Updated: Jun 7, 2020
As this pandemic continues to persist, it is essential to carry on regularly washing hands and using alcohol hand sanitisers. Even though cases are decreasing here in the UK, it is vital to keep these safety measures, especially as lockdown is eased, in order to prevent another peak.
Soap molecules have two different sections, the hydrophilic head (likes water) and the hydrophobic tail (binds to oil). When you wash your hands, the soap molecules join together forming a bubble around the grease on your skin with the hydrophobic tails pointing inwards and the hydrophilic heads pointing out towards the water. This is good for removing the dirt on your skin as well as getting rid of the bacteria and virus particles that could be on there waiting to infect someone.
The skin secretes sebum, natural oils that help to prevent your skin from drying out. When you wash your hands, these oils will also be washed off, which can cause you hands to become dry, sore or irritated.
Frequent hand washing can cause contact dermatitis, which develops as a result of exposure to an irritant such as soap.
When the skin is damaged like this, it can become less effective as a barrier to prevent infection so although it is important to wash your hands, it is also important to look after your hands after you've washed them.
Washing up liquid or dish detergent can be very harsh on the skin as it is designed to be able to remove thick layers of grease on dishes. The chemicals in washing up liquid are not designed to be used to wash hands so they can cause irritation. It is therefore important to wear gloves whilst washing up.
Rubber washing up gloves should only be used for a short period of time as they are not breathable, which can cause a build-up of sweat which can cause worsen the irritation.
Find a mild, fragrance-free soap. Like soap, perfumes used as a fragrance can be irritating and cause contact dermatitis so important to make sure that the hand wash you use does not contain any fragrance to reduce irritation as much as possible. It would be best if you looked for a soap designed specifically for dry hands which will include ingredients to moisturise the skin and prevent soreness.
After washing your hands for 30 seconds, it is crucial to make sure you properly dry your hands. If you don't dry them, the water will have a drying effect as it will strip the skins natural oil when it evaporates. Not drying your hands can also provide a good environment for bacteria to multiply
The best way to dry hands is to use a fragrance-free moisturising cream. You should use a moisturising cream every time you wash and dry your hands. You can also carry travel size cream with you to use after using hand sanitiser (make sure you wait for it to dry before using the cream).