The skin's primary protective layer is the stratum corneum, also known as the top layer. This layer is constantly disturbed by regular hand washing and repeated exposure to water, soap, and skin cleansers. This eventually results in irritation, dry skin, and more disturbance of the skin barrier. Hand dermatitis, or more precisely, irritating contact dermatitis, inevitably follows from this.
Not to mention harsh cleaning chemicals during dishwashing and other household chores. It's actually quite easy to figure out why your dish soaps are making your hands dry. Dish soaps are meant to clean and remove all of the oily, baked-on, and sticky residue from your dishes; however, in the process of doing so, they also remove the natural oils from your skin, which can cause dry skin. Take a look at how to care for dry skin!
Avoid Dry Skin While Doing Kitchen Chores
Hand Sanitizers Or Soap Substitute
Skin that is readily inflamed is more common in people with eczema or those who have previously experienced contact dermatitis. While they can still use hand sanitizers, it's recommended they wash with softer soap-free cleansers rather than standard soap. This also applies to dish washing. Go for detergents that are natural or organic.
Synthetic detergents (synsets) without a soap base are present in soap-free cleansers. Syndets offer the advantage of having the same pH as skin while having a sanitising effect that is almost exactly the same as soap. This indicates that they are less irritating and less prone to remove the oils from the skin's outer layer.
Dry Hands
To lessen dermatitis brought on by trapped water or detergent, make sure you completely dry your hands, including the spaces between your fingers and under your rings. Excessive moisture, soap residues, and water trapped between the skin and underlying rings can all cause skin irritation and breakdown.
Avoid Fragrances
Preventing fragrances is advised since they have the potential to induce allergic contact dermatitis. Different formulas are available for washing detergents. These have a light viscosity and are easy to use, but they need to be used more. Avoid heavy fragrance detergents and cleaning products to avoid much damage. You can use recommended creams and ointments due to their thicker and oilier textures, which work well for dry hands for after care by doctors too.
Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitiser
By minimising your skin's exposure to water, alcohol-based hand sanitiser can help lessen your chance of developing dermatitis. When you're not at home and don't have access to a wash basin for washing your hands, it might be a good choice. People can mistakenly assume that if hand sanitiser hurts a paper cut, they have an allergy. However, even though this is an uncomfortable reaction, it is safe to continue using it.
Gloves
When performing home tasks like dishwashing or gardening, put on protective gloves. When performing dry tasks like cleaning or sweeping, put on cotton gloves to preserve your hands and reduce the need to wash them. At night, moisturise your hands, then wear cotton gloves. This acts like an intensive hand mask and works wonders for very dry skin. It ensures the moisturiser stays on your hands and increases its penetration into your skin.