What to Do When Hand Washing Causes Dryness and Worse
How often are you washing your hands these days? Most of us have found ourselves hitting the sink or the sanitizer far more often than we used to, and some people are realizing how much damage all that scrubbing can do to their hands. Have your hands become dry, cracked or even started bleeding? Have you developed red spots or itchy patches? Most people are over-washing their hands to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. But over-washing can lead to a loss of skin oils, which can cause dry, cracked, irritated and even bleeding skin. We have some tips that may help.
Practicing Good Hand Hygiene
Our hands have it hard enough with seasonal dryness as we come out of the winter months and everything else we put them through. Now, with the fear of catching the coronavirus looming over all of us, many people are compounding the damage with extra handwashing. Current conditions demand great hand hygiene, and it’s essential to protecting your home — so handwashing isn't up for debate here, it really is the best choice. But as vital as it is to keep your hands clean, it’s also important to understand how it can affect the skin of your hands and how to help them when they become irritated.
The Effects of Soap and Water
Soap works by removing the protective layer of lipids from the surfaces of viruses, which inactivates them and reduces their ability to infect a person. That same process strips the oils from the skin, though. When we wash our hands multiple times throughout the day, as most of us are doing right now, this can lead to progressive skin damage — but catching it early can really help.
Some signs that hand washing is taking its toll include:
- Dry, cracked skin
- Redness or rash
- Scaly, rough or thickened skin
- Sensitivity (itchiness, stinging, burning) aggravated by washing
Repeated irritation may even worsen skin conditions, such as eczema, so it’s important not to ignore damage and to treat the problems early.
Symptoms of eczema can include:
- Burning, itching skin
- Deep cracks
- Blisters and crusts
- Pus, bleeding and weeping
- Scaly patches
If you’re seeing the effects, you may need to take extra care to prevent further damage from occurring.
Protecting Your Hands
Protective measures can help beat the problems before they seat. Try these:
- Start by using cool or lukewarm water. Hot water can strip away oils, leading to further dryness.
- Be picky about your soap. Use a pH-balanced cleanser that contains added conditioners.
- Use the least amount of cleanser possible to get your hands clean.
- Avoid scratching irritated skin; that could make it worse.
- Apply a moisturizer after thoroughly drying hands with a clean towel.
- Alternate handwashing with applications of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which may be slightly less damaging to the skin’s lipid layer.
- Look for salves. Salves are often more soothing than lotions or moisturizers. Those with calendula may be especially helpful.
For severely dry skin, use a moisturizer at night, along with cotton gloves, to restore the lipid layer and help the skin heal. Moisturizing products to look for include those containing ceramides, phytolipids, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe. You can also use petroleum jelly for a cheaper alternative.
It’s important to keep hands clean, especially when you’re trying to avoid a pandemic. Keep them healthy by being as gentle as possible when you wash them and don’t forget to moisturize regularly. It might seem like a small step, one you might want to skip for the sake of time, but the long-term health of your skin is worth the added effort.
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