Hand washing with soap
Flickr | Arlingtonva County During observational studies, the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that healthcare workers cleaned their hands, on average, from five to thirty times during a shift. Whilst this is great for infection control you may be damaging your skin if you are regularly washing your hands.
Ecolab Spirigel Complete Pump 60ml[/caption] The British Association of Dermatitis (BAD) suggests washing your hands more than 10 times a day increases your chance of skin conditions such as Dermatitis. One of the most common forms is Irritant Contact Dermatitis which has symptoms from irritation, dryness, and itching to cracking and bleeding. It is very common among medical professionals. Dermatitis can occur due to many factors, including soaps, harsh chemicals, and repeated contact with water. Frequent hand washing can remove the oils in your skin that are vital to protect and moisturize it. Without these, your hands can become dry and your skin will be more vulnerable to chemicals and irritants. Allergic Dermatitis can also occur with hand sanitizing products and gloves.
Protect Your Hands
At Medisave, we know how important it is to practice good hand hygiene but we don't want your hands to suffer. The following steps can help to reduce soreness and protect your hands.
Use an Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitiser
When hand washing use alcohol-based
hand sanitisers containing emollients (moisturizers) rather than soap to reduce Dermatitis symptoms. Emollients are a mixture of oils (creams), paraffin (ointments), and water. This hydrates and smooths the skin, helping to reduce soreness and prevent skin from becoming dry or cracked.
Ecolab Spirigel Complete Virucidal Alcohol 750ml Hand Gel[/caption]
Swap to Hand Sanitisers
These use less fluid so they are gentler on your skin. These will also last longer than a regular handwash so can be great for your budget too!
Check Your Glove Material
Check your glove material if you are getting flare-ups, you may be having an allergic reaction to the material. We sell a variety of
gloves including latex-free versions.
Ecolab Spirigel Complete Pump 500ml[/caption] When selecting a glove material (PVC, Nitrile, latex, etc) you should consider the chemicals or allergens being used. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) advises that gloves should be clean and dry inside, not broken. This is important as applying gloves to wet hands can increase the chance of skin irritation.
Wear a Barrier Cream
Wear a barrier cream when you are dealing with chemicals and gloves can't be worn. This should stop irritants from making contact with your skin. After the process, you can then cleanse your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or foam sanitizer.
Moisturize Your Hands
Moisturizing your Hands will help to reduce dryness, soreness, and cracking. Non-scented products will be less likely to cause flare-ups. Some petroleum-based moisturizers can cause Latex gloves to deteriorate, if you are working with these would be better to opt for a water-based moisturizer.
Use pH Neutral Soaps
Some situations do require hand washing with soap and water rather than using a sanitizer. The gentlest soaps will be pH-neutral. Aloe Vera is often used in moisturizers as it has great healing properties, however, we suggest choosing a lanolin option as this is a better moisturizer.
Ecolab Spirigel Complete Pouch 800ml[/caption] Although Lanolin is a great moisturizer it can sometimes cause allergic reactions, particularly if it's not a pure form. There are many Lanolin products on the market, you should opt for a pharmaceutical product containing medical-grade Lanolin. These will contain the purest form of Lanolin and will be less likely to cause allergic reactions or aggravate Dermatitis.
Visit Your GP
Please note that this is a guide to help prevent and handle dermatitis, however, it should not replace professional medical advise or HSE recommendations. If you are experiencing extremely sore hands or the symptoms do not improve please visit your GP. They can check for any skin conditions you may have and in some circumstances they may prescribe medication.
References http://www.bad.org.uk/for-the-public/patient-information-leaflets/hand-dermatitis/ http://www.eczema.org/contact-dermatitis http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/hand-care-for-healthcare-workers/ http://www.cleanlink.com/sm/article/Preventing-Dermatitis-Without-Sacrificing-Good-Hand-Hygiene--11851 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144008/ http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/04April/Pages/NICE-highlights-how-hand-washing-saves-lives.aspx
