Avoid dry hands due to over-washing + 5 tips on how soothe your dry hands

We are washing our hands longer and more frequently (see mayo clinic recommendation) which is leading to an increase in dry hands and hand dermatitis. Covid-19 brings in a new era of hand hygiene and hand-care.

Those in the medical profession wash their hands almost 70 times a day and our little ones are washing their hands a lot too.

A Handwashing Story

While school was in session (we miss school😥), teachers were “rightly” drilling down on hand washing. They demoed the activity several times a day, reminded the children to wash for 20 seconds and showed them how to get under their nails (rub your nails together) and in between the fingers (interlock your fingers).

 

(this is how my kids use to wash their hands)

Teachers are such a blessing. My kids were so well versed, they were teaching me and policing my handwashing… mom that was not 20 seconds🙃.  

But soon enough, their hands were dry and cracked and they were in pain (The cleanser they used in school may have been a bit harsh). My six-year-old was almost in tears, his hands were inflamed.  

Luckily his momma knows a thing or two about the skin and skincare.  

Let’s first examine why over-washing can lead to dry skin and even hand dermatitis and eczema.

The problem with over-washing

• Soaps strip the skin of its natural oils and waxes (and to be fair- dirt, germs, viruses, pollutants). The skin naturally contains oils and wax to help form a protective barrier and maintain moisture. 

• Soaps also disrupt the pH of the skin (the skin’s pH is naturally around 5 - slightly acid, and soaps pH are usually 9 or higher); the disruption in pH changes the microbiome of the skin.

• Still, the skin is resilient and can readjust after washing. But when we over-wash, the skin does not have the time to re-balance and the skin barrier becomes damaged.

• A damaged skin barrier will not retain moisture and will lead to dry skin and other skin irritations including eczema (genetic predisposition and diet also lead to a higher risk of eczema).  

• Dry skin can lead to redness, flaking, itching and cracking which can be painful.  Bacteria can hide in cracked skin and cause infections which are also painful.  

• Children that develop these conditions will wash their hands less or less effectively, which can lead to bigger issues.    

So what do we do?... Are we damned if we do and damned if we don’t?

No, of course not. We just need to include hand-care in our lessons as much as hand hygiene.

(Hey, if it makes them wash their hands...sing away)

 

5 Tips for relieving dry hands:

You can use soaps (which by definition are fats that have been saponified). They are usually basic (have a higher pH over 9). But the truth is, you don’t need a harsh cleanser to clean (or even to kill off a virus).

Gentle ionic and non-ionic surfactants use in natural products are just as effective yet gentler on the skin. They also usually have a pH of 5, protecting the skin barrier and microbiome.

Look for cleansers with some of the following surfactants (I know the names are not as pretty, we can’t all be called Kalahari Melon Seed or Nilotica Shea):

Effective Cleansers-check your ingredients list

• Coco-glucoside, glyceryl oleate
• Disodium/Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
• Yucca extract
• Coco glucoside
• Decyl glucoside
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) - my favorite.

Also, try finding a creamy cleanser with some nourishing oils; this will help to create a gentler wash. 

Wondering if Kiss Kiss Goodnight has a hand cleanser?

Yes! We are launching a creamy hand and body wash that gently cleanses your skin.

Subscribe for updates on our launch and get the best promotions

 

2. Use hand creams for hydration

•  Hand Creams (an emulsion of oil and water) provides hydration and replaces some of the natural oils further soothing the skin. You need to find one that matches the pH of your skin, these are usually the ones for sensitive skin. 
• If you are prone to eczema, use both cream and a balm.  
• If the skin is broken, use a balm religiously to help repair the skin barrier. When the skin is no longer compromised, use cream and balm combo.
• After applying the cream and or balm, wear cotton gloves overnight to seal in the moisture.  

 

3. Use hand balms for protection

•  Balms are oil and wax-based moisturizers design to form a protective coating around the skin.
• If the skin is broken, use a balm religiously to help repair the skin barrier. When the skin is no longer compromised, use cream and balm combo.
• If you are prone to eczema, use both cream and a balm.  
• For best results, after applying the cream and or balm, wear cotton gloves overnight to seal in the moisture.  

I know what you are thinking, does Kiss Kiss Goodnight have a cream and a balm? 

Well, we are just wrapping up testing and it will be ready soon.

Subscribe for updates on our launch and get the best promotions.

 

4. Use our gentle non-surfactant based 3-in-1 baby bath gel on your hands.

This is how I healed my son’s hands when they were raw from washing.

At home (away from virus threats) we opted to use the 3-in-1 bath gel. It felt better to wash with the 3-in1 bath gel than just washing your hands with soap and water.

The gel feels nourishing as you massage it onto your dry hands. Just add water and the gel transforms into a milk. It will feel so good you will want to wash for 20 seconds. Your hands will be clean and feel nourished.

TIP: You can still opt to use a hand cream or balm after washing.

The 3-in-1 is near our kitchen sink and bathroom sink now. I was so relieved that it helped soothe his dry and in-flamed hands. He didn’t need lotion after washing.  

 SHOP NOW

 

5. Use a soft high thread-count hand towel 

Treat your hands well, you need them healthy more than you know. Use a high count hand towel and change it frequently (every other day or twice a week depending on the number of people in the household). 

We have 6 people in our house and I need to change it every other day. 

We are weeks away from releasing a lotion and balm that will soothe, hydrate and protect not only your body, but your hands too. We are currently formulating the creamiest sudsy cleanser for hands and body for older babies, children and the entire family.

Subscribe to learn about product releases. 

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