As nations around the world fight coronavirus, handwashing—properly done for at least 20 seconds—is consistently mentioned as one way to keep people protected from it.
However, constantly washing hands results in dry skin that usually feels tight and sometimes becomes cracked, which, according to experts, is just as bad as not washing them.
According to dermatologists, excessive washing depletes the skin’s natural protective barrier. “If the skin is breaking down or raw, soap and alcohol disinfectants do not work as well,” Craig Shapiro, a physician in pediatric infectious diseases at Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, told The Washington Post.
The break in skin barrier, Christina Johns said, “allows germs and bacteria to invade the skin area.”
Although current studies show coronavirus enters the body through the respiratory system, dry and cracked skin may lead to transmission of other skin infections.
Experts suggest moisturizing hands after washing them. It’s also ideal to use disinfecting soap that provides extra moisture.
The Body Shop, for instance, offers the Tea Tree Hand Wash enriched with Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya. Tea tree oil, dubbed as “nature’s disinfectant,” has antiseptic and antiviral properties, often used as a topical solution.
Aside from singing Happy Birthday to ensure hands are washed for at least 20 seconds, experts remind the public to do it properly, too.
1. Wet your hands with warm water.
2. Apply 1-2 pumps of soap.
3. Lather up by rubbing the palms of your hands together.
4. Use the palm of one hand to rub the back of the other and clean in between the fingers. Repeat on the other hand.
5. Rub your hands together, making sure you clean in between your fingers.
6. Rub the back of your fingers against your palms on both hand.
7. Don’t forget your thumbs. Rub each one using your other hand.
8. Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand.
9. Rinse your hands with running water.
10. Dry your hands completely with a clean towel.
The Body Shop self-care essentials are now available on ShopSM as well as Lazada and Shopee under The SM Store.