The Complete Handwashing Routine That’s Perfect for Sensitive Skin
9 steps for a complete handwashing routine
In light of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it’s more important than ever to follow a proper handwashing routine. Good hand hygiene is essential for keeping your hands clean and healthy.
However, if you have sensitive skin, frequent handwashing can cause it to become dry and cracked.
So, how can you wash your hands thoroughly and regularly without your skin drying out? It couldn’t be easier!
With this comprehensive 9-step routine, you can keep your hands clean and healthy, and your sensitive skin
moisturised.
Where possible, remove all jewelry because dirt, bacteria, germs and viruses will remain under it. You should clean these separately. If there’s anything you can’t remove, wash the jewelry well while washing your hands.
Always use warm water to wash your hands because hot water can cause increased skin sensitivity, dryness or damage to your skin’s delicate surface.
Choose a gentle cleanser. Rub generously into your hands to create a rich lather. Make sure the cleanser is distributed evenly across the palms of your hands.
Interlace your fingers to work the cleanser between your fingers, making sure it covers all areas of your skin.
Clean the backs of your hands, once again interlacing your fingers to make sure the cleanser reaches every part of your skin.
It’s important to also clean your fingertips, nails and wrists thoroughly.
Once every area of your hands has been cleansed, rinse them thoroughly with water because a build-up of soap residue can irritate your skin.
When your skin is sensitive, it is better to dab it dry using paper towels or a single-use clean cloth. Avoid excess rubbing as this can irritate your sensitive skin.
To keep your hands healthy between washes, nourish your skin with a moisturiser like Cetaphil Moisturising Cream to help maintain your skin’s natural protective barrier and prevent dryness.
WHO (World Health Organization) and CDC guidelines show that a handwashing routine should take about as long as singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice (at least 20 seconds).
We’ve also put together a short video that illustrates this easy-to-follow handwashing routine that keeps your hands healthy and clean and your skin moisturised.
Good hand hygiene is now more critical than ever.
Click here and find out more about our full line of Cetaphil Cleansers and Moisturisers to complement your complete handwashing routine.
Cetaphil is a gentle skincare brand that has been recommended and trusted by dermatologists and is today used by millions of people with sensitive skin from all around the world.
