- Frequently washing hands with soap and water can protect against COVID-19
- On the other hand, too much hand washing can cause dryness and cracks on your skin
- Make sure to moisturize and hydrate your skin with a thick moisturizer to get rid of dry and flaky skin overnight
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Sara Hogan, MD, a dermatologist at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, shares some best practices on how to treat signs of over-washing like pain, redness, flaking and itching.
Why is handwashing so harsh on our skin?
The outermost layer of our skin is composed of oils and wax, and it acts as both a shield from the outside and a guard that maintains natural moisture in the skin. This natural barrier is broken down by the suds created by soap while washing hands, which does not discriminate between unwanted oil, germs, debris and natural oils in the skin. Not applying hand cream can lead to dryness, redness, itching, flaking, discomfort and in severe cases, cracks in the skin. Those with preexisting dermatologic conditions like eczema can experience worsening symptoms.
How should we wash our hands to avoid skin dryness?
Are there any ingredients people should avoid when their skin is chapped?
Are there common misconceptions about what to look for in hand creams?
Use hand ointment or cream instead of a lotion as these are more effective. Petrolatum (Vaseline) is still the most effective moisturizer out there.
Are there other treatments besides hands creams that people should consider?
At nighttime before going to bed, apply thick moisturizer and then cover with cotton gloves to increase absorption. Beauty product junkies can consider a moisturizing mask for hands. These glove-like masks are applied for 20 minutes, then washed off. Consider a humidifier at night—raising the humidity level in a room can help dry skin.
Reference:
- COVID-19: How to care for dry hands after washing them so much - (https://www.uclahealth.org/covid-19-how-to-care-for-dry-hands-after-washing-them-so-much)
Source-Newswise