"Handwashing" that Has Now Become More Important Due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the maintenance of clean hands more important than anything else. Now, hand washing, which is stressed to the point of obsession, can be said to be a cost-effective tip to prevent COVID-19. Although handwashing using soap is the most efficient, if it isn’t possible, using a hand sanitizer is also recommended as a second-best alternative method.

 

Hand Washing and Hand Sanitizers Make the Hands Dry

Under such a situation, the reality makes it difficult for people who go out frequently or work to become free from washing hands or using hand sanitizers. They often clean their hands and use hand sanitizers frequently in order to protect not only themselves but also others as well. However, at the same time, such behavior ultimately becomes the cause of dry hands.

Washing hands is a must. Yet, there is definitely a way to keep our hands clean while also keeping them less dry. Here are some great tips to make your hands more beautiful and soft in your daily life.

 

CARD 1. Hand pack with Vaseline

Carefully apply Vaseline after washing and drying your hands.

Wear cloth or vinyl gloves and wait for at least 30 minutes before taking them off. The petroleum jelly ingredient in the Vaseline helps form an oil film and maintain moisturization by coating the hand and preventing moisture from leaving.

If Vaseline is applied to the fingernails, moisture loss of fingernails is also prevented and thus, the whole hand can maintain the moisture level.

 

CARD 2. Constantly use a hand cream

Hands are the body part that easily becomes dry due to having less sebaceous glands and being completely exposed.

Furthermore, due to the frequent use of hand sanitizers, the skin protective barrier becomes damaged and dryness worsens.

Therefore, external irritation must be minimized by constantly applying hand cream after washing the hands.

There is no need to be afraid of having a reduced disinfection effect due to hand cream since disinfection is already complete with hand washing or the use of a hand sanitizer.
 

CARD 3. Wash your hands with lukewarm water

When washing your hands, the water temperature is also important. If the water is too hot, the skin can become irritated and if the water is too cold, the waste matter may not be completely removed.

As a result, in order to prevent skin irritation and dryness, washing your hands with lukewarm water helps protect your hands.

 

CARD 4. Dry your hands with a paper towel

Drying your hands is as important as washing your hands.

The methods of drying your hands after washing them outside can range among natural drying, hand dryer, public bathroom towel, and paper towel. According to a report by researchers from the UK University of Westminster, the number of germs increased after washing the hands when a hand dryer was used instead of a paper towel.

Especially during current times in which we should be careful of virus contamination, a public bathroom towel must be avoided and natural drying or a paper towel should be used instead as a habit to protect our hands.

 

CARD 5. Wear hygiene gloves when cooking

Let us reduce the habit of irritating our hands when cooking at home. Due to the nature of Korean food, spicy ingredients such as onions, chili powder, and scallions are constantly used. However, if such ingredients are directly touched with the hand, the skin can easily become irritated.

When cooking food or even when cutting the ingredients, let us wear hygiene gloves to minimize irritation and prevent skin dryness. Furthermore, it is certainly a must to wear rubber gloves when also washing the dishes.