“Hand Cleaning is the First Step of Individual Hygiene” We have been listening and reading this sentence recently. It is one of the important and necessary steps to be taken by everyone in preventing the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the world.
WHEN SHOULD HAND WASH?
- Before and after food preparation
- Before and after eating
- Before using the toilet, after leaving the toilet
- Sneezing after coughing
- Before cleaning teeth, mouth, face, eyes
- After nasal cleaning
- After coughing and sneezing
- After touching garbage and spoiled food
- After touching uncooked food
- After using public transport
- After contact with animals
- After hands are visibly soiled
- When we enter the house from the outside, we must definitely wash it.
With the spread of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic, the importance of personal hygiene habits to prevent the spread of the virus has started to be emphasized. For this purpose, we warn that hands should be washed with soap frequently to protect against the corona virus. Frequent hand washing; It is one of the easiest, most effective and important methods we can do individually against this epidemic worldwide.
On this occasion, I would like to address this issue. Hands should be washed with water and normal soap for at least 20 seconds. Hands are first wet and then the soap is distributed over all surfaces of the hands. The edges and tips of the wrists, palms, back and fingers and nails are lathered with soap and rubbed vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Hands are rinsed with plenty of water. The faucet was covered with a paper towel on which we set our hands.
IS THERE HARD WASHING HANDS?
Our hands are constantly in contact with the external environment and are our most exposed organ to a wide variety of irritants and allergens. Frequent washing, soaps, cleansers and disinfectants are dry products, as they disrupt the natural structure of the skin and cause a decrease in the amount of moisture, complaints such as drying, cracking, peeling and hand eczema may occur.
WHAT IS HAND EXERCISE (HAND DERMATITIS)?
Hand eczema is a very common skin disease in the community and occurs with redness, dryness, cracking, tingling, dandruff, crusting, blisters filled with water, and irrigation. Dry air in the winter causes the skin to dry as well, and hand eczema is more common in the winter.
Hand eczema; It most often develops due to skin irritation after excessive contact with water, dry air, soap, detergents, chemicals, rubber gloves, personal care products. Although the disease is seen all over the world, it can be seen more frequently in atopic individuals who are prone to hereditary skin reactions.
Antibacterial soaps can increase eczema by disrupting the protective lipid layer on the skin surface. Due to the increased frequency of hand washing in recent weeks, the number of patients suffering from hand eczema has started to increase. So, can’t we wash our hands because of frequent washing eczema? Of course, we will wash effectively, especially during a serious viral epidemic that is causing most of the people we are in to get sick and die, so frequent and effective washing is essential.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO PROTECT OUR HANDS?
In the above mentioned mandatory situations, hands should be washed. Colorless, odorless soap bars should be preferred especially for hand cleaning. Some chemicals are added when soap is liquefied or color and fragrance are added. This increases the risk of allergic reactions. If we moisturize our hands after an effective hand wash, we will prevent the development of eczema. To achieve this, every household should have soap dispensers as well as a moisturizer. There is no need to use very expensive products for moisturizing, you can use moisturizers that dermatologists can prescribe.
Hands should be washed with warm water, not very hot-cold water. For hand washing use, moisturizing soaps (olive oil-coconut oil-aloe vera-argan oil-glycerin) may be preferred. After washing our hands, a moisturizing cream should be applied immediately after drying. The use of moisturizers is very helpful in replacing the natural oils lost by the skin by washing. Since the moisturizing cream will not have any effect when we wash our hands, it is necessary to apply again and again.
In cases requiring prolonged contact with water and detergents, except when hand washing is necessary, hands should be protected by wearing protective gloves. Cotton lined gloves should be preferred or 100% cotton gloves should be worn with dishwashing gloves.
If, despite all the precautions, eczema develops, we prescribe drugs in the form of therapeutic creams, making mixtures that moisturize the skin, accelerate its regeneration and barrier formation. Cortisone creams are mostly used to treat hand eczema, but they can also have side effects in the long term. Therefore, it should not be used continuously in the form of daily hand cream and the treatment should be used as recommended by the doctor.
After healing, moisturizer should be applied frequently, especially barrier creams are effective. Hands should be protected by wearing gloves in cold weather. When our hands do not come into contact with water for a long time at night, applying plenty of moisturizer will speed up healing. In addition to using a moisturizer, it is important to remember to consume at least 2-3 liters of water per day.
