With the comunal effort to slow the transmission of CoVid-19, people are washing their hands far more frequently than they usually do. On top of that, individuals are drenching their skin in an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Whether it’s CoVid-19, the flu, or a comon cold, “handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself from viruses and harmful bacteria,” says Adriana Martino, aesthetician and owner of SKINNEY Medspa. Unfortunately, the constant cleansing and sanitizing can quickly dry out your skin. Read on to learn more about maintaining good disease-prevention hygiene and good skin hygiene at the same time.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAND WASHING WITH SOAP
Hand sanitizing with alcohol-based sanitizer kills microbes. Hand washing, in comparison, is not meant to kill germs and viruses, but remove them altogether from your hands. The Corona Virus is especially susceptible to soap and water. The virion is coated in lipids, or fatty molecules, that envelope the pathogen. Soap acts as a detergent, dissolving the protective lipid barrier of the virus. The water then washes the destroyed virus particles from your hands. “Think of washing grease off your hands. Soap helps strip the oils from your skin. The same principle applies to washing away the fatty coated Corona Virus,” says Martino.
DRY SKIN ON HANDS
Frequent handwashing effectively removes dirt and pathogens. Unfortunately, frequent handwashing also strips the skin of its protective oils. The skin lipid barrier is the thin protective layer of oil on the surface of the skin. The oils create a barrier between the environment and your epidermis. It helps keep pathogens out and helps lock moisture in. By stripping the skin-lipid barrier, your hands are likely to dehydrate and dry out. “The skin may even crack” cautions Martino.
COMBATING DRY SKIN AND COVID AT THE SAME TIME
“Don’t stop washing your hands,” says Martino, “just incorporate hand moisturizer into your handwashing routine.” First, wash your hands, dry them, and then apply moisturizer. “I like to lock in my skin’s moisture with a hand cream containing ceramides,” suggests Martino. Ceramides are lipid molecules that strengthen your skin’s lipid barrier. “Make sure to moisturize your hands after you clean your hands by washing with soap and water, not before.”
Learn more about preventing dry skin on the hands >>
For more answers to any skincare questions, reach out to SKINNEY Medspa online or call (212) 754-6639.
