The covid-19 pandemic is far from over, but people have made their peace with it and have been stepping out more than they did in the last few months. We all have been staying inside the home for months now, stepping out every once in a while feels great, but since the threat of us catching the virus is still hovering upon us, we should take every precaution while we can in order to keep ourselves out from the clutches of this deadly virus. Some offices have reopened and so have the restaurants and other public places, it’s not possible to stay cooped inside the home all the time, so it’s fine if you want to go out and breathe in fresh air just for a while, but don’t forget to take all the necessary precautions, which includes wearing a protective face mask all the time and constantly washing or sanitizing your hands.
While constantly washing and sanitizing your hands are two necessary precautions to take, doing it too many times a day can dry out your skin. This problem could become even worse if you are dealing with eczema. Since we don’t have the option to skip washing or sanitizing, we need to look for solutions that will keep your eczema-prone skin healthy and happy.
Listed below are all the tips you need to follow when it comes to washing or sanitizing your hands.
Use a hand sanitizer than contains less alcohol percentage
Sanitizers come with different concentrations of alcohol, although it is suggested to use a hand sanitizer that contains 70 percent or more alcohol, using it on severely and cracked hands can make things worse by making your hands even drier. When it comes to purchasing a hand sanitizer, always check the concentration of alcohol on the label, you should opt for the one that contains 60 to 65 percent alcohol. Hand sanitizers with this alcohol concentration will effectively eliminate germs from your hands, and they also feel gentle on the skin. Also, try looking for a hand sanitizer that contains hydrating ingredients to replenish moisture in the skin.
Wash your hands with a cream-based hand wash
If possible, people with eczema-prone should always prefer washing their hands with soap and water instead of using a hand sanitizer. And when it comes to hand wash, you should purchase a cream-based one as it is known to be much more hydrating than a gel-based hand wash.
Check the temperature of water
When it comes to washing your hands, you should always check the temperature of water. Using too cold or too hot water can aggravate the skin woes associated with eczema-prone skin- severe dryness and instant flare-ups are the worst case scenarios. You should always wash your hands with lukewarm water to prevent moisture loss and your hands from becoming dry. Additionally, you should be pretty careful when it comes drying your hands post washing. Instead of rubbing your hands against the towel, gently pat your hands dry to reduce irritation and friction.
A hand cream is a must
Hands tend to feel pretty dry post washing or sanitizing, no matter the type of sanitizer or hand wash you used. One of the best ways to keep dryness at bay and compensate for moisture loss is by applying a nourishing hand cream to your hands each time after washing or sanitizing your hands. Using a hand cream will not only prevent dry and cracked hands but will also make your skin feel calm, which will automatically reduce the chances of irritation.
