Dermatologists have explained whether antiseptics are really useful

High-quality cleansing of the skin of the hands is a natural human need in everyday life. However, in recent years, the coronavirus pandemic has led to the need to not only clean, but also disinfect the skin to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. Disinfectants promise to cleanse and disinfect the skin, but can sometimes cause dryness and cracks, so their choice should be taken seriously.

Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy, and disinfecting can help keep germs out. Certified dermatologists shared information with EveryDayHealth on how to choose disinfectants and not damage the skin.

Regular, thorough hand washing with soap and water is effective enough to fight germs, but sometimes there is a need to use antiseptics. So, if you’re on the road and can’t wash your hands, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a good option.

However, according to dermatologists, the frequent use of such products can have unpleasant consequences, namely break the skin bar‘ep and excessively dry the skin of the hands. In people who already have skin conditions, such as eczema, the use of disinfectants can cause deterioration and lead to redness, inflammation, and flaking.

Fortunately, modern industry offers the latest antisepticswhich combine the ingredients needed to fight infection-causing microorganisms and traditional moisturizing ingredients.

Choosing the right hand sanitizer use the advice of experts:

Study the composition and alcohol content. According to dermatologist Karan Lal, ethyl alcohol kills germs better than isopropyl alcohol. Besides, most effective products with an alcohol content of 60 to 95%, however, to prevent excessive dryness of the skin, it is better to choose average values. At the same time, pay attention to and avoid products with a possible hidden content of methanol, which can have dangerous consequences for the body.

Choose an alternative. If you have extremely sensitive skin, consider using an alcohol-free hand sanitizer. A good alternative could be products with benzalkonium chloridebecause according to the study, it is able to deactivate the COVID-19 virus both on the skin and surfaces.

Look for moisturizing ingredients. Glycerin, coconut oil or squalene – all of these ingredients in the composition of antiseptic products can retain moisture inside and prevent dry skin.

Avoid fragrances. For people who have sensitive skin or suffer from eczema, fragrance can disrupt the skin barrier and make the condition worse.

As you can see, if you need to use disinfectants, there are many opportunities to choose safe options that do not harm the skin too much. However, even to them, dermatologists advise to be careful and use traditional moisturizers for the skin of the hands and do not forget about daily care.

Earlier, GLOBAL HAPPENINGS spoke about the features of hand skin care. Experts explained that to prevent dry skin, you should wash your hands with room temperature water and use a moisturizer.