The Science of Hand washing: Rub, Don’t Scrub and Do Hydrate
As we brace ourselves against the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we promote simple and safe practices such as regular hand washing.
The ubiquitous advice to wash our hands to hinder the spread of COVID-19 has led to a catch-22, some of us may be overdoing it.
The apparent ease with which COVID-19 spreads means that healthcare workers are washing or sanitizing their hands hundreds of times each day…whether at work or within our homes.
Washing with harsh soaps over and over again may clear any infectious agents from the skin, but at the same time it may destroy the protective barrier that protects us from other pathogens. Our skin is the first line of defence against pathogens and we do not want to lose this.
We don’t necessarily need to stop washing our hands as often, but we need to put moisturizer on damp skin to trap water and give our skin what it needs to heal.
The stratum corneum breaks down when it senses dehydration and because the pH of skin is acidic and most soaps have a pH higher than 7, they disrupt acid balance in the skin.
And errors in technique add to the inherent pitfalls of constant hand washing.
Rub Palm to Palm, Back to Back of Hands, over the Fingers Into the Web Spaces, Around Nails, and Up the Wrists. Covering the entire hand is necessary, but there’s a fine line between rubbing and scrubbing.
The biggest mistake is using super-hot water which we erroneously feel is necessary to leave washed hands germ-free. Lukewarm or cool water works just as well when combined with soap to remove pathogens, but isn’t as likely to cause irritation that leads to chapping and subsequent skin infections.
Please stay safe and use these simple tips to keep yourself and your family healthy.