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Coronavirus and Handwashing

Constant hand washing and harsh cleansers and sanitizers can cause your skin to become dry, cracked and irritated.  This is a problem, since cracked skin is more prone to developing infections and letting in germs.  Here are six easy steps to keep your hands baby soft during this coronavirus pandemic—and beyond.

 

We’re all washing our hands a lot right now—and rightly so!  Frequent hand washing is key to the prevention of spreading the coronavirus.  The CDC recommends that you wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

 

All of this hand washing is vital, and lifesaving, and you have to keep doing it.  But if you don’t’ want your hands to suffer, you should practice some (or all) of the following tips for keeping your hands supple, hydrated and baby soft during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

 Keep Your Hands Baby Soft

1. Moisturize Your Hands After Every Washing

Soaps and hand sanitizers contain ingredients that can be harsh and drying on your hands.  After you’ve washed your hands, always try to follow up with a moisturizer.  As a general rule, ointments or creams are better than lotions at providing protection for extra dry and over-washed hands.  Don’t be scared of trying something thicker on your hands.

I love Neutrogena Norwegian Hand Formula.  It looks like an ointment when you squeeze it out, but turns into a soothing and ultra-softening cream once you start to rub it in.  I carry small tubes of this stuff in my coat while I’m seeing patients, and when I use it regularly, it really does help.

2. Use Warm Water, Not Hot

I get it: You want to obliterate the germs on your hands to kingdom come, right?  The important thing is washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.  You don’t have to scald yourself to kill the germs on your hands!

 

Hot water can make your skin drier and worsen inflammation.  If you’re using hot water to wash your hands, try switching to luke-warm water instead.

3. Use Fragrance Free and Dye Free Products

If you have sensitive skin, are prone to eczema or have very cracked and inflamed skin, it’s better to use fragrance free and dye free moisturizers on your hands.  Fragrances and dyes may increase your risk for skin irritation.  Look for products that are hypoallergenic and clearly say that they are fragrance free.

 

Cerave Therapeutic Hand Cream is a nice fragrance-free option for dry hands.  It contains ceramides that can help your hands maintain their natural barrier, and hyaluronic acid, which helps your skin retain moisture.

 

4. Use Moisturizer After Hand Sanitizer

Many of us are using hand sanitizers now, especially when we are on the go.  Essential workers are using them a lot too, especially when soap and water are not readily available.  To keep your hands baby soft, try to apply a moisturizer after you apply hand sanitizer.  It’s important to let the hand sanitizer dry completely though, before you apply your moisturizer.

 

5. Sleep in Cotton Gloves

Try putting a rich petrolatum or mineral based ointment on our hands before bed.  Aquaphor Healing Ointment is my favorite.  Once your hands are well coated, put on a pair of white cotton gloves like these.  In the morning, when you remove your gloves, your hands will be baby soft and feel like butter.

 

 

6. Use a Hand Mask

Like beauty masks for our faces, hand masks work to bathe your hands in rejuvenating moisture and can help soothe irritated dry hands.  If you’ve been washing your hands a lot, try to do a hand mask once a week.

Aveeno CICA Hand Masks contains shea butter and prebiotic oat to soothe and nourish your dry hands.  This is an all in one treatment.  The moisturizer is in the gloves, so all you have to do is slide the gloves on, turn on some Netflix, and chill.