Skin problems due to too much disinfection

Since the corona crisis in particular, we have been increasingly disinfecting our hands to kill possible pathogens and also to protect our fellow human beings from infection. But too much disinfectant or excessive hand washing does not necessarily bring the desired effect. But how do you use disinfectants correctly? Skin problems caused by disinfectants before or soothes irritated skin? We have put this and much more together for you.

Too much and wrong disinfection leads to skin problems

Basically, when it comes to disinfectants, it is important to use the right amount and not to expect too much of a good thing from your hands and skin. Because you probably know the saying: the opposite of good is well-intentioned. In winter in particular, it is difficult to assess how much care and disinfection is necessary, since germs and pathogens like to spread, especially in the cold season. Closed rooms and heated air, but also the biting cold outside then strain the skin.

○ Aggressive disinfectant

One of the reasons for that Disinfectant aggressive have an effect on the skin and make the hands drier and can also cause irritation is the high alcohol content, which enables effective cleaning. But: the alcohol removes moisture and fat from the skin and makes it so brittle. Employees in medical professions are particularly struggling with this, as are hairdressers and cleaning staff. If the skin burns during disinfection, this is a sign that there is already skin damage that can be traced back to frequent disinfection. In the worst case, a wear eczema develops, which can appear on all parts of the hand. symptoms of Skin damage caused by disinfectants like eczema are severe dryness, redness and itching. If you notice these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

○ Disinfectants and hand washing

One of the most common mistakes when it comes to Hauthygiene and disinfection, hands must be washed after disinfection. You can hardly inflict greater damage on the skin. It is caused by the fact that the disinfectant dissolves fats from the skin and they cannot be rubbed in again, but are washed off by washing. Even if the hands are first washed and then disinfected, this does not bring any additional benefit because the effect of the alcohol contained in the disinfectant is impaired. So it's best to do one or the other. Unfortunately, a combination of hand washing and disinfecting is rather counterproductive.

○ Too much disinfection – bad for the skin!

Frequent disinfecting usually means a feeling of security, but this is deceptive. It comes at a balanced Hauthygiene on spot disinfecting at the right moments, instead of on the quantity of it. Incidentally, intact, healthy skin is also a factor in protecting against infection. Because pathogens and viruses are not only transmitted by droplet infection, but can also enter the body through damaged areas or open wounds in the skin. And after all, that can be prevented if you take good care of your hands. So what do you have to do to prevent that disinfectants harmful Act?

 5 tips for relaxed hands despite disinfectant

So that you never get dry hands again and with that Skin damage caused by disinfectants If you don't even notice it, here are five tips for caring for your hands.

○ Wash hands no more than 10 times

Studies have shown that people who wash their hands 6 to 10 times a day in winter are less likely to catch a cold. There was no advantage for people who washed their hands more often. Washing your hands more often would be overkill. It is important to ensure that the spaces between the fingers are also well soaped and that the soap is then washed off well. According to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZGA) hands should be washed in seven situations: after coming home, before and during cooking or other food preparation, before every meal, after going to the toilet, blowing your nose, coughing and sneezing, before and after contact with sick or infectious people, after contact with animals. Incidentally, hands should be washed with cold rather than hot water, as hot water puts more strain on the protective layer of the skin.

 ○ The right disinfectant

Auf der Suche nach einem passenden und schonenden Desinfektionsmittel solltest du auf die Inhaltsstoffe des Produktes achten. Natürliche Inhaltsstoffe wie z.B. Teebaumöl, das auch häufig in Naturkosmetik verwendet wird, wirkt zum Beispiel beruhigend auf die Haut. Auch die Formulierung unseres duftenden Desinfektionsmittels greift auf Teebaumöl zurück. Zusätzlich verwenden wir einen exklusiven Pflegewirkstoff, der den Alkoholgehalt ausgleicht. Schau in unserem WIESENBERG Onlineshop vorbei und teste unser hautschonendes Desinfektionsmittel.

○ Less soap more disinfection

Did you know that soap can also have a drying effect? If you make sure that the product contains so-called moisturizing active ingredients when you are choosing, your hands will thank you. The fats they contain, such as coconut oil, olive oil or palm oil, should also be taken into account. Stay away from soaps containing sodium tallowate. This is animal fat, which is made from slaughterhouse waste. High quality definitely looks different.

Incidentally, the PH value of liquid soap at five is usually closer to the natural PH value of the skin than the value of solid soaps, which ranges between nine and ten. We therefore recommend liquid soaps, but also use them sparingly. It is better to rarely disinfect than to wash your hands too often.

 ○ Take off jewelry

As beautiful as jewelry is - rings in particular are considered veritable hotbeds of germs, as they multiply explosively, especially underneath. Moisture fuels this process. Therefore, the same applies to wedding rings: remove and clean them regularly and also make sure that no moisture forms underneath them when they are worn.

○ Only disinfect “clean” hands

If you've just dug a bed, been digging in the sand with your child, or made some pottery, washing your hands is essential. A dab of disinfectant is enough for hands that look clean to the naked eye. As always, it shouldn't be too much to Skin damage caused by disinfectants to prevent

 What does science advise?

In addition to these tips, we have a few preventive measures for you. To prevent skin irritation from occurring in the first place, you should wear rubber gloves when cleaning and rinsing, as acids and alkalis attack the skin in equal measure. However, the gloves should not be used for too long and the hands should be dried thoroughly beforehand. Also, don't wash your hands for too long.

If there is a persistent burning sensation or even pain, it is better to go to the doctor once too often in order to be able to identify and treat an eczema or other skin damage at an early stage.

If you are prone to neurodermatitis, you should definitely use alcohol-based disinfectants, but use as little as possible. Hot water is not a good choice when washing hands because the heat can make eczema worse.

Best disinfectant for irritated hands

In order not only to give our customers a good and safe feeling, but also to enable a well-groomed skin, we have developed a hygiene gel that disinfects, has a fresh scent and soothes the skin at the same time. You only need one product to kill germs and pathogens. At the same time, our skin-friendly formulation ensures that the skin feels soft. Just try it yourself.