Washing your hands is more important than ever. According to the CDC, regularly scrubbing your hands for 20 seconds is the best way to defend ourselves and loved ones from the novel coronavirus. If you’re just washing away all day long, though, your skin’s far more likely to become cracked, dry, and irritated.
Along with germs and dirt, you strip away the natural oils that normally protect our skin and keep it moist and healthy with excessive handwashing. So, how do you take care of your skin while continuing to stay safe? Several simple steps can make a big difference and keep your skin in top shape.
Below, we’ve broken down the three most essential tips in maintaining healthy skin.
1. Time to Moisturize
If it isn’t already, moisturizer should be your new best friend. Even after you use hand sanitizer, it’s critical to apply a deeply hydrating salve or hand cream. The product you choose makes a big difference. Look for all-natural options without fragrance, if possible.
While they might smell amazing, lotions aren’t as potent in keeping the skin happy, so try and find a richer cream or salve. Apply your chosen moisturizer immediately after you wash or sanitize, and keep moving on with the day.
If you’re prone to dry skin, and your daily moisturizing isn’t cutting it, invest in cotton gloves. Every night before bed, apply a generous amount of moisturizer or Vaseline to your hands and slip on your gloves. This creates a more hydrating environment for your skin to absorb over several hours. If you’d prefer to do this in the daytime, slip on your gloves and enjoy a relaxing spa day home for a few hours.
2. Your Soap Matters Too
The soap you pick makes a big difference in skin health, too. Richly fragrant or more abrasive soaps like dish soap can be especially aggressive and moisture-zapping. Look for all-natural soaps made with botanical ingredients. French Savon de Marseilles soaps are excellent, top-quality soaps that won’t add to skin dryness.
If possible, avoid dish soap. If there’s no other option, choosing to wash your hands is always better than not, though.
3. Stay Prepared on the Go
As states begin to reopen, there are more opportunities to find yourself washing your hands outside of the house. Especially in public spaces, sanitizing and washing hands is critical. But, proper skincare shouldn’t be restricted to your home.
Investing in a travel-size moisturizer and popping it into your bag, car, etc. is a great way to stay ahead. We love the Norwegian Hand Cream from Neutrogena, which provides rich hydration without any grease.
You’re Worth It: Stay Safe
At Aesthetx, our first concern is our patients’ health and safety. We’re doing everything we can in-office to keep our clients and staff safe, and we want to help share any info we can to make life amidst coronavirus as comfortable as possible. Washing your hands is the number one defense against this virus, but we understand that this essential practice can be tough to get used to.
If you’d like any further advice on skincare or any of our medical dermatology offerings, please reach out to schedule a consultation. During this meeting, we’ll have a chance to listen to all your concerns and questions and help to find ideal solutions. To get in touch, please give our Campbell, CA, office a call at (408) 559-7177 or contact us online today!
