For most of us, handwashing has officially peaked in our daily self-care routine. Not that handwashing wasn’t the norm before, but now more than ever, we’re thinking about how we mitigate the spread of germs.
By washing 10 or more times a day, our hands begin to mimic the texture of potato chips. We wash and clean constantly, regularly exposing our skin to harsh soaps and cleansers. It seems the more we clean, the drier our hands get. So, what is the solution to avoid dry and cracked hands while staying clean?
We set the bar high for living a clean and comfortable lifestyle – as evidenced by our moisturizing hand sanitizer spray – and implementing a few simple tips can help. In this case, that means supplementing our handwashing routines with steps that promote soft, hydrated skin.
How Handwashing Habits Affect Your Skin
What is your usual approach to hand washing? Do you go straight to soap before water, or do you have wet hands before lathering? After a little research, we discovered that doing the right thing the wrong way could get us dry, cracked hands.
Let’s talk about cleaning products first. Most of the hand soaps we use contain an active compound called surfactant: an ingredient that breaks the bond between dirt and our skin. Most of us experience surfactants as the “glide” in soap that results in suds or bubbles, which is critical for effective germ killing.
However, certain types of surfactants can cause major skin irritation and can quickly deplete the delicate moisture barrier that keeps hands soft and healthy. For example, anionic surfactants often cause skin irritation and in some cases can carry traces of carcinogenic by-products.
Hand washing to-do list:
-
Look for hand cleaners and sanitizers that use gentle but effective natural ingredients
-
Pay attention to the soap you use. Dish soaps are supposed to be very strong and can be harsh on the skin. Even some hand soaps can contain irritating fragrances that dry out and crack the skin.
-
Limit the use of scalding hot water – extra heat can help kill bacteria, but it also kills your skin’s moisturizing lipids
-
Using cold or lukewarm water, wash with soap for 20 seconds (or sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice)
-
Rinse and dry thoroughly – moisture breeds moisture, so follow up with a clean, dry towel (replace hand towels at least every 2 days to mitigate bacterial growth)
More moisture, fewer cracks
This is our sweet spot: the magical place where we transform our dry, cracked hands into their former glory. How and when we hydrate our skin has a big impact on how long our skin stays hydrated and ultimately how it feels.
Hand Moisturizer DO List:
-
Follow hand washing (and exfoliation) with hand cream – rich avocado butter and therapeutic aloe vera are ideal ingredients for deep hydration
-
When washing your hands before preparing food or caring for a sick person, wait to moisturize after your next hand wash – heavy moisturizers can reduce the effectiveness of some soaps and sanitizers
-
Opt for hand creams with essential oils that can soothe dry, cracked skin, like our Lavender Buttercream or Eucalyptus Buttercream.
-
For ultra-dry hands, opt for a heavy-duty hand cream – for quick hydration with a shorter drying time, opt for a hand lotion
-
For serious hand skin repair: Make an overnight hand mask with heavy lotion, argan oil, and gloves. Our DIY mask uses aloe vera, shea butter and sunflower oil to promote barrier repair and softer skin.
Exfoliate your hands regularly
The skin on our hands, just like the skin on our face, lips and scalp, can benefit from a deep exfoliation from time to time. Not only will this help make our hands cleaner, but it will also promote deeper moisture penetration and nutrient absorption. Performed regularly, exfoliation can help eliminate the look and feel of dry, cracked hands.
List of exfoliating operations for the hands:
-
Exfoliate your hands 1-2 times per week, as you would your face or body
-
Apply the scrub to the fingers, palms and backs of the hands
-
Extend your morning or evening facial scrub to include your hands – after exfoliating your face, roll additional scrub over your fingers and hands
-
Reuse your sugar or sea salt body scrub to slough off dead skin and replenish with deep hydration from apricot and jojoba oils.
Ease the manicures
If we’re being brutally honest, our nails — just like our hands — have seen better days. Whether you do a chipped manicure with pride or have done a manicure yourself, most of us practice some kind of nail maintenance. But in the name of healthier hands, it’s time we asked ourselves this: Is our nail polish regimen hurting our hands?
Most nail polishes contain very harsh ingredients, especially long-wearing gels and acrylics. Give your nails a break from the manicure; allow them to strengthen, replenish and renew the skin around them. Taking a few days (or weeks) of polish can have huge benefits for your nails.
Nail grooming to-do list:
-
Spend 90 seconds at night, 2-3 days a week, rubbing in cuticle oil – almond, olive or coconut oil will do in a pinch
-
Nourish the skin closest to the nails to reduce your risk of peeling, cracking and snagging
-
Opt for a nail polish without 10, instead of the usual toxic offenders found in drugstores
-
Treat yourself to a week of “paint-free” nails between each shade, to allow your delicate nail bed to breathe and replenish
-
Keep a nail brush by your sink and scrub under your nails every time you wash your hands to prevent new bacteria from seeping into the nail bed or spreading to other parts of your body.
-
Use a nail curette daily to keep the underside of your nail clean and strong – rinse thoroughly after cleaning to ensure no dead skin or debris remains
The moral of the story is that hand washing, hand sanitizing, and good household cleaning shouldn’t be a cause of dry, cracked hands. It IS possible to have clean AND soft hands – just follow a few practice tips for getting there!
