As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb, health officials have been urging Americans to wash their hands at every opportunity. Hand washing is critical to the effort to stop the spread of the virus. However, a side effect of frequent hand washing is dry skin that can flake, itch, crack and even bleed, say dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology, making people more susceptible to germs and other bacteria. Fortunately, there are simple precautions you can take to avoid excessive dryness due to hand washing:
1. Wash your hands using lukewarm water. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure to get between your fingers and around your nails. Always wash your hands after using the restroom, visiting a public place, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
2. Moisturize immediately after washing your hands. Moisturizing while your hands are still slightly damp helps lock in the moisture on your skin. Wash your hands, pat them dry, and then rub a pea-sized amount of moisturizer over your hands. Make sure to get the product onto the tips of your fingers, as that area can be prone to dryness and cracking.
3. Use moisturizers that contain mineral oil or petrolatum. Look for moisturizing ointments and creams (the ones you squeeze out of a tube), as these are more effective than lotions you pump out of a bottle. Fragrance and dye-free products are less irritating. If more relief is needed for extremely dry skin, dab petroleum jelly on your hands and put on cotton gloves before bed. This will lock in moisture all night.
4. When soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer, followed by moisturizer. The CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer made with at least 60% alcohol to effectively kill germs. Since these can be drying, it’s important to moisturize afterwards to maintain hydration. However, after applying hand sanitizer, make sure your hands dry completely before applying the moisturizer. Try to use only soap and water at home, and save the hand sanitizer for when you don’t have that option.
5. Don’t believe everything you hear or see online. Contrary to statements being made on social media, using moisturizer after washing your hands does not negate your hand-washing efforts, and there is no evidence that using hand sanitizer makes you more vulnerable to infections or viruses.
Even if your hands are dry, you should continue to wash them, as doing so can remove harmful bacteria and viruses. If moisturizing after hand washing does not relieve your dry skin issues, call for an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist at Warrenton Dermatology, as you may require a prescription cream or ointment. Dry skin can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as eczema, and a dermatologist can give you a proper diagnosis.
Source: American Academy of Dermatology
