[:en]Stay home, practise social distancing, and wash your hands—these are some of the measures doctors have advised to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
However, as you up your handwashing game, you might have the tendency to forget how the frequent washing can leave your hands dry, cracked, or peeling to the point that it is painful.
Ironically, by over washing your skin, you risk developing dry cracks that can allow germs and bacteria into your body, thus increasing your risk of infection.
Some may suffer from psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions like fungus, plaque, rash and patches.
Read More: Psoriasis Causes & Cure
Has frequent handwashing left you with dry skin?
As a women’s health clinic in Singapore, we discuss a few recommendations on how you can continue to wash your hands as necessary without drying out your skin.
How to Wash Your Hands Properly without Drying Your Skin
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and lukewarm water. Doctors say that washing with hot water can result in dry, itchy skin, so use cool or lukewarm water instead.
- Pat dry your hands with a clean towel. You can also let your hands air dry and when they are slightly damp, apply a hand cream to seal in moisture.
- When using a hand sanitiser or alcohol, also apply a hand cream immediately after the sanitiser dries. The alcohol content in these products can be very drying.
Our lady doctors in our Singapore clinics recommend using fragrance- and dye-free hand creams and other moisturising products as they contain fewer chemicals and thus may feel less irritating for your skin.
Will the Moisturiser Make Your Hands More Prone to Germs & Bacteria?
You may have read claims about how moisturisers can make it easier for germs and bacteria to cling onto your skin. But, there is no evidence to prove that.
What do the doctors mean, however, is that dry skin increases your risk of attracting germs!
Therefore, moisturising your skin after every hand washing can better protect you from germs.
Now that all these things are settled, we move on to general tips from our women’s health clinic on how to better keep your skin moisturised. These helpful tips do not only apply to your hands but your skin as well!
How to Keep Your Skin Moisturised
✔ Avoid long and hot showers. As mentioned earlier, the ideal temperature is lukewarm. Doctors suggest that you’ll also want to shorten your showers to prevent drying out your skin.
✔ Moisturise while your skin is damp. The prime time for moisturising your body is within 5 minutes after every shower. This should help lock in moisture within your skin.
✔ Use mild soap. Washing with mild, fragrance-free soap limits the use of harsh ingredients that can irritate and dry your skin.
✔ Exfoliate regularly. Exfoliating doesn’t do anything for moisturising, but by removing dead skin, it can help moisturising products to penetrate your skin better.
How often should you exfoliate? Our lady doctors at Healthsprings Singapore recommend exfoliating 2-3 times a week, at most. But, someone with excessively oily skin may have to exfoliate on a daily basis.
Acne & Skin Irritation Due to Face Mask
Many people have been complaining about worsening skin condition from wearing masks. Read here for Guide to Prevent ‘Maskne’
Tele-consultation for Skin & Medical Issues
While we are taking full precautions to see patients in the clinic, we understand your fears of visiting us at this time of a pandemic. We are still offering teleconsultations to address your skincare concerns while at the safety of your home.
Schedule For Teleconsult Today
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We also provide medication and skincare delivery to your doorsteps. Visit our website to learn more.[:]
