In the face of the current Coronavirus outbreak, regular hand-washing has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to protect your health. This rigorous hygiene routine can be tough on skin, however — frequent exposure to drying soaps, along with hand sanitizers and household disinfectants, often results in raw, cracked hands. Luckily, there are some simple measures you can take to help prevent overdrying.
- Wear gloves while disinfecting surfaces with cleaning products. While the sanitizing ingredients in EPA-registered disinfecting wipes and sprays are ideal for getting rid of viruses, they can be extremely damaging to hands. Protect your skin with gloves whenever possible.
- Avoid harsh soaps with antibacterial and antiseptic ingredients, if possible. According to global health experts, a gentler hand soap will get the job done with much less irritation to skin, so long as you follow the recommended hand-washing technique. (Learn more about effective hand-washing.)
- Moisturize your hands after each wash. Choose a deeply emollient moisturizer that’s 100% free of artificial fragrances and other skin-irritating ingredients, like our Enriched Moisture Crème. Once your hands are clean, pat them dry with a fresh paper towel, and then apply generously to hands. Allow the moisturizer to absorb before touching any potentially contagious surfaces.
- Use a barrier repair treatment 1-2 times a day. To quickly restore and protect dry hands, incorporate a clinical-strength replenishing serum like Vita Soothe or Lipid Drops which help fortify the damaged skin. Apply the serum to clean hands AM and/or PM, then follow with moisturizer.
Keeping the skin of your hands in good condition isn’t just for the sake of appearance. In fact, it’s an integral part of proper hand hygiene. Maintaining skin’s barrier integrity helps prevent pain, itching, and infection — and may give COVID-19 fewer microscopic skin crevices in which to hide. Follow the tips above to keep your hands supple and resilient as you follow appropriate health precautions for yourself and loved ones.
