What we thought we knew about hand washing has evolved for most people over a very short amount of time. Many people have been forced to reeducate themselves on proper handwashing techniques and probably learned a little bit about disinfecting best practices in the process.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), The way germs can travel from your hands into the human body is through the following three scenarios.
Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
Preparing food or drinking with unwashed hands
Transferring germs by touching a contaminated surface, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, then touching another person or surface
Different surfaces retain germs in different ways. Stainless steel, wood, paper, hands, mobile devices, and beyond can dictate the lifespan of germs. The temperature of these surfaces also plays a role in bacteria and virus survival rates.
Don’t Get Caught up in Myths and Legends
As the focus has recently turned to hand hygiene, handwashing practices that do little to nothing in removing germs have floated to the surface. A few popular myths include:
The amount of time that you wash your hands doesn’t matter. The CDC suggests that you scrub your hands for at least 20-seconds. They also recommend that you wet and lather before you start your 20-second countdown by singing happy birthday twice.
Hand sanitizers work better than soap and water. Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to remove germs. The quality of your hand sanitizer also matters. Hand sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol.
You should only use hot water to wash your hands. There is currently no scientific evidence that supports this. Hot water also tends to dry out skin faster. Cooling the temperature of your water when washing your hands will help to lock in natural moisture.
You shouldn’t dry your hands after you wash them. Germs are more easily transferred from wet hands. It’s important to dry hands gently but thoroughly.
Hand Hygiene 101
Hand hygiene is the practice of washing and sanitizing your hands in an effective way that removes enough microorganisms from them to avoid transmission. Shifting your focus from mere hand washing to an act of disinfecting and killing active bacteria that can live on surfaces, can help to visualize a more comprehensive hand washing ritual.
The CDCs list of specific instances that people are prone to transmitting germs through contact on a daily basis has precise guidelines for hand washing procedures.
You should wash your hands:
Before, during, and after preparing meals
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the bathroom
After changing diapers or helping a child who has used the bathroom
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage
Behaviors That Will Keep Your Hands Silky Soft
Skin flora or skin microbiota are microorganisms that live on our skin, which is divided into two layers, called the transient and resident layers. The transient flora is the top superficial layer of the skin known as the epidermis and is easily removed from hands when we wash. Protecting this delicate layer of skin is key in maintaining good hand health. The following steps will help you to protect your hands and maintain cleanliness at the same time.
It’s important to wash your hands with soaps that have moisture in them. Natural oils and shea butter soaps will help you to lock in your body’s natural moisture. Other ingredients that will benefit dry hands are glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
Remember that you can remove bacteria without overly brutalizing your hands. When washing your hands, be gentle and carefully pat your hands dry with a soft towel.
Avoid soaps with high pH levels of 7 or more. You can use a pH test strip if the pH level is not clearly marked on the packaging. For reference, the skin’s natural pH level is around 5.5. Chemically based surfactants and fragrances can also potentially cause irritation as well.
Invest in a high-grade cream that is made specifically for hands. If you have severe dryness, consider putting on a thick layer of cream, ointment, or even petroleum jelly and wear cotton gloves for a few hours to seal in moisture.
Our hands are the pathways to everything that we do in life, and you’ll never regret keeping them clean, moisturized, pain-free, and healthy.
I’m a freelance writer with extensive expertise in a plethora of subjects, including: home decor, business, lifestyle, and more. I’ve been writing professionally for over a decade, and have had the pleasure of working with incredible publishers over the years, including American Beauty School.