How to protect skin from drying out during Covid-19

Viruses, germs, and other pathogens such as Covid-19 can stay active on surfaces for long periods of time and are easily transferred to the hands when contact is made. This results in the hands being one of the most transferable areas of diseases and bacteria. When  a person makes contact with bacteria and moves on and touches other surfaces or their own body parts, they spread those pathogens even further. Thus, washing the hands often with antibacterial soap or applying antibacterial sanitiser stops the line of transmission by neutralising the pathogens and cleaning the hands. With clean hands, it is less likely a person will spread bacteria, diseases and viruses to their face or other surfaces.

But all that sanitising and washing of hands can create a different set of problems, such as dry, irritated skin. This happens when we're frequently washing or sanitising, as this strips our skin of its natural oils and breaks down the skin's protective barrier. That's why we at Bright Lab Sydney have created a hygiene range that includes hydrating and replenishing ingredients to nourish skin whilst also being effective at ridding all the baddies with a 99.99% kill rate of germs and bacteria. 

Check out these additional ways to reduce the stress of cleansing on our skin

• Use gentle, moisturising soaps that do not contain a high PH. Soaps with creamy consistencies are better. Wash gently to avoid aggravating sensitive skin. Soaps that contain lanolin and glycerin are good choices.
• Use warm rather than hot water and apply plenty of soap. Hot water strips hands of their natural oils.
• Whenever possible, apply a moisturiser after washing your hands to restore the epidermis barrier function, fill small cracks, soothe the skin, and give hands a protective barrier. If dry skin on the hands is a problem, use a gentle soap, soak hands in plain lukewarm water for five minutes, apply moisturiser and, finally, wear gloves for one to two hours.
• For excessively dry skin or conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, use a skin balm such as Vaseline after sanitising hands.
• You may need to substitute a soap for sensitive skin, soap-free hand wash, or bright Lab Sydney hand sanitiser for the effective cleansing soap-free and without water.
• After washing hands, do not rub them dry. Instead, blot hands dry with paper towels or soft cloth. Rubbing causes small abrasions on the skin. Each person should have their own towel that is changed often.

Is your hand hygiene routine recking havoc on your skin? Let us know if you'll use our tips and what your thoughts are below!