HANDY ADVICE FOR HAND DERMATITIS
Hands are easily irritated – especially here in Minnesota where we have such drastic changes in temperature and humidity. Hand dermatitis is extremely common, especially for those already dealing with skin conditions (I’m looking at you, eczema, psoriasis, and autoimmune disease), or people with jobs that require frequent hand washing and/or chemical exposure like teachers, hairdressers, healthcare and industrial workers.
On top of that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is washing their hands constantly with soapy water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. All that aggressive hand hygiene can cause some serious drying out and irritation. So how can we keep our squeaky-clean hands healthy and smooth?
- Gentle cleansers: Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are all the rage right now, and they are often very drying. Consider a gentler soap option if your hands are drying out from constant hand sanitizer use.
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize: A lotion in most cases is not going to cut it for dry, irritated hands. Instead, look for a moisturizing cream to apply frequently throughout the day, especially just after washing. I love how soft and moisturized my hands feel after using a rich hand cream. To go the extra mile for moisturizing your skin at bedtime, apply a generous layer of a thick cream or even an ointment such as EltaMD Moisture Seal to your hands under white cotton gloves and wear overnight.
- Got fissures? For those pesky and extremely painful cracks that can occur around the nails or in creases, apply a small amount of Krazy Glue to help speed healing.
Be kind to your skin, and always feel free to contact us and schedule an appointment if you’re having trouble. We’re here to help!
By: Erin Manoles, PA-C