Patient Information

Has frequent handwashing left you with dry, cracked skin? With these tips from dermatologists you can continue to wash your hands as needed to fend off COVID-19 (coronavirus) and heal dry skin.

Here’s what dermatologists recommend:

1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in lukewarm water. Use soap, and wash every part of your hands, including between your fingers and around your nails.
   

2. Dry your hands with a clean towel but leave some water on them. You can also let your hands air dry. While your hands are slightly damp, apply your hand cream or ointment.

3. Apply a pea-sized amount of hand cream or ointment into your skin, making sure you work some of the moisturizer into your fingertips and nails. Dermatologists recommend using a hand cream or ointment that:

• Contains mineral oil or petrolatum
• Comes in a tube rather than a pump-bottle
• Says it’s “fragrance-free” and “dye-free”

This moisturizer tends to feel less irritating to dry, chapped skin.

4. When you use hand sanitizer, apply your hand cream or ointment immediately after the hand sanitizer dries. Because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to kill germs, hand sanitizer can be very drying.

5. Get your health information from a trustworthy source. Going online to chat with friends and family can be comforting. When it comes to health information, it’s essential to get accurate and reliable information, such as from your doctor, websites reviewed by doctors such as this one, and the CDC.

What the science shows

You may have seen well-meaning posts on social media about keeping your hands clean. Some posts may come from assumptions rather than science. Here’s what the science shows:

• There is no evidence that using a hand sanitizer makes it easier to pick up germs. It’s dry skin that increases your risk of picking up germs. If you have dry skin from using hand sanitizer, apply moisturizer immediately after your hand sanitizer dries.
• Handwashing helps to prevent illness, but frequent handwashing can dry your skin. To prevent and heal dry skin, apply a hand cream or ointment after you wash your hands.
• When skin is moist, it can better protect you from germs.

Infographic: Coronavirus – Is handwashing drying your skin?

This infographic provides tips to help keep your skin healthy and hydrated during frequent COVID-19 handwashing. Click the image below to download a PDF of the infographic.

Need more information?

Have questions about how to wash your hands? Want to know when to use hand sanitizer? You can get accurate information from:

• When and how to wash your hands (CDC)
• Show me the science (CDC)