How can one keep their skin healthy while washing hands often?

Many of us are trying to do our part by washing hands diligently and regularly to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Impeccable hand hygiene is one of the most essential public health measures, however additional handwashing can lead to dry skin and hand dermatitis. People who have a history of eczema or are prone to dry skin are likely to develop dry and chapped hands.

What exactly is happening to your hands?

In case you did not know, intact skin acts as a protective barrier. When you expose your hands frequently to water and soap it diminishes the healthy fatty compounds in the top layer of the skin which results in an impaired skin barrier. Furthermore, the irritation and discomfort of dry hands could lead to an increased risk of skin infections.

What are some ways you can combat this problem and keep your skin healthy?

1. Wash your hands with lukewarm water with soap or hand sanitizer

For about 20 seconds, wash your hands thoroughly between your fingers and around the nails. As per CDC recommendation, the water temperature doesn’t necessarily affect the elimination of germs but extremely hot water can be more damaging to drying skin. If you don’t have access to soap and water, opt for a sanitizer liquid that holds moisturizing power. An additional tip, keep your nails trimmed to avoid trapping debris and germs.

2. Put moisturizerMoisturizer  is a cosmetic preparation used for protecting, moisturizing, and lubricating the skin. These functions are normally performed by sebum produced by healthy skin. They form a coating on the surface of the skin, keeping moisture from escaping.

Some of the other benefits are:

3. Apply skin balm

If you have skin issues such as eczema or psoriasis and your skin is becoming increasingly dry due to washing hands that often, apply vaseline. Put it directly onto your sored or dry areas.

Conclusion

In the end, we would like to say - repeat the aforementioned steps, preferably before bedtime. For extreme cases, apply moisturizer and then wear gloves as it can help further seal in moisture.