EAST NORRITON, Pa. (WLVT) — Are you washing your hands so much that they hurt?
If so, you’re not alone.
"There are people who get dry hands this time of year just because of the cold weather," Dr. Angie Nicholas, Chief Medical Officer at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, told PBS39. She says washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of Covid-19 and other bacteria and microbes.
But, if frequent hand washing causes dry skin, she says to avoid using hot water.
"Those really hot showers take the moisture right out of your skin," said Nicholas.
Hand sanitizers, which should contain at least 60% ethanol or ethyl alcohol, also contribute to dry, cracked and itchy hands.
"Sometimes, you won’t be near a sink and you’re going to have to use hand sanitizer," said Nicholas. "It’s a convenience factor. We have to do whatever we can to keep our hands clean."
She explained how to know if a skin blister is actually a chilblain, the lesions associated with some cases of Covid-19. They generally show up on fingers or toes, which is how they got the nickname “Covid Toes.”
"Chilblains are essentially a discoloration of the extremities and can cause blisters, soreness and swelling," she explained. "I know some patients who say it’s painful, others say it’s not. For some people, it’s the only telltale sign of Covid-19. It looks odd, it’s not subtle at all."
If you notice discolored blisters on your fingers or toes, Nicholas says to inform your doctor right away.
Dr. Nazanin Saedi teaches dermatology at Thomas Jefferson University and is the director of the Jefferson Health Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology Center in Philadelphia. She says people with dry skin should continue to wash their hands and moisturize daily.
"The problem is that when your hands are dry or cracked, it creates little ports of entry for infection," Saedi told PBS39. "You’ll want to continue to wash your hands, but also use moisturizer regularly, to strengthen the skin barrier."
To find the right moisturizer, Saedi says to check the ingredients on the label.
"There’s certain ingredients in hand products that you want to look for that will help lock in moisture. I recommend petroleum jelly-based products and those that contain ceramide, which helps to rebuild the skin barrier," said Saedi. "Glycerin is another agent that helps lock in moisture. As far as products go, I'm a fan of thick creams like Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula hand cream."
Both doctors agree that scented moisturizers should be avoided.
"Avoid the scented lotions," added Nicholas. "While they smell nice, they’re not really good moisturizers. Go for thick lotions like Bag Balm, Vaseline or Eucerin. Hydrocortisone cream, which you can get over-the-counter, helps reduce skin irritation and inflammation. If you can stand it, sleep with the lotion on with gloves on your hand. You can also put lotion on and wrap your hands in Saran wrap for a half hour to lock in moisture."
The CDC says frequent hand washing remains one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading Covid-19.