At home right now? Put your hands together and give yourselves a little clap. If you’re like us, you’ll need the affirmation that you’re doing a great job, and we’ll get through this.
Now, what else did you notice while you were doing that? Hands feeling papery and thin? Cuticles starting to catch?
Hand washing and hand sanitiser use will absolutely keep us safe RN, but it is also very drying, thanks to its ability to strip natural oils while vanquishing dirt and germs.
Which is annoying because it’s really important to also keep skin hydrated, as dryness can lead to skin cracks and tears making you slightly more vulnerable to infection, as well as exacerbating issues like dermatitis and eczema.
What to do? After you’ve washed and dried your hands well, like completely dry, so maybe wait a minute or two, slather away with your favourite hand creams. Dr Lindsay Broadbent of the Centre for Infection and Immunity at Queen’s University Belfast, recently told the Guardian it’s safe to do so. “As long as you have dried your hands thoroughly before applying the hand cream, it’s fine.”
Stuck without one? Use your body lotion or a tiny bit of coconut oil or aloe vera instead.
Scroll down for five of our fave hand creams.
