With the COVID-19 outbreak, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are recommending that everyone adhere to hygiene rules.
Washing your hands frequently is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of infections. Unfortunately, it can also cause dryness and roughness of the epidermis.
Frequent use of the antibacterial gel can damage the skin of the hands. How can I fix it?
Frequent use of cleansers, especially those containing alcohol, can have negative effects on our hands, leading to excessive drying, cracking and peeling of the skin. Long-term use of the antibacterial gel may irritate the skin and, in extreme cases, may lead to itching.
Strong cleansing agents and even plain water temporarily damage the skin’s protective barrier by washing away the “barrier lipids” and thus open the way to the deeper layers of the skin for chemicals that can damage it.
It is easy to get infected in cracked skin without a protective hydrolipid layer.
The damaged protective layer must be rebuilt, so it is worth reaching for hand creams. Cream hand care protects the skin against water loss, and facilitates and accelerates the absorption of nutrients. We recommend hand care with cream, lotion, vegetable oil or natural butter.
It is important to wash your hands thoroughly and for a long time with the correct, non-irritating soap.
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to slow the spread of infectious diseases.
Coronavirus – watch your hands
It is also important not to touch your face with your hands. Mainly due to virus infection, but also due to the preservatives contained in antibacterial gels, soaps and hand creams. Transferring them to the face may cause contact irritation of the facial skin, sensitization, allergies, and exacerbation of already existing dermatological diseases. The consequence may even be a chronic sensitization of the facial skin, with which we will stay for many years
Washing your hands carefully can keep germs and bacteria out, but it can also dry out your skin
How to wash your hands:
Wash your hands with warm water
Warm or lukewarm water is better for our epidermis than cold. Very hot water should be avoided as it may harm the skin. Hands should be washed for at least 30 seconds, remembering every part of the hand and the corners of the nails.
Use non-irritating soap
Many soaps can dry out and crack the epidermis. It is worth choosing those with the addition of plant extracts, without strong chemicals and preservatives. Even for people with healthy skin, overuse of soaps and disinfectants can cause dryness and cracking of the skin. Chemical soaps can cause irritating dermatitis on the hands, which appears as dry, scaly, itchy red skin, especially in the spaces between the fingers and ankles.
Dry your hands thoroughly
It is worth remembering that germs are easier to transfer between wet hands. It is best to dry your hands with a disposable paper towel. If we use cotton towels in the bathroom, it is worthwhile for each household member to have their own. When drying your hands, you should not rub them too much, as it may cause micro-injuries on the surface of the epidermis.
Apply creams, balms, oils or natural butters to your hands.
The use of creams and lotions with moisturizing properties is essential in alleviating disorders that compromise the skin barrier. Moisturizers restore the barrier function of the epidermis, soothe the skin and improve its appearance. Additionally, they protect the skin against water loss.
