Proper hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of viruses, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the flu. However, when you have a skin condition such as eczema (atopic dermatitis or hyperhidrotic eczema), frequent hand washing can lead to dry and chapped skin, itching, pain, and possible infection. So how can eczema sufferers protect their skin while protecting themselves from the coronavirus?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend frequent hand washing to prevent flu and COVID-19. But this can cause flare-ups in people with eczema. To this end, we consulted a doctor who has many years of experience in treating eczema. It is usually better to use hand sanitizer when washing your hands. You should apply hand cream immediately after washing your hands. Most of the drying effect, so for eczema patients usually need to carry hand cream for a long time.

So what steps should someone with eczema take to properly moisturize after washing their hands?

(1) After washing your hands, you should pat dry with a disposable paper towel or paper towel. It's best not to dry, as this is traumatic to the skin, in addition to damage from frequent exposure to water. Once it's mostly dry (i.e. your skin is still a little damp), apply a generous amount of moisturizer to cover the entire surface of your hands and fingers. The choice of moisturiser depends largely on your preference and practicality for daytime use and activities of daily living.

I usually recommend that people wear a pair of soft cotton gloves after applying hand cream. These gloves must be sterilized and cannot carry any bacteria. Most people prefer to carry cotton gloves with elastic bands. The gloves are not only close to the hand, but also not easy to fall off.

Should eczema sufferers call their doctor if their hands do become dry and chapped? How should they be treated to avoid infection?

Good integrity of the skin barrier is an important aspect of hand hygiene. People prone to hand eczema or atopic dermatitis flare-ups from using harsh soaps or washing their hands frequently should be proactive and apply a moisturizer to help maintain the skin barrier and prevent flare-ups of eczema. But if that's not enough, they may need to prescribe topical treatments to reduce the inflammation of the eczema.

Should people with hand eczema carry a moisturizer or hand cream with them?

I often recommend this to patients who are sensitive to different products. However, in this outbreak situation, there are two more considerations. First, it's important that people clean their hands properly before applying moisturizer to prevent contamination of the product with harmful bacteria. Second, it is important that people also clean and/or sanitize the outside of the containers they use to carry soaps and moisturizers. Otherwise, they run the risk that the surfaces of these tubes could carry harmful bacteria.