One of the steps to prevent the spread of the Corona virus is to wash your hands regularly. However, frequent hand washing can sometimes cause the skin to become dry, even irritated, sore, and hurt. Then, what is the solution?
Washing your hands with soap can make your hands clean. However, if this is often done as an effort to prevent infection with the Corona virus, the skin on your hands can dry, peel, crack, blister, and even rashes and sores develop.
These problems usually occur on the backs of the hands and between the fingers, because the skin in these areas is thinner than the skin on the palms. In addition, the above complaints are also more often experienced by people who have sensitive skin or have experienced contact dermatitis.
Solutions to Overcome Dry Hand Skin due to Frequent Hand Washing
Overcoming dry skin doesn't mean you have to wash your hands less. After all, washing your hands properly is very important to protect you from infection with germs, especially when we are facing the Corona virus outbreak like now.
nowSo, to keep your skin healthy even though you wash your hands often, do the following tips:
1. Don't just choose soap
So that the skin of your hands does not dry out easily, you need to be careful in choosing hand soap. Choose soaps that can provide moisture to the skin, such as those containing glycerin and lanolin.
In addition, you should choose liquid soap instead of bar soap, because bar soap usually has a high pH which can dry out your skin.
2. Don't use hot water
To wash your hands, just use plain water, because warm or hot water is easier to remove the natural oils on your skin. In fact, the oil functions to keep water in the layers of the skin, so that the skin remains moist.
Also, the hotter the water, the more likely it is to irritate your hands. If the weather is cold and you can't stand the cold because you wash your hands often, you can use lukewarm water.
3. Dry hands properly
After washing your hands, dry your hands properly. Avoid rubbing cloth, towels, or tissue into the skin of your hands. Just gently pat your hands so they don't blister or sting, especially if your skin is sensitive and easily injured.
Dry your hands with a clean, dry cloth, towel, or tissue. It is not recommended to use a hand dryer. how come. Apart from being more unhygienic, hot air from these tools can make hands too dry, rough, and irritated.
4. Use a moisturizer
now, these fourth tips are quite important for you to do. To keep your skin moisturized and healthy, apply a moisturizing cream or ointment that can block the evaporation of water from the layers of your skin. Choose a moisturizer that contains:
- Occlusive, namely materials that can prevent the loss of water from the skin, for example petrolatum or petroleum jelly
- Emollients, which are ingredients that can soften and soothe the skin, for example isopropyl myristate and octyl octyl okanoate
- Humectants, which are ingredients that can maintain skin moisture, for example carboxylic acids and lactic acid
If your hands are very dry, before going to bed, you can wear cotton gloves on hands that have been smeared with moisturizer. That way, in the morning, your hands can be extra moist.
Hand washing is very important to maintain health, especially in the midst of the Corona virus outbreak. However, washing your hands frequently can make the skin on your hands dry and irritated.
Therefore, diligent hand washing must also be accompanied by good hand skin care. Moreover, healthy skin is also a good fortress against disease germs. you know.
If the skin on your hands remains dry or even if the complaint gets worse despite the above tips, consult a dermatologist via chat directly with the doctor in the Alodokter application to get the right advice and treatment.
If your condition requires immediate treatment from a doctor, make an appointment with a doctor at the hospital through the Alodokter application, so that you can be directed to the nearest doctor who can help you. Remember, don't come directly to the hospital in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak like it is now, so you don't risk contracting the Corona virus.
