While washing your hands a hundred times a day to prevent the spread of the coronavirus begins to seriously irritate the skin, Why Doctor provides some advice here to relieve your cracks.
- During the Covid-19 epidemic it is essential to wash your hands often
- But too much hand washing can lead to skin damage
- One can use an antibacterial moisturizer, moisturizing creams … or wear gloves to protect oneself
“Wash your hands regularly”, we hear all day long since the appearance of the coronavirus at the end of December. Indeed, thorough hand washing with hydroalcoholic gels or soap and water is one of the best ways to slow the spread of infectious diseases. However, for people with particularly dry skin or skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, washing your hands too much can lead to extremely painful lesions. However, even for individuals with healthy skin, excessive use of soap or hand sanitizers can lead to dryness, even cracking or cracking. How to avoid these inconveniences?
1/ Dry your hands well
After washing your hands, it is essential to dry them well. Not only are germs more easily transmitted between wet hands, but the water also has a drying effect on the skin. She “reduces the skin’s natural oils as it evaporates, damaging the skin barrier”explains Dr Zainab Laftah, consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, at Medical News Today.
2/ Wash your hands with a moisturizer?
People with pre-existing skin conditions can wash their hands with a moisturizer containing an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine or benzalkonium chloride. One “moisturizer that foams can act as a soap substitute and will be less drying on the hands; therefore, those with cracked skin may find it more soothing”, also recalls Zainab Laftah. However, a recent study would have reported that “hand sanitizers containing these biocidal ingredients were less effective than alcohol-based hand gels in eradicating coronavirus”, she says. Be careful not to take any risks.
3/ Apply an emollient after a classic hand wash and throughout the day
Moisturizers or emollients help repair damaged outer skin and retain moisture inside. When the skin on your hands begins to crack, get into the habit of applying moisturizer to them after each wash. While oatmeal, petroleum jelly or urea products are very effective, cocoa, shea or lanolin butter are also good options. Just like coconut oil, castor or lemon juice. Repeat the process throughout the day.
4/ Wear gloves as often as possible
If your hands are perpetually dry and sore, some specialists recommend applying an emollient to your hands overnight while wearing cotton gloves. When washing dishes or cleaning, protect your hands by wearing latex or rubber gloves. Finally, in order to avoid exposure to external elements such as the cold, the wind or even the sun, wear gloves when you go out. This will allow you to avoid contamination with metro bars or door handles touched by people infected with the coronavirus.
5/ Think of grandma’s recipes
A homemade cream composed of natural honey, olive oil and powdered clay can be very effective in some people. Apply it at bedtime. A mixture of coconut oil, shea butter, two tablespoons of sweet almond vegetable oil, 15 drops of essential oils and two tablespoons of borage oil (a preservative replaceable with vitamin E or wheat germ oil) can also work wonders.
6/ Exfoliate once a week
Finally, exfoliating your hands once a week will allow you to eliminate dead skin. For example, you can rub them with coffee grounds, powdered milk, baking soda…
.