If you’ve got red, rough, dry skin on your hands from washing over and over, you’re not alone. As someone whose background is in the clean manufacturing environment of biotechnology, I’ve gone full OCD with hand washing during this stay-at-home period!
While cleanliness is paramount right now, I’m not super pleased with how my hands are looking. These hands are definitely looking older and more wrinkly, and feeling dry!
As the founder of an indie skin care company, Organic Radiance Skincare, I set out to reverse and prevent this process ASAP! Read further for 8 tips to help save your hands from becoming dry and red while you’re washing them frequently.
I’ve started using rich moisturizer EVERY time I wash my hands. This helps to nourish, hydrate, and protect my skin from the dryness caused by frequent washing. It also helps them look younger! I’ve got a very special hand cream in development right now! Stay tuned for more info!
I recommend keeping a travel sized moisturizer with you in your purse, briefcase, gym bag, or backpack so you can always moisturize after washing your hands. At home, keep your moisturizer next to the sink so you can moisturize right after drying your hands.
“Hand sanitizer is an option to limit handwashing until the skin recovers, but not before eating, after [going to the] bathroom, [or] when hands are visibly soiled — that should [involve] handwashing,” says Kroshinsky.
The CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with an alcohol concentration of at least 60% ethanol. The non-drying sanitizers I use make my skin feel smoother and contain a small amount of essential oils for a wonderful scent. Check here for availability: Citrus Hand Sanitizer Gel (64% Alcohol) and Citrus Sanitizing Spray (70% Alcohol).
Now you know 8 tips on how to prevent your hands from drying out when washing frequently. To prevent the skin on your hands from getting red and wrinkly, take some of the skin care concepts you use for your face and apply them to your hands. This includes using a rich moisturizer each time you wash, as well as using a weekly exfoliator and mask to remove dry skin from the surface of your skin so your moisturizer absorbs better.
Switching up your hand washing routine with hand sanitizer, when appropriate, is another way that dermatologists recommend keeping your hands smooth and soft. Remember to hydrate from both the inside and the outside.
Your hands do an extraordinary amount of work for you. Treat them well while you’re increasing the frequency of you hand washing! Start with one of these tips and make it a habit!
Affiliate Disclosure: I want to be completely transparent with my readers. This website contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. You will pay the same price for all products and services, and your purchase helps support my ongoing research and work. Thanks for your support!
Hand Hygeine. CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hand-hygiene.html
Water: How much should you drink every day? Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
How to Keep Your Skin Healthy While Washing Your Hands Often. Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-to-keep-your-skin-healthy-while-washing-your-hands-often#6.-Substitute-hand-sanitizer-for-soap
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