Hand Washing Tips to Avoid Dry Hands

Handwashing is extremely important right now. One of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and other viruses and bacteria’s, is by upping your daily handwashing. In fact, healthcare experts even recommend washing your hands to the tune of the “Happy Birthday” song twice over (time to make that your new daily singalong!) 

The downside to all of that extra scrubbing can lead to your hands feeling dry, chapped, and itchy. Besides just the uncomfortable and irritating feeling of dry hands, those cracks in your skin can actually lead to an increased risk of infection too. That’s why washing your hands properly — and taking extra care of them afterwards — is more important than ever. Here’s how:

Keep It Cool

Perfecting your handwashing technique to avoid damaging your hands is first and foremost. Use a cool, lukewarm water temperature — not a boiling, hot one. There is currently no evidence that the hotter the temperature, the more likely you are to kill the germs on your hands. Instead, hotter water will just make those precious hands of yours dry out more quickly.

Be Gentle

Drying your hands is just as important as the actual washing. Not drying your hands completely or properly after washing them can actually lead to a further spread of bacteria. To avoid drying your hands out, make sure to pat your hands gently when drying them. Using a towel to roughly dry your hands post-wash can be damaging.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

After your hand washing is complete, apply a moisturizing product while skin is still damp. Moisturizers should be free of any harsh chemicals and fragrances. Look for ones that are gentle and safe to use on even the most sensitive skin types. Check out our dermatologist-recommended Sweet Bee Magic to help hydrate your skin.