This small task that we have to do every day may be repeatedly irritating our skin, making our hands increasingly rough!

How many times do people wash their hands a day? There are so many times when you need to wash your hands that it's hard to imagine:

Wash before and after meals; Touched and washed public items; Wash up and make breakfast in the morning; Go to the company to wash hands and cups; At night, when we go home to wash vegetables, cook, wash dishes, wash our children's hands and face... our hands have been touching water in pieces all day. But the more frequently they touch water, the less moist their hands become, and instead they feel a bit tight. The back of their hand no longer feels smooth to the touch, and the edges of their fingers become rough.

Why are your hands getting drier and drier despite being exposed to water every day?

Water temporarily wets the skin ≠ can moisturize

There is a layer of stratum corneum on the surface of the skin, which can be understood as a wall. Keratinocytes are like bricks, and the lipids between them are the material that fills the gaps between the bricks, forming a skin barrier that helps reduce water loss and resist external stimuli.

Skin structure: When washing hands, the stratum corneum temporarily absorbs some moisture, but this moisture does not stay for a long time. At the same time, the skin on the hands also experiences these challenges:

Repeated exposure to cleaning products. Hand sanitizer, soap, and dishwashing liquid can remove dirt and grease. When used frequently and in contact for a long time, hands may feel more dry and uncomfortable. If the skin's tolerance is average and it happens to come into contact with products that have a strong cleaning power, the irritation cannot be ignored.

Continuously switching between dry and wet states. Wash hands and wipe dry; Wash and dry again later... This scene will repeat many times a day, increasing the burden of skin irritation.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 45 studies found that washing hands ≥ 8-10 times a day is associated with a higher risk of hand eczema (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.35-1.68); When the frequency of hand washing reaches ≥ 15-20 times/day, the associated risk further increases (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.51-1.83). But this observational study only indicates correlation and does not necessarily mean that an increase in hand washing frequency will lead to hand eczema.

Repeated friction after cleaning. After washing our hands, we may use a towel or tissue to rub back and forth vigorously until they are dry. The purpose is correct, but the technique is not advisable. Wiping vigorously may increase mechanical irritation, especially when the skin is already dry and rough, further damaging barrier function. The WHO guidelines also point out that frequent and repeated hand hygiene may lead to dry, hot, rough, flaky, and even cracked skin.

Dry and rough hands, as well as fragmented 'wet work'. Although "wet work" is an occupational hygiene concept, many household chores have similar exposure patterns: repeated exposure to water, contact with cleaning products, and friction. It seems like just doing some housework, but in fact, the skin barrier of both hands has never had a chance to breathe.

We are at home: picking vegetables, washing vegetables, and processing ingredients; Washing pots, dishes, and wiping the stove; Hand washing clothes; Clean the room; Washing bottles, cups, and utensils; Wash hands, face, and bathe children.

At the office: wash hands after arriving at the company; Wash hands before and after meals; Wash fruits and cups; Wash hands again after cleaning the desktop.

Everything doesn't take long, and we rarely consider these actions as continuous skin exposure. It wasn't until one day after washing my hands that I started to feel tight, peeling, or prickly, that I realized my hands had already accumulated injuries. Hands still need to be washed, the key is not to miss this step!

We absolutely do not advocate washing hands less for the sake of skincare. When dealing with food, using the toilet, or getting dirty hands, we still need to wash them carefully. But adjustments can be made in some details:

Avoid washing hands with obviously hot water for a long time (especially in autumn and winter), gently press dry after washing, do not repeatedly rub with towels or rough paper, and reduce unnecessary contact with cleaning agents when doing household chores. You can consider wearing protective gloves. The most important thing is to moisturize and care for your hands while the skin is slightly moist (such as applying hand cream), and do not wait until it is obviously tight or peeling before thinking about it.