Hand sanitizers have always been a quick and easy way for cleansing hands even before the Covid-19 pandemic. However Covid-19, especially at the start of the pandemic, made everyone to focus so much more on hand sanitation. FDA states:
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol).
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/qa-consumers-hand-sanitizers-and-covid-19
With this new found urgency, everyone is using hand sanitizers or washing hands repeatedly to keep hands free from the virus. However, this also puts everyone under the risk of developing skin issues. FDA approved Alcohol based hand sanitizers and even frequent handwashing also runs the risk of stripping off moisture and healthy bacteria from the surface of skin. This makes the skin on hands more vulnerable to bacteria and pathogens which might enter your system by way of cracks and lesions that appear in dry skin.
Here’s a handy guide to help you keep your skin safe from the ill-effects of hand sanitizers and handwashing formulas:
1. Invest in probiotic skin care products
Covid-19 turned out to be a game changer in the world of skin care. It has prompted world’s leading skin care brands to bring fresh line of products that adhere to the needs of the pandemic stricken world. Probiotic hand sanitizers, moisturizers and creams are ruling the skin care industry. You can find probiotic hand sanitizers that promise to infuse your skin with healthy bacteria. You can also look for a probiotic moisturizer, to be used after using hand sanitizer or washing hands.
2. Wear Gloves
If your daily routine entails working in public places, donning gloves would save you from the trouble of repeatedly using hand sanitizers. Moisturizing your hands a few minutes before you put your gloves on would also help keep dryness at bay. But in no way should you think wearing gloves is a convenient option. It requires you to exercise caution as well. You must dispose used gloves before they come in contact with your clothes or other essentials. You also need to sanitize your hands after disposing used hand gloves in a safe way. Remember to keep your mask on while putting on or taking your gloves off until they’re disposed off securely.
3. Refrain from touching surfaces too often
An easy way to stop Covid-19 spread is to be mindful of the surfaces you’re likely to come in contact with. You should a plan to avoid touching surfaces. When wearing gloves is out of question like at lunchtime or refreshment breaks, opt for ways to steer clear of surfaces and places where there’s a high risk of contracting the virus. Limit your daily activities to ones where there’s a less chance of coming across different kinds of people. If possible, get your work goals accomplished via the internet to minimize in-person contact.
4. Stay hydrated
Your water intake is a key player in maintaining optimum skin health. Consider taking lemon and vitamin infused packaged water. It can be easily availed from stores. Keeping the skin hydrated and replenishing the nutrients helps keep skin and body healthy.
5. Do a nighttime moisturizing therapy
Try how much you want but cant totally avoid hand sanitization. To help your skin recover you should do an overnight moisturizing therapy using a rich moisturizing balm every few days to heal and repair damaged skin. If your hands are severely dry, slather them in vitamin C based hand cream. This speeds up healing of cracks in skin caused by dryness.