Hand Washing: Can You Go Too Far?
We’ve all seen the signs and heard the announcements. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid contacting, or passing along, all kinds of illnesses.
Many of us carry hand sanitizers at all times, ready to pull out at the first sign of germs or dirt. Hand sanitizers are also popping up in unexpected places. In recent days, I’ve seen them at the reception desk in a hotel, in a hotel’s bar, in a coffee shop next to the cash register, and next to the cash register at my local grocery store.
I work around a lot of people, many of whom seem to be coughing and sneezing on a regular basis. A couple months ago, I decided to ramp up my hand washing. I was quite pleased with my efforts to try and avoid disease, until I encountered a side-effect of frequent hand washing.
At first, my hands started itching, just a bit. Then, I noticed a few red spots on the sides of my hands. I thought it was an allergic reaction of some kind, and started popping allergy medications. It didn’t help. In fact, the itching and redness started spreading.
Finally, I went to my dermatologist, who told me that it wasn’t an allergic reaction, it was the result of too frequent hand washing. I had a serious case of dry hands. She commented that she was seeing a lot of similar problems this fall. And what are you supposed to do to avoid this problem? Don’t wash your hands so frequently. Talk about mixed messages.
I’ve settled on a compromise that so far is working. I’m washing my hands just as much, but am using intensive efforts to avoid extreme dryness. I’ve purchased some really gloppy, greasy hand ointments, slather them on my hands a couple times a day, and then put on gloves. At other times, the minute I wash my hands, I use shea butter lotion to fight dry hands.
Are you washing your hands more than usual? Have you experienced any side effects?
LinnieGayl
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I have OCD so I wash my hands a /lot/. Yeah, my hands have started to bleed again. It’s that time of year. Hand lotions and vaseline work well to treat it.
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I had this problem awhile back and I started carrying antibacterial cleansing wipes with aloe around with me and used those on my hands instead of washing them. My viral infection rate remained the same. The problem finally cleared up and I went back to soap. I now use the hand milled soaps sold at trader joe’s; lavender is my favorite. i haven’t had any problems. I do not need to use oil or lotion on my hands and i swim in chlorine several times a week. a friend of mine who used lotion extensively on herself developed a bad all over skin problem (hands plus other places). her dermatologist told her that human skin is not meant to be constantly scrubbed and oiled. she had created the problem. he cut her down on the scrubbing and wouldn’t let her use any lotions at all. it took months to clear up. she’s remained on his regime for years and never had a problem again.
My daughter has always had very sensitive skin and I’m a little worried about her overwashing. She has to wear gloves in the winter (forgets all the time though) and her hands get like red claws. The very best for dry and problem hands is..Aquaphor. Put it on at night (it’s reallly greasy) and your hands are soft and healed in the morning. Our favorite hand lotion is Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion. It works right away and is fragrance free. Personally, I like the Bliss hand lotion too, but it does have a lemon scent
The skin on my hands definitely shows effects from washing sometimes, but what I’ve observed is that what really matters is the DRYING after the washing. If I thoroughly dry my hands after washing I usually have no problem. It is when the immediate drying is not thorough, leaving residual dampness to air dry, that my skin has problems.
Caro, I’ve never heard of Soap-on-the-Go, but will look for it.
You can also get a marvellous product called Soap-on-the-Go (soap in a push-up tube), which allows you to use your own soap when you’re out and about. I originally bought it to use when travelling because I’m allergic to many scented soaps, particularly those liquid ones that are used in many public restrooms.
Oh Tee, I’m not insulted at all by your original post. I’m afraid that for awhile I did go overboard on the hand washing. I’m still going to wash a lot, but will definitely be using common sense…and also slathering on the moisturizer.
Diana, I love a lot of Bliss products, but have never tried their moisturizing gloves.
Mary, I was taught to cover up a cough with my hand, and am now relearning the elbow thing.
My child says the kids learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow at school with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don’t!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference. There is also an entertaining DVD that teaches them in a fun way the elbow cough, as well as other important hygiene habits.
Us too. I just use less of it, and like you, lather up on moisturizer at home before I go to bed. The commercial stuff really sucks, eh.
Tee – with you on the going overboard. NZ has had a scare recently with swine flu, but I gotta say the notices haven’t changed people’s practices much. They still use towels and bar soaps and whatnot, and they’re not fanatic about it. Which could be why swine flu is passed around.
LinnieGayl, that last sentence of my post, after I reread it and submitted it, sounded a bit harsh. But that’s not the way I intended it. Sorry about that. I wish we had the ability to change a post after submission here on the blogs. I was just trying to stress how it’s almost impossible to keep our hands 100% clean considering all the contact we have thru the day with other people and the things all of us touch.
Caro and Jean, at work I don’t have any choice about soap. it’s a public bathroom, and they use a liquid soap (I’m betting a really cheap one). At home I’m going to have to look for milder soaps. Thanks.
Bliss has a great product in their softening gloves. If you can bear to sleep in them a couple of nights a week…which does take some getting used to. I can wear them now while I read on Kindle. They’re too clunky to turn pages with, but Kindle neatly solves that problem. Bliss softening socks are da bomb for dry feet. They’re hideously ugly and not sexy, but they sure get the job done!
Oh, yeah, we Americans do like to go overboard on things. I agree, Jean. Common sense should play into this. Wash your hands, but don’t get ridiculous about it. We will never be spotlessly clean, considering all the things we touch that other people also touch all throughout the day. Think of the grocery shopping carts, door handles, paper money and coins. The list is endless. A person who’s that OCD on washing hands should just wear latex gloves all day long.
It’s like washing your hair too much – over-washing rids your hair of its natural (and necessary) ability to produce healthy oils. I only wash my hands as much as necessary to be hygienic, but no more. I also find that liquid soap is harsher than bar soap. Strangely enough.
I don’t know what kind of soap you’re using to wash your hands, but many commercials brands have all sorts of chemicals and compounds that will make your skin very dry. For the last few years, I’ve been using castile soaps (made with olive oil) and other mild soaps (bought mostly from Etsy sellers) to help with the dry skin issue. My mother found that it alleviated the dry skin on her hands and now she refuses to use anything else. It may cost more, but your skin is worth it!