*Information in this post provided by Dermastore.co.za, an online store for dermatological and skin care products. Delivering essential skin care items during lockdown*
Healthcare professionals all over the world have recommended that one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water.
I agree with this wholeheartedly.
Your first priority is to kill the virus.
Fortunately, the coronavirus has a lipid or fatty membrane and when the surfactants in soap come into contact with this lipid membrane it breaks it down, causing the virus to fall apart and die. Soap traps dirt – and the destroyed virus – in tiny bubbles and lifts it off the skin, allowing it to be washed away when you rinse your hands with water.
It is recommended that you wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds and rinse thoroughly, preferably under running water.
Repeated handwashing with an alkaline soap
Bars of soap have been around since Egyptian times. They are made by a reaction (saponification) between caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and animal and/or vegetable fats.
Caustic soda is alkaline and, therefore, most traditional bars of soap found in supermarkets are alkaline and often have a pH of either 9 or 10. The natural pH of the skin is 5.5 making it slightly acidic and this lower pH forms what is called the protective ‘acid mantle’ of the skin. This acid mantle is essential for the normal, healthy functioning of the skin.
“Repeated hand washing with more alkaline bathroom soaps can adversely affect the barrier function of the skin, causing an irritant contact dermatitis”
A better-suited soap for frequent cleansing is one with a lower pH (5.5-7.5) but that still foams.
Anti-bacterial bars of soap are of no extra benefit than plain soap. They may well do harm by disrupting the skin’s normal microbiome by removing good bacteria needed for a healthy skin barrier. This said, if you only have access to anti-bacterial soap your first priority is to kill the virus, so do not stop using it. Hand eczema is a secondary concern but it’s good to know what might be causing it so you can plan your options going forward.
People with a family history of asthma, hayfever, and eczema will also be more at risk of developing hand dermatitis by using a hand soap with a high pH.
“Anti-bacterial bars of soap are of no extra benefit than plain soap. They may well do harm by disrupting the skin’s normal microbiome”
Gentle soaps that we have researched with a better pH that we can recommend in South Africa include:
- Sebamed Classic Cleansing Bar 100g (pH 5.5)
- Avène XeraCalm Cleansing Bar 100g (pH 6.5)
- La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+ (pH 7.0)
- Dove Cream Bar Soap (pH 7.2) – available in most supermarkets
Advice for businesses
If you are a business owner it may be more convenient to have liquid skin cleanser for hands that can be dispensed from a pump-action container. These usually contain synthetic detergents (Syndets) that have a lower pH and are more skin-friendly. It is, however, very important that these liquid skin cleansers foam as it is this foaming action (surfactant) that kills the coronavirus and allows it to be washed away.
Make sure to dry your hands with disposable paper towels. I would also recommend using a pedal bin to dispose of them.
Advice for home
Bars of soap are practical for home use and can be shared by families. They are also better for the environment (no plastic containers) and generally last longer than liquid soaps. Some pH skin-friendly bar soaps also work out cheaper for a family who is on a budget.
Hand sanitizers
Hand sanitizers are not as effective as normal soap and water if they don’t contain a minimum of 60% alcohol which kills the virus by disrupting its lipid membrane. If the brand you are using doesn’t state the alcohol % you might not be adequately protecting yourself. Hand sanitizers are a good back-up when normal soap and water are not available.
We recommend buying from a reputable manufacturer as ‘backyard’ manufacturers might be using less pure forms of alcohol which can be harmful to the skin. The frequent use of alcohol-based sanitizers may also cause some skin dryness but many of the better sanitizers also contain humectants such as glycerol to reduce this dryness.
Preventing eczema
To prevent full-blown hand eczema as a result of this frequent washing and cleansing, I would recommend the regular use of an appropriate hand cream after washing and to carry a smaller container with you or in your handbag. Your hands should be completely dry before applying a moisturiser. Apply the moisturiser as frequently as necessary but especially at night before you go to bed.
Examples of creams I would recommend for the hands:
- Huxley Velvet Touch Hand Cream
- Avène Cicalfate Hand Cream
- SBR Repair Cream
- pHformula SOS Repair Cream
- La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5
Written by Dr Ian Webster
Dr Ian Webster
For more info about Dermastore
Dermastore® is an online skin care boutique founded by Dr Ian Webster, his family & staff in 2015, a Specialist Dermatologist with twenty-nine years of experience.
As an approved essential service provider, they are now delivering all in-stock skincare products. If you can add to cart then they can ship. Please note certain items will not be replenished by the supplier until after the lockdown has been lifted (or approved to replenish during level 4 lockdown).
Website: www.dermastore.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dermastoresa
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dermastoresa
References:
- Acta Derm Venerology 2013; 93 261-267
- South African Child Health 2017; 11(3); 146
- Read the safety measures we have put in place at Dermastore in response to COVID-19.
Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
