Staying safe during the Covid-19 pandemic means social distancing, wearing masks in public, and washing hands frequently. While these precautionary measures are necessary, some come with negative side effects, especially for your skin.
Frequent handwashing and mask-wearing can dry out, irritate, and damage your skin, and in some cases even cause rashes. Although it’s important to maintain vigilance against the virus, it’s also important to keep your skin healthy and moisturized. Here are some tips for caring for your skin while continuing to protect yourself from germs:
Adopt gentle hand washing measures
You don’t need to scrub your hands with harsh cleansers and hot water to protect against germs—simple soap and lukewarm water are all you need to kill virus cells and stay healthy. Plus, hot water can increase skin damage, and antibacterial soaps, which are often made with irritating chemical fragrances, are no more effective against viruses than any other soap.
Wear gloves when cleaning
While you’re wiping down surfaces with disinfecting cleansers, be sure to protect your hands with reusable cleaning gloves or disposable latex gloves. The same chemicals that eradicate viruses are often too harsh for your skin when used on a daily basis.
Lightly moisturize during the day, heavily moisturize at night
After washing your hands, you should use a light, hypoallergenic lotion to moisturize your hands and keep your skin healthy and hydrated. But if you don’t have access to lotion after every hand wash, you can “catch up” at night by using a heavier, oil-based moisturizer on your hands right before bed. For an extra boost, try covering them up with cotton gloves to let the moisturizer do its magic while you sleep.
Use noncomedogenic products on your face
Wearing cloth masks in public is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and others from Covid-19. If you are an essential worker wearing a mask all day, you may want to pay careful attention to the products you use as well. Noncomedogenic products are specifically formulated not to clog pores, so using them decreases the risk of developing acne.
Use a barrier ointment to prevent chafing
Wearing masks for long periods of time can lead to chafing, itchiness, and rashes on the nose, chin, cheeks, and behind the ears. You can ease the irritation with a barrier ointment like Zinc oxide, which is a common ingredient in diaper rash cream, applied to the places where the mask rubs against your face. You can also use bandages for short-term relief, although they’re not recommended as a long-term solution because the adhesives can cause skin irritation as well.
Use all-natural products for the best skincare results
The best thing you can do for your skin in these mask-mandated times is to keep up with your daily skincare routine, including cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Caring for your skin with all-natural products will give your face a healthy glow. Décel’s Skin Care Maintenance Kit is made from all natural, plant-derived products that keep your skin clean, moisturized and balanced, while also addressing pigmentation issues and fine lines and wrinkles. Your mask might hide your smile, but it won’t hide your radiance. Try Décel today.
