Keep your hands moisturised while washing them regularly
We’re super passionate about skincare and know that a lot of our fans have skin conditions that Sönd products help to alleviate.
But with advice being to wash your hands and avoid touching your face as much as possible, we’re aware that more than ever, knowing what is right to do for your skin is difficult.
Washing hands and using astringent antibacterial gels and soaps can hugely exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, so we’ve got some expert advice to help keep you safe and healthy during the pandemic.
Coronavirus has now touched almost every corner of the globe, and while scientists are searching for ways to prevent and cure it, the World Health Organisation’s recommendation is thorough, frequent hand washing with alcohol-based hand gels and soaps. It’s one of the most powerful ways to slow the spread, but for those with skin conditions or even otherwise healthy skin, this can cause dryness and cracking.
Dr. Zainab Laftah, dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation explained to Medical News Today that “repetitive use of hand sanitisers and hand washing can strip the proteins in the epidermis (top skin layer), leading to a compromise of the skin barrier and, therefore, the risk of infection. Additionally, soaps can give rise to irritant hand dermatitis, which presents as dry, flaky, itchy red skin, particularly in the finger web spaces and on the knuckles.”
Dr Laftah advises against one of the ideas that has been doing the rounds on social media - switching to washing your hands with a moisturiser than contains antibacterial ingredients - ‘hand sanitisers containing these biocidal ingredients were less effective than alcohol-based hand gels at eradicating the coronavirus.’
Water itself can have a drying effect on the skin as it reduces natural oils when it evaporates which can impair the skin’s barrier. Follow up any hand-washing or alcohol disinfecting with a moisturiser or emollient.
Sönd don’t currently produce a hand moisturiser specifically however our day or night cream are suitable. Both contain our unique silica salt complex which is effective at moisturising and strengthening the barrier of the skin.
If you suffer with hand dermatitis, opt for coating your hands in moisturiser and topping with cotton gloves before bed each night.