Michael Holloway BSc, MSc. Due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak we are all washing our hands more often. This can dry the hands and lead to skin rashes, irritation and a whole host of skin conditions. This happens because too much washing can strip away the skins natural moisturiser, it's sebum. Sebum is the skins natural preservative and waterproofer. Many soaps can strip away this layer of sebum if used too often. Usually this wouldn't happen but currently we are all washing more often. So, what's the solution? Well, there are a few things you can do to keep your hands healthy during this time. Use a vegetable oil based soap instead of a supermarket soap. Supermarket soap is SYNDET (Synthetic Detergent) and is more like washing up liquid that a moisturising bar. Another thing that makes a difference is using a soap with natural fragrances instead of synthetic fragrances. Any soap containing real essential oil is better in this respect. Finally, use a good conditioner but don't overuse it as this tends to make the hands try to compensate for being TOO greasy. Also, consider using a tiny drop of argan, jojoba or coconut oil instead of man made moisturiser! These oils are natural moisturisers that have been used for thousands of years.
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M.Holloway BSc., MSc. During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic it is recommened to wash your hands more frequently. But how often should I wash my hands? The answer is more WHEN you should wash your hands. It is still true that you should wash your hands after going to the bathroom (even if you don't use the loo itself), before every meal and before and after preparing food. This adds up to at least 6 times a day and we think this is conservative. We suggest : Every time you go outside Before and after you touch someone else Every time you bring in the post Before and after shopping After cleaning anything Now it's easy to go overboard and delelop skin irritation (our skincare range is recomended here) so be careful of this.
In summary, we estimate that the number of times you may need to wash your hands on a given day currently may vary between 6 to 11 times per day. This number will obviously vary depending on your behaviour, your job (mum, care giver etc.) so use your discretion. We are all washing our hands more frequently these days because of the changes brought about by COVID-19 virus. But what is soap made of? The vast majority of soap that we are all familiar with fits into 3 main types. Synthetic (Supermarket) soap, liquid soap and traditional soap.
Supermarket Soap Most of the soap that we buy from the supermarket is technically called a SYNDET (Synthetic detergent). It is a synthetic version of real soap. PROS : cheap to make and buy CONS : contains chemicals that strip the moisture from skin. Liquid Soap As the name suggests this is a soap that has been specially prepared to stay liquid at room temperature. It is more similar to supermarket syndet that traditional soap. PROS : conveniently packaged to provide just enough from the dispenser. CONS : contains chemicals that strip the moisture from skin. Traditional Soap Traditional soap is made using natural vegetable or animal fats and does not contain peterochemicals. PROS : no peterochemicals, contains organic nutrients, more powerful cleaning, moisturises, better for environment. CONS : more expensive to buy, more expensive to manufacture. If you want to know more about the ingredients in soap click here. |
AuthorThe Peak Soap Team Archives
May 2020
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