Washing your hands has taken on a new level of importance due to COVID-19. Afterall, hands can definitely spread germs from place to place. This has many people scrubbing their hands more than ever, oftentimes with harsh soaps that are full of chemicals. It’s important to remember, however, that the integrity and health of the skin on your hands needs to be protected. Your skin is a barrier against germs and it’s more critical than ever to protect and nurture it.
This means you’ll want to find a balance between keeping your hands clean, killing germs and protecting your skin. The following tips can help you stay safe without damaging your skin with over washing.
Use the right water temperature
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you use clean, warm or cold running water to wash your hands. It is not necessary or more beneficial to use very hot water. In fact, using very hot water can damage your skin and contribute to dry, cracking hands. This can be made worse by the number of times people find themselves washing their hands due to COVID-19 concerns. Stick to temperate or cool water.
Use the right cleanser
According to the CDC, washing your hands with simple soap and water is effective against the spread of germs, including COVID-19. This means it’s more important to follow the correct washing technique than it is to use any certain type of soap. So instead of going for super harsh, chemical-heavy soaps, stick to the basics and wash properly. This includes making sure you wash your hands frequently and at the right times, like before eating or after handling food.
Add moisture
When your skin is properly hydrated, it is less fragile and less prone to cracking. This can protect the integrity of your skin, which is an important barrier to keep out germs. It can be difficult to keep your hands moisturized if you’ve increased the level of washing. It’s also not convenient to continually add moisture by slathering your hands with thick lotions or creams. Your best bet is to use a light, convenient and effective method to soothe and moisturize your skin. Our Hand & Skin Cleanser is an easy to use option!
If you’re looking for more ways to keep your family clean through the pandemic, visit our family wellness page.