Q: I have developed dry skin from COVID-19 because I have to wash my hands so often. Hand sanitizers are even worse in drying out my skin and, anyway, I’m afraid to use them because I’ve heard they’re toxic. What should I do?
A: Unquestionably, both soap and skin cleansers, as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizers are drying, because, in the process of washing away dirt and killing microorganisms, they also extract some of the natural oils from our skin that hold in our moisture. They inevitably remove some of lipids that are responsible for the skin’s permeability barrier.
People endowed with sensitive skin are more susceptible to the drying effects of soaps and sanitizers, because their skin barrier is weaker. I’m guessing that you may be one of the many among us who have “sensitive” skin.
Dry skin from COVID-19 is becoming a common problem.
Sensitive skin or not, we all must protect ourselves from the virus that causes COVID-19. So what can we do?
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