In the coronavirus era, everyone’s hands are taking a beating. Frequent hand washing—and wearing latex or nitrile gloves—can parch skin, as can using hand sanitizers and hand wipes with high levels of alcohol, which is extremely drying. But here’s how to treat dry hands during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tips on Keeping Hands Soft
There are a few strategies you can use to counteract the effects of frequent hand washing and sanitizing:
• Wash with gentle soaps. Experts have said that as long as you’re washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, you’ll get rid of germs. You don’t need a special antibacterial soap to do that. If possible, your soap should contain aloe or witch hazel as these ingredients won’t strip essential oil from the skin.
• When cleaning surfaces with anti-viral wipes and sprays, use reusable dishwashing gloves, if you have them. The surface of these gloves can be washed with soap and water, and the gloves can be re-used. Also wear these gloves when washing dishes as soaking hands in water constantly can also dry skin.
If you don’t have a pair of re-usable gloves, and can’t get a pair, wear a pair of your latex or nitrile gloves, again if you have them. Wearing gloves will help prevent your hands from drying out further. If you don’t have gloves, follow my other tips listed here.
• Avoid overly hot water, which can draw moisture from the skin. It’s tempting to want to turn up the heat on your water to get rid of the virus and keep things clean, but simply warm, not hot, water and soap will get rid of germs—provided you rub your hands together and wash them for at least 20 seconds.
• Moisturize frequently. If you can, apply a moisturizer after washing hands every time. This way, you’ll help avoid painful, cracked skin. Rub the moisturizer into cuticles too, particularly before bed. (Or you can use a cuticle oil, if you have one.)
Nighttime is actually the best time to apply moisturizers to skin (of both the hands and the face and neck) as this is when the skin typically repairs and renews itself.
Hydrating ingredients to look for in moisturizers include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and oils like evening primrose oil, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, and sunflower oil. Certain ingredients can also help soothe irritated skin; these include aloe, witch hazel, and chamomile.
The Best Hands Creams
If you need a good hand cream, and can have one delivered to you, these are some of my favorites. If you can’t buy a cream now, keep in mind that massaging an oil from your pantry—like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil—into your skin and cuticles can also help. You can also break open a vitamin E or evening primrose oil pill, if you have them on hand, and massage that oil into skin too. It’s important to do whatever you can for your skin during this time.
Best Anti-Aging Hand Cream
Blue Mercury HydraBoost M61 Hand Cream ($18) is rich in skin-plumping and hydrating hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, vitamin B5, and avocado oil. It’s a great deal for just $18.
Most Hardworking
Aquaphor Healing Ointment ($14) is thicker and greasier than any of the other products here but it works. It soothes extremely dry skin and cuticles, as well as chapped lips, and other skin irritations. Buy the handy tub and keep it by your bed to rub into parched hands before sleep and you’ll have softer hands come morning.
Best for Sensitive Skin
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream ($14) is rich in ceramides (essential lipids found naturally in the skin) and soothing colloidal oatmeal. Buy the pump variety and keep it by your sink and it will last you a long time (at least until this coronavirus pandemic ends).
Most Luxurious Hand Cream
Olivia Giacobetti Frédéric Malle Iris Hand Cream ($75) is part perfume, with its woody, musk scent, and part silky hand cream. If you’re in the need of a little luxury these days (who isn’t?), then this is for you.
Best Natural Hand Cream
Beauty Counter Hand Cream in Citrus Mimosa ($16) contains natural ingredients like shea butter, organic sunflower oil, vitamin E, aloe, calendula, and chamomile—without potentially harmful ingredients. And the citrus scent is subtly invigorating (a little bit of necessary spa right now).
Best All in One
Milk + Honey Hand Sanitizer, No 08 ($8) is a plant-based spray sanitizer with lavender, eucalyptus, and sixty percent alcohol (the necessary amount to kill the coronavirus, according to the CDC). While not technically a hand “cream,” what’s best about this handy product is that it also contains glycerin to help moisturize hands while getting rid of germs. Brilliant! (Note: It’s backordered right now, but they’re shipping new orders soon.)
You can stay germ (and virus) free by keeping your hands clean and hydrated at the same time. Do your skin a favor and follow these tips on how to treat dry hands during the coronavirus pandemic.