries. allowing their
dilatauon and depriving them OF contrae-
tile power. That which will follow exees-
sive degrees Of cold need not be consid-
cred here.
Action Of a Dry Wind
Before passing to treatment, I may
point OFT that dry wind. when it's action
is not negauved by heat, removes skin
moisture just as It removes tine moisture
from clothes hung out to dry. Hence
such a wind may give rise to skin rough
ness.
Take equal parts OF lanoline, almond
OIL camphorated oil and lard Melt the
lanoliue and lard. then mix all the in
yredisnts into a cream. Apply this freely
before retiring, and. without any prior
wiping Of the hands. don a large pair Of
leather OF kid gloves. This will prevent
and remove all ehappiDg and roughness.
but viii not render tse skin white.
Kitchen Work and the Hands.
The domestic worker is in far worse
position with regard to the hands than
is one not so occupied Strongly aka
line soaps. such as are used for cleans
ing floors and utensils. cause the scarf
skin to perish. Strong soda water has
very similar action The hot, greasy
water in which the hands are plunged
when washing dishes -lmpreenated. too.
with such irritants as vinegar and mus
tard-is markedly iaimical to beauty
and skin
Indeed. the woman Of all work is en-
Raged from The time Of her rising 20 that
Of her resung-when that rare event is
attaincd-lu a series OF involuntary eI-
forts % make the hands red and other
wise unslrhtly.
An Excellent Remedy.
II a cheap dressing be required one
may be prepared as follows. Take one
desscrtspoonful Of the best white bitter
almonds in fine powder. am not speak
ing Of the ground almonds sold at the
shops for culinary purposes. Make into
paste with one wineglassfui Of water.
Boil for two minutes. Stir In one tea
spoonful Of borax. Remove from the
Ere and strain through linen.
shake up the strained fluid with one
dessertspoonfuI OF chalk IN powder
strain again. Mix two teaspoonfuls Of
simple tincture Of benzoin, two Of tine
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