7 Tips to Keep Your Skin Healthy While Washing Your Hands Often
- Diligent handwashing may keep germs away, but it may also damage skin.
- Washing in warm water rather than hot can keep your hands from getting dry.
- Blotting rather than drying hands dry can keep abrasions from forming.
- Hand sanitizer can be used temporarily in place of washing when hands are extremely chapped.
With the COVID-19 outbreak, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are encouraging everyone to wash their hands frequently.
“Whether it be the rapidly escalating corona pandemic or just any given winter, handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of infections. Unfortunately, the very soaps and even wringing of hands underwater will also break down the barrier we are trying to protect,” Dr. Adam Friedman, professor of dermatology at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, told Healthline.
As we diligently wash hands more frequently than usual, skin experts share tips that can help keep your skin healthy.
Dr. Daniela Kroshinsky, director of pediatric dermatology and inpatient dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, says to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
“About the time it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, making sure to cover palms, backs of hands, fingers, in between fingers, wrists, and fingernails,” Kroshinsky told Healthline.
She said lukewarm water is best rather than hot.
“Very hot will eventually dry things out and doesn’t improve efficacy,” she said.
Lucy Xu, skin specialist and founder of London Premier Laser and Skin Clinics, agreed, noting that hot water strips your hands of any natural oils that it needs to stay waterproof.
“So if you can, use lukewarm water with plenty of soap,” she said.
Because many soaps can strip the skin and cause them to be dry and cracked, Xu says to wash your hands with soap that’s moisturizing.
“For example, a soap with a creamy consistency. You should also look out for soaps with ingredients such as glycerin and lanolin. Also, try to avoid soap bars,” Xu told Healthline.
Renée Rouleau, skin care expert and aesthetician, also suggested staying away from bar soaps.
“The binders that hold a bar of soap together naturally have a high pH, which will cause unnecessary dryness. Instead, choose liquid soaps since they are generally less drying to the skin,” Rouleau told Healthline.
Xu adds that no matter what type of soap you’re using, try not to be too aggressive when it comes to cleaning your hands.
“This is usually [due] to rushing. Try to be gentle as to not aggravate the skin,” she said.
