A handy defense for over-sanitized skin
With flu season in full swing, so is hand washing. But all the soaps and sanitizers can take a toll on the skin and leave your hands dry and cracked. And, when your skin is dry and cracked, it can leave it defenseless against germs.
Virtua dermatologist Germaine Camishion, MD, says, “Right after washing your hands or using hand sanitizer, it’s important to moisturize with a rich hand cream.”
Using a cream specifically made for hands is important as these usually absorb quickly and don’t leave your hands feeling greasy. If your hands are extremely dry or cracked, Dr. Camishion recommends coating them with hand cream or petroleum jelly nightly and covering them with clean, white socks. This warms the cream and keeps it from rubbing off, so it can soak into your skin overnight. You’ll wake up with softer hands and a tougher shield against germs.