How to protect hand-skin while frequent hand washes

During this corona epidemic, doctor advice us or frequent hand wash and use of sanitizer. Frequent hand wash may damage our hand skin tissues. For this issue we ask an expert advice that how to protect our skin tissue. DR. manju keshri from KEMPS skin clinic. Vaishali, Ghaziabad. She is a famous dermatologist provide us some tips

Wash with warm water

To clean your hands from germs dr. says to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Making sure to cover palms, backs of hands, fingers, in between fingers, wrists, and ingernails.She said lukewarm water is best rather than hot.“Very hot will eventually dry things out and doesn’t improve efficacy,” she said.

Use moisturizing soap

Always try to use soap that have moisturizer because some soap can strip the skin and cause them to be dry and cracked, she says to wash your hands with soap that’s moisturizing. “For example, 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,”.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,”.

Apply moisturizer:  

After frequent hand wash, water isn’t sealed into the skin after washing, it can dry out your hand.

“The reason is that water acts like a magnet and it will attract water out from the deepest layers of the skin and evaporate into the dry air. The result is even tighter, drier skin. To prevent this from happening, be sure to immediately apply hand cream afterward. Even a light layer will do,”

Dermatologist  suggests using creams or ointments rather than lotions, which she said have too much water content, and therefore don’t block water from escaping the skin.

She said moisturizers help with skin care because they:

• Restore the barrier function of the epidermis
• Provide a protective film
• Fill in the small crevices between scales
• Increase the water content of the epidermis
• Soothe the skin
• Improve the skin’s appearance and texture

Wear gloves

In addition to applying a moisturizer to damp skin after washing, she said to soak your hands in plain water for 5 minutes, then apply a moisturizer, and wear gloves for 1 to 2 hours.

“This will ensure that the surface moisture gets where it needs to go,” For really chapped hands, she  said to heavily moisturize hands with thick cream and wear cotton gloves overnight.

“Much like a facial sheet mask, the gloves will keep your hands moisturized for 6 to 8 hours allowing the skin on the hands to get some needed TLC,” she said. Wearing gloves on cold, windy days can also keep the wind from further damaging dry skin, added Friedman.

For more skin related query you may visit www.kempsskinclinic.com and book and appointment at KEMPS Skin Clinic for better consultation for Skin & hair care.