Most people pay attention to their face, hair and treat other parts of the body casually one of which is your hands. On daily basis, you use your hands to do various things among which are washing clothes, plates, cleaning etc.
In the bid of doing this, the hands come in contact with substances such as detergent, soap, cleaning chemical and water that takes away from the natural protective oils that your hands produce to keep it moist. This makes your hands dry, chapped and irritable and before you know it, hand dermatitis may set in.
Here are tips to practice for good hand care
- If your hands are dirty, wash your hands with warm water and non-perfumed soap applied sparingly then rinse thoroughly.
- Remove your rings before washing your hands to avoid getting soap and moisture trapped in it.
- After washing, dry your hands with a clean towel, paying special attention to the space between your fingers.
- Regularly apply emollients (moisturizers) at intervals especially when the skin is dry and after washing your hands
- Wear cotton gloves on your hands at night after applying the moisturizer to keep the bedsheet from being stained with the oil.
- Avoid hand contact with detergents, cleaning chemicals as they irritate your skin. Always wear gloves when you are exposed to these chemicals.
- Make efforts not to get your hands oily when you are cooking this minimizes your need to clean with soap and water.
- Use more of washing machines and dishwashers and involve other family members for help with housework to give your hands rest.
- Foods can also cause irritation to the surface of your skin. Avoid peeling or chopping potatoes, chillies, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and garlic with your bare hands.
- Do not apply liquid soap, shampoo, hair dye, hair lotion or cream on your hands instead use disposable gloves when you wash your hair or children’s hair.
- Wear gloves for tasks involving contact with engine oil, grease, fiberglass, plasterboard, cement harsh cleaners or wire wool on the skin of your hands, as they are very irritating to the skin.
- Avoid any skin contact with solvents such as white spirit, turpentine, thinners, trichloroethylene alongside paints and glues.
- Health workers should use alcohol hand rubs for decontamination instead of hand washing for infection control if hands are not visibly dirty or soiled with blood or other body fluids.
Taking good care of your hands helps to keep the skin on your hands and fingers supple and healthy repair your skin and prevent damage. It boosts your all round confidence when you shake or hold hands with people.
