Are Washing Hands Leaving Your Skin Dry? Here's Some Solutions for You
Survive the Soap Scrub: Keep Your Hands Happy Amidst Germ-slaying Cleanliness
Keeping germs at bay during this COVID-19 crisis means throwing those 20-second sob-sesh songfests over the sink. All remembrances of birthday candy and buttercream dreams fade as you scrub your hands raw, stripping them of moisture, while the dry, flaky bits falling off make you look like the Sahara Desert packed a suitcase. But never fear, there's hope for your poor, cracked, and even a tad bleeding palms! Here's some expert advice from Susan Kline, nursing prodigy, on how to keep your hands happy without compromising your hand-washing rituals.
Choose Sensitive Suitors
In your quest for hydration, opt for gentle, often luxurious soaps that harbor shea butter, aloe, or jojoba oil to preserve your skin's delicate moisture barrier. Or select unassuming soaps with minimal ingredients that won't ravage your skin's oily goodness. Antibacterial soap? Nah, good ol' fashioned soap and water will do the trick.
Go Easy on the Towels
After rinsing, forgo the reckless rubbing in favor of gentle patting—a lighter touch means less friction, reducing irritation.
Soap vs. Sanitizer Showdown
Hand sanitizer, that trusty germ slayer, contains alcohol, a notorious skin dryer. If soap and water aren't an option, hand sanitizer's your next best bet. But stick to washing whenever possible, and thus bypass the hand sanitizer shortage quandaries.
Lotion Love
Follow soap time with hand cream, pronto! Apply it while your hands are damp to seal in the moisture and ward off dryness. Remember, laziness doesn't have a place at the moisturizing table.
Scent-ive Skin Solutions
If your skin is particularly sensitive, stay away from scented lotions and soaps. These bad boys may contain chemicals that can cause irritation, aggravating your already parched palms.
Oil Betrayal
If lotion's just not cutting it, give coconut or olive oil a try. Weird? A bit. But your hands will get the relief they deserve. And yes, the lingering scent might suggest you're about to make guacamole, but beauty is pain... or smell?
Hot Water Heartbreak
Hot water may seduce you with its soothing appeal, but don't be fooled! It strips your skin of its natural oils at a rapid pace. Opt for warm water or even cooler water to maintain your moisture barrier.
Medicated Mission
If regular cracking, bleeding, oozing, redness, swelling, or extreme dryness reigns supreme on your pulp, it's time to gripe to your doc about a prescription medicated cream. These symptoms can sometimes indicate skin conditions like eczema, which require specialized treatment.
Stay Hydrated
Even a hint of dehydration can wreak havoc on that dry, desert landscape that was once your hand. Struggling with plain water? Infuse it with fresh fruit to jazz things up.
Caffeinated Companion
Salute, coffee lovers! That saccharine pop of caffeine clinging to your taste buds isn't as desiccating as myths portray. While it may be a diuretic, it'll help you stay hydrated, too.
Glove It Up
Quench your hands' thirst for protection by slipping on gloves in various situations. Be it frosty air, hot dishwater, or a luxurious spa session—gloves got your back!
Spa-cation, At-home Edition
Why let a global pandemic cramp your style? Pour thick lotion all over your hands, wear spa gloves to let nourishment seep deep, and savor that at-home spa experience while self-imposed quarantine reigns.
Pandemic Alert
Keep your facts as up-to-date as possible during this ever-evolving pandemic. Remember, these guidelines are reliable as of the publishing date, but accuracy can change. You can stay informed by checking up on reputable resources like Public Health Seattle King County or Washington State Department of Health.
Incorporate science into your hand care routine by choosing gentle soaps that contain skin-friendly ingredients like shea butter, aloe, or jojoba oil, which are beneficial for skin health-and-wellness. Additionally, pay attention to your nutrition and stay hydrated to support your skin's overall health and fitness-and-exercise.
