Washing Your Hands

Washing Your Hands

DRY SKIN RELIEF FROM COVID-19 HAND WASHING

 


Keep your skin hydrated

Applying a hand cream or ointment immediately after handwashing will keep your skin hydrated.

Has frequent handwashing left you with dry, cracked skin? With these tips your from Gardens Dermatology providers you can continue to wash your hands as needed to fend off COVID-19 (coronavirus) and heal dry skin.

Here’s what we recommend:

  1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in lukewarm water. Use soap, and wash every part of your hands, including between your fingers and around your nails.
    Dry hands? Continue to wash them.
    Washing helps prevent illness by removing harmful bacteria and viruses.
  2. Dry your hands with a clean towel but leave some water on them. You can also let your hands air dry. While your hands are slightly damp, apply your hand cream or ointment.
  3. Apply a pea-sized amount of hand cream or ointment into your skin, making sure you work some of the moisturizer into your fingertips and nails. Our providers recommend using a hand cream or ointment that:
    • Contains mineral oil or petrolatum
    • Comes in a tube rather than a pump-bottle
    • Says it’s “fragrance-free” and “dye-free”
  1. This moisturizer tends to feel less irritating to dry, chapped skin.

  2. When you use hand sanitizer, apply your hand cream or ointment immediately after the hand sanitizer dries. Because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to kill germs, hand sanitizer can be very drying.
    Using hand sanitizer
    Allow hand sanitizer to dry. Then apply moisturizer.

  3. Get your health information from a trustworthy source. Going online to chat with friends and family can be comforting. When it comes to health information, it’s essential to get accurate and reliable information, such as from your doctor, websites reviewed by doctors such as this one, and the CDC.

What the science shows

You may have seen well-meaning posts on social media about keeping your hands clean. Some posts may come from assumptions rather than science. Here’s what the science shows:

  • There is no evidence that using a hand sanitizer makes it easier to pick up germs. It’s dry skin that increases your risk of picking up germs. If you have dry skin from using hand sanitizer, apply moisturizer immediately after your hand sanitizer dries.
  • Handwashing helps to prevent illness, but frequent handwashing can dry your skin. To prevent and heal dry skin, apply a hand cream or ointment after you wash your hands.
  • When skin is moist, it can better protect you from germs.

 

Gardens Dermatology offers medical grade moisturizers. Please talk with your Gardens Dermatology provider if you have any questions.

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Monday

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed