Washing hands or sanitising them regularly with an alcohol-based handrub is one of the top ways one can avoid getting infected by – and further spreading – the deadly Coronavirus. As the frequency of handwashing has increased, there may be a worry of drying your skin in the process. The first and foremost rule is to prevent excessive usage of alcohol-based sanitizers, as they can make your hands dry and dehydrated. It is instead advisable to wash your hands methodically as per the medical guidelines, or whenever you feel you may have been exposed to cough, sneeze or contact of some unknown material or surfaces.
“In case of contact with any household items – which may not be infected – use a milder or diluted hand wash. After every hand wash, be sure to moisturise the skin with a non-alcohol-based moisturiser,” said Dr Sharad Kulkarni, Kama Ayurveda.
He adds, “Apply sesame or coconut oil to hands 15 minutes before stepping in for a bath. You can also apply olive oil to your hands every night before you sleep. In case of severe dryness olive oil can be mixed with ghee and applied each night.”
“Moisturizing your skin is one of the ground rules of skincare. Health experts have advised us to wash our hands frequently with soap to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. While the properties of the soap prevent the spread of the virus, frequent handwashing can also dry out your skin immensely. Dry skin can also feel itchy and appear wrinkled. To avoid this, make sure you always apply a moisturizer after drying your hands. This will leave your hands soft and supple,” Dolly Kumar, Founder & Director, Skinella suggests.
