The importance of moisturising these days

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), good hand hygiene - washing them frequently with soap and water - helps us to prevent contagion by coronavirus. But, that is not always possible. Those are the times when antibacterial and viricidal sanitising gels come into play, as they fulfil an important function. But, how does the frequent use of these products or more assiduous handwashing with soap and water affect our hands?

We must remember that water-free hand sanitisers, which contain other liquids such as alcohol, can be useful when we are not at home, for example, but not when our hands are visibly dirty. The WHO recommends using sanitisers that contain 70% ethanol.

However, frequent handwashing with soap and water, and the use of hydroalcoholic gels can have a negative effect on the skin of our hands, giving rise to dehydration, scaling or, even the appearance of cracked skin. People with sensitive skin may suffer from hand irritation and dryness due to the use of sanitising gels.

Why is moisturising important these days?

Some of the skin problems that can appear due to excessive handwashing are:

• Loss of the skin’s natural oils.

• Harm to the skin's bacterial flora.

• Worsening aspect of the skin.

• Possibility of suffering from contact allergies.

To solve these problems, professionals such as health care workers, who, due to their work, have to constantly wash their hands, apply moisturising cream quite frequently. In this way, they prevent the proliferation of pathogens that can slip through small fissures or wounds in the skin, further favoured by the skin becoming more rapidly dehydrated and even cracking.

We must apply moisturising cream after every handwash to prevent them from drying and cracking.

If the skin's natural oils disappear, the air evaporates the water and the dermis loses its turgor and it can crack more frequently, losing its elasticity. Moreover, a good practice can be putting on hand cream before going to bed.

Another option is to make our own hand mask to nourish and moisturise them: squash half an avocado with a fork – these are rich in oils and vitamin E -, and add a few spoonfuls of honey. Spread the mixture over the top of your hands and allow the skin to absorb the different components, for 20 minutes. Then rinse with warm water.

Hydrating from the inside, with a balanced diet and drinking two litres of water, can also help us keep our skin smooth.

Hand massage

Now that we are at home, we may have a bit more time to dedicate a few minutes to our hands. An ideal moment could be just before going to bed. When we apply the moisturising cream, we can also carry out a gentle massage, following these steps:

1. First, warm your hands, rubbing them together gently, as heat facilitates cream absorption.

2. Apply the moisturising cream to the palms and rub them well together, as if you were washing your hands.

3. Then, do the same with the backs of your hands, as this is the most exposed and sensitive part. The movement must be as if we were putting gloves on, massaging each finger separately, spending time on each joint applying circular movements.

4. FinFinally, we massage each hand with descending movements, from nails to wrists.

Tips to have perfect hands

• Use cold water instead of hot water to wash your hands.

• Use soap that respects the skin pH.

• Dry your hands well with a towel and avoid air dryers.

• Apply moisturising cream several times a day.

• Use rubber or latex gloves to wash up and do DIY work or gardening.

• Every night, before you go to bed, apply moisturising cream with a gentle massage to stimulate circulation.

• Avoid exposing your hands to the sun to prevent spots, or, failing this, always use a sun factor.