{"id":9504,"date":"2020-05-06T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T14:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=9504"},"modified":"2022-01-19T13:20:51","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T19:20:51","slug":"what-can-you-do-about-those-dry-hands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-can-you-do-about-those-dry-hands\/","title":{"rendered":"What can you do about those dry hands?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Worried about COVID-19?<\/p>\n

Get the facts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

We\u2019re all doing our part to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus<\/a> (COVID-19<\/a>).<\/p>\n

We wash our hands with soap and water and count \u2013 one 1,000, two 1,000, three 1,000 \u2026 all the way up to 20 1,000.<\/p>\n

Then we blow our nose<\/a> and we wash our hands all over again \u2013 one 1,000, two 1,000, three 1,000 \u2026 you get the idea.<\/p>\n

After washing thoroughly<\/a> in between the fingers, under the nails, on top of the hands, even the wrist area, we squirt on hand sanitizer for extra protection and rub it in all over as it burns every little open cut on our fingertips.<\/p>\n

But we do it, over and over and over throughout the course of the day because it\u2019s for our protection and the protection of others in stopping the spread of germs.<\/p>\n

Then at some point during the day, you get a look at those hands. Whose hands are they? They\u2019re dried and cracked and look years older than you feel. It\u2019s the price we pay for doing our part<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What to do about those dry, cracked hands?<\/h2>\n

\u201cA few things can help,\u201d said Noah Simon, MD<\/a>, with OSF Medical Group \u2013 Primary Care in Rockford<\/a>. \u201cTry washing your hands with gentle soaps and warm water \u2013 not super hot or cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Simon also said to be careful about having contact with other irritants, such as home cleaning supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse gloves when you can when cleaning your house<\/a>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Apply moisturizer<\/h2>\n

\"Person\u201cIt\u2019s perfectly appropriate to use moisturizing lotions or creams on your hands throughout the day after washing and using hand sanitizer,\u201d Dr. Simon said. \u201cIt\u2019s especially important to use it right before you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Non-scented lotions or creams are usually preferred, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has worked best for me, personally, is O’Keeffe’s Working Hands. Others that work well are Gold Bond and Eucerin, as well as many more,\u201d Dr. Simon said.<\/p>\n

Pay attention when you dry<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important, he said, to pat your hands dry, don\u2019t rub them with a towel or paper towel.<\/p>\n

According to the American Academy of Dermatology<\/a>, dry, cracked skin makes it easier for bacteria and other germs to get inside your body. Applying moisturizer after handwashing helps heal dry skin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also best to wash your hands with soap and water as opposed to using just hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers have alcohol in them, which dries your skin out,\u201d Dr. Simon said. \u201cAlso, after every time you wash your hands with soap and water, put lotion on your hands while they are still damp. This will help lock in the moisture.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you do use hand sanitizer, apply moisturizer once the sanitizer has dried.<\/p>\n

Other advice?<\/h2>\n

\u201cKeep doing your part to help prevent the spread of germs and wash your hands regularly<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Simon said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Those dried, cracked hands look older than you feel. Here’s how to keep your hands clean while protecting your skin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":9513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[32,756,54],"coauthors":[688],"class_list":["post-9504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous","tag-handwashing","tag-osf-medical-group","tag-skin-care"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat can you do about those dry hands? | OSF HealthCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whose hands are those? They\u2019re dried, cracked and look older than you feel. 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