At the risk of sounding like I have a hand fetish, our hands are remarkable. They help us make sense of the world around us, they help us get things done, and they enable our sense of touch.
But lately, they’ve also been a source of worry. Touching infected objects could be a way of contracting the deadly COVID-19. As we take the right precautions by washing our hands frequently with soap and water, that awful sandpapery feeling can settle in pretty quick.
Handwashing over Hand Sanitising
Wherever possible, opt for washing your hands instead of sanitising them. That’s because hand gels contain alcohol in them, which can dry the skin out very quickly. If you do have to use a hand sanitiser, choose one that has moisturising properties like aloe gel. Massive shortages are not exactly conducive to choice at the moment, but it’s worth mentioning, in case you do have the luxury of choice.
No-Frills Soap
At this point, the fewer frills your soap has, the better. Constant washing is already a cause of irritation to our skin, and additional fragrances might only exacerbate the severity of dryness; leading to itchiness and cracks.
Extra lather can also cause irritation. If you have particularly sensitive skin, go for a soap that is specifically formulated for eczema-prone skin such as Cetaphil, Eczema Honey or Free & Clear.
Moisturise Straight-Away
Hand washing tends to remove the natural oils that create a barrier between the skin and outer elements. As soon as you’ve washed your hands, apply moisturiser to protect your hands.
Avoid Hand-Dryers
Other than the fact that they contain a risk factor during this epidemic, hand dryers will literally suck the moisture out of your hand which is why coming out of a public bathroom often feels like you’ve just put your hands through the shredder.
Hand spa Treatment
If you want to go the extra mile and give your hands a little spa-sesh, you can do so. First, moisturise your hands with your favourite hand cream. Then add some shea butter to seal in the moisturise. You can even slip your hands into some cotton gloves (or socks!) for a couple of hours.
Wear gloves during chores
On top of washing our hands regularly, staying at home for long periods also mean more cooking, more dishes, more washing and more cleaning. Wear a pair of rubber gloves whenever you can to prevent additional stress on your hands.
Other than our faces, our hands are often the most exposed parts of the body. Taking good care of them so they can look great and feel great for many years is important.
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