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Hands get a lot of abuse throughout the day, particularly when they're engaged in hard, dirty jobs that leave skin dry and cracked. Coming home with hands that are filthy and dried out can lead to long-term skin problems, but you can help reverse the condition. Restoring your hands to a clean, moisturized state is not difficult to do with the right products and techniques.

Mix a cup of oatmeal and a cup of milk together until it turns into a paste, then rub it on your hands to remove dirt and stains. The mixture will also help soothe dry, cracked skin. You can also try mixing a tablespoon of olive oil with an equal amount of sugar to get any additional grit out of your hands.

Rinse your hands in water and then rub them with dry baking soda, which absorbs odors. Rinse the hands again to remove the baking soda.

Wash your hands with warm water and soap, and use a towel to pat the skin partially dry.

Use a topical cortisone cream on any itchy patches of skin for five to 15 days.

Coat your hands with a cream moisturizer and rub the moisturizer until it disappears, which will soothe and moisten cracked skin. Use hand creams with vitamins A and E, which are nutrients your skin needs.