To stem the tide of COVID-19, the advice from all major health bodies is to wash your hands properly and frequently. Yet, regular hand washing can exacerbate skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis. In this characteristic, we ask the experts for advice.

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Washing the hands regularly and thoroughly is one of the all-time means to tedious down the spread of SARS-CoV-ii.

Starting in Wuhan, China, the novel coronavirus — now named SARS-CoV-2 — has reached every continent on earth except Antarctica.

Considering the virus is new to scientific discipline, researchers are still searching for ways to prevent, treat, or cure the disease.

Institutions, such as the World Health Arrangement (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have prepare out their recommendations. At the forefront of these is thorough hand washing with booze-based paw gels or soap and water.

Hand washing is one of the about powerful ways to irksome the spread of infectious diseases.

However, for individuals with peculiarly dry skin or skin weather, such every bit eczema or psoriasis, excessive hand washing can effect in skin damage and sore hands. Even for individuals with good for you pare, overuse of soaps and hand sanitizers can cause the skin to dry out out and fissure.

Every bit Dr. Zainab Laftah, consultant dermatologist and a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation explained to Medical News Today:

"Repetitive use of hand sanitizers and hand washing can strip the proteins in the epidermis (top skin layer), leading to a compromise of the skin barrier and, therefore, the risk of infection. Additionally, soaps can requite ascension to irritant hand dermatitis, which presents as dry, flaky, itchy red skin, especially in the finger web spaces and on the duke."

To avoid this, Dr. Laftah recommends "the employ of a regular moisturizer."

Individuals with preexisting pare conditions are more than at chance of skin harm. These people "may benefit from hand washing with a moisturizer that contains an antibacterial ingredient, for example, chlorhexidine or benzalkonium chloride," explains Dr. Laftah.

Nonetheless, she notes that a recent report reported that "paw sanitizers containing these biocidal ingredients were less effective than alcohol-based hand gels at eradicating the coronavirus."

Also moisturizing, it is besides important to dry out hands thoroughly. This is of import for 2 reasons: firstly, germs are transferred more than hands between moisture hands.

Secondly, as Dr. Laftah explains, "water itself has a drying result on the skin by reducing the skin'due south natural oils when it evaporates, thus impairing the skin barrier."

Overall, Dr. Laftah recommends either of the post-obit 2 options:

  • Wash with soap or with moisturizer and water, then moisturize.
  • Utilize an alcohol-based hand gel and and then moisturize afterward. Moisturizing at the same time might compromise the anti-microbial properties of the hand gel.

She adds that a "moisturizer that lathers can act as a lather substitute and will be less drying on the easily; therefore, those with cracked peel may notice this more soothing."

Post-obit on from this, Dr. Adil Sheraz, also a consultant dermatologist and a spokesperson for the British Peel Foundation, explained to MNT, "If patients experience the need to utilize alcohol or sanitizing gel, (this may exacerbate the eczema or skin condition), then apply emollient immediately later on to minimize peel irritation."

We contacted the British Association of Dermatologists who were keen to stress that they "don't want to deter people from following regime guidance on reducing the take a chance of coronavirus infection, manus washing being a central part of this."

Notwithstanding, they practice offer the following advice to help minimize the impact that increased hand washing might have on already damaged skin:

  • Moisturizers, or emollients, are vital for treating hand dermatitis. They help repair damaged outer skin and lock moisture inside. People should apply them repeatedly throughout the day, and whenever the peel feels dry out.
  • Applying an emollient after washing the hands tin can help. They advise that some individuals might do good from applying emollient to their hands overnight while wearing cotton wool gloves.
  • When washing the dishes, using cleaning products, or shampooing a kid's hair, a person can protect their hands by wearing latex or rubber gloves.

Some pare conditions accept an immune component. For this reason, doctors sometimes prescribe immunosuppressants, including methotrexate and ciclosporin.

Some individuals take shown concern and are asking whether they should stop taking their medication.

According to Dr. Sheraz, "There is no skilful testify that existence on immune-suppression necessarily increases the risk of getting COVID-19 or that the disease has a more than severe course in such people. Even so, there is still a lot to learn about the virus, and following government advice is vital."

The British Association of Dermatologists reiterate this stance. They brand it clear that "creams used for skin conditions, in the correct quantities recommended past dermatologists or [doctors], are not probable to increment the risks of getting COVID-19 or having a more severe form of the illness."

They write that "At nowadays, nigh people are choosing to continue treatment until there is evidence on which to base advice. […] Any decision fabricated about stopping treatment should include the consideration that your skin condition may deteriorate. It may also be more difficult to access healthcare services over the upcoming months."

"Unfortunately there is no blanket answer for these patients," Dr. Sheraz told MNT, "a decision will need to be made on a case to case basis. Stopping immune-suppressing medication may well result in a outburst of the underlying condition. This will need to exist taken into account."

The overarching themes are that hand washing is essential and that individuals who have especially dry hands or peel conditions should use emollients to minimize damage and consider buying emollient soap substitutes.