Taking Care of your Clean Hands

If you are like me you are washing your hands more frequently during the day. This simple step can help reduce the spread of the Covid-19m virus, especially if you are out in the public, at work or in an environment with other people. As some of you have probably figured out, frequent hand washing can irritate and damage your skin.

Frequent handwashing can strip your skin of the natural oils that prevent dryness and cracked skin.

So here are a few tips to help you protect your skin and counteract the effects of frequent handwashing.

Reduce the temperature when you wash your hands. Do not use scolding hot water. Try to avoid antibacterial cleansers, as they are not useful in preventing infectious disease. They often contain chemicals and fragrance which can irritate and damage your skin.

Disinfectants for cleaning surfaces are effective against gems, but these products are not good for your skin. So be careful and wear gloves when you use cleaning solutions.

So what to you do to combat skin damage and dryness as a result of frequent handwashing/

Use a good moisturizer that is free of fragrance, dye, preferably one that is hypoallergenic. If you have to travel keep a tube, bottle or small jar in your car. In your office, workspace or home keep it next to the bathroom and kitchen sinks. Make sure when you wash your hands you apply lotion or a moisturizer. This simple step will lock in moisturizer that your skin needs.

You can also mix products together such as product like Almond oil and lotion with. If you have already experienced cracked, broken skin, you might consider vitamin E ointment. Whatever product you choose, make sure you use it regularly to protect and maintain the moisture level your hands need to prevent irritated cracked dry skin.