Washing Your Hands Often Dehydrates Them, Take Care Of Them

The surfactant ingredients (detergents) present in soaps destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but they also attack the fatty acids and beneficial bacteria that make up the acid mantle of the skin, which is its natural protector. The same can be said for the alcohol in sanitizing gels.

The result is that the skin on the hands becomes dry, peeling, red, burned or even cracked, and harmful microorganisms can more easily penetrate the skin. Therefore, it is now more important than ever to apply a hand cream regularly.

What hand creams offer the best protection?

It is a good idea to have several hand creams within reach: on the home office desk, in the kitchen, on the bedside table … And obviously it is essential that the creams are free of harmful substances and those that stress even more an already damaged skin.

The natural and organic cosmetics is the best option. Provides natural oils and fats, and dispenses with emulsifiers (polyethylene glycols, PEG) that increase the permeability of the skin and make it more vulnerable to foreign substances.

The paraffins present in conventional hand creams are also prohibited in natural cosmetics. These types of agents do not contribute to the balance of the skin. Instead, natural oils and fats are incorporated into the skin and prevent dehydration by acting as a protective screen.

The vegetable oils provide the skin with valuable fatty acids unsaturated maintain skin elasticity. The higher up the ingredient list you find vegetable oils, the greater their involvement in the formulation of the product.

How to recognize natural oils and fats

The most commonly used natural oils and fats in hand creams (with the so-called Inci names in parentheses) are:

• Olive oil (Olea europaea fruit oil)
• Soybean oil (Glycine soja oil)
• Shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii butter)
• Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera oil)
• Jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis seeds oil)
• Almond oil (Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil)
• Sunflower oil (Helianthus annuus seeds oil)

Other active ingredients in hand creams that take special care of dry skin are:

• Glycerin
• Panthenol

The glycerin retains moisture in the skin. It is an ingredient that is found in almost all hand creams, both in natural and conventional cosmetics. Panthenol (vitamin B5) soothes irritated skin and promotes hydration.

What other things do you have to take into account to take care of your hands?

If you don’t have a hand cream ready, you will probably find allies in the kitchen. Wet your hands and massage them with a little olive, coconut or sunflower oil.

If you have very damaged hands, use an intensive treatment at night: before going to bed, apply a thick layer of very creamy cream and put on cotton gloves (you can find them in pharmacies). Sleep with them all night and in the morning your hands will be recovered.

When should you wash your hands?

On the other hand, remember when you should wash your hands:

• Before leaving home and when you arrive at your destination (if you have the possibility, if not, use disinfectant gel)
• Before and after cooking and eating.
• Before and after cleaning your house.
• After you blow your nose, cough, or sneeze.
• After using the bathroom.
• After touching an animal.