6 Natural Tips to Cope with Frequent Hand Washing

As we wash hands more frequently than usual some may be struggling with dry, itchy, cracked skin or worse a full-blown eczema flare-up. Maybe you're worried about the impact the soap is having on the earth; here are a few clean and natural tips to get your skin back on track and look after the earth.

1. First have a look at the ingredients in your hand wash

If it contains any of the ingredients in the dirty list at the bottom of the page, found on the back of a popular handwash, then that is possibly the problem they often contain irritating ingredients including sodium Laureth sulphate (SLS), parabens and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), all of which are common triggers for eczema flare-ups.

2. Does it matter what type of soap you use?

Any soap will do the job as long as proper handwashing technique is used. The reason lies in the chemistry behind soap. Soap is a surfactant, a type of compound that forms micelles (little balls of soap molecules that grab and trap dirt, oil, and germs). Soap also has the ability to dissolve lipids (fats). This enables the soap to break down the outer skin of certain viruses. Try using a natural and biodegradable soap my favourite is a Castile an ancient form of soap using oils, a bit more expensive but let’s face it chemicals in large quantities are cheap so no comparison. Castile goes a long way, for handwashing, I dilute Castile with 50% water to give it a thinner consistency. You can buy Castile here Castile Liquid Soap.

3. If you like nicely scented handwash

And who doesn’t then make sure your natural handwash does not contain a synthetic fragrance which not only irritates the skin but is a known endocrine (hormone) disruptor instead use a handwash with essential oils click Foaming hand & body wash Patchouli and lavender or add essential oils to your hand wash/Castile some of the lighter ones aren’t as successful because you need too much of them but some oils are strong and lend themselves to the thickness of the Castile like Lemon Myrtle which is a natural anti-bacterial, Eucalyptus, Vetiver or an exotic blend like Gypsy essential oil blend.

Simple hand wash recipe

• 100ml Castile
• Lemon Myrtle essential oil 10 to 20 drops

 4. If you suffer from dermatitis or have eczema

If you are prone to eczema or dermatitis and its flared up then you need to get on top of your gut health but in the meantime try using a non-steroid eczema treatment like DeXma 3 times a day or more to soothe and heal dry itchy cracked and sore hands. DeXma contains essential oils that are anti-itch, anti-inflammatory as well as calendula which is a powerful topical skin healer in a beautiful gel formulation that does not leave an oily residue on your skin.

5. Natural hand moisturisation is key

If your hands are dry (understandable I think, I wash mine about 30 times a day at the moment) then use a NATURAL hand moisturiser that does not contain any PEGS (petrochemicals) which when applied to the skin evaporate drawing out the skin’s moisture with it or synthetic fragrances which are endocrine blockers try this lovely Natural Hand Cream with the healing qualities of calendula and lavender essential oil.

If your cutting corners to make ends meet try moisturising with oil you would find in your pantries like Almond oil, Olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil although the latter is better used at night as its slow to absorb do not use vegetable oil or canola. Pour approximately a tablespoon of oil in a very small bowl or jar (that you don’t need to use for food again) and drop in some of your favourite essential oils but not many drops they are powerful we recommend 2 – 4 drops depending on the oil, you can always check on our website to see if your favourite essential oil is safe to use on the skin and what oils are good for the skin. Apply moisturiser immediately after handwashing to lock in the hydration from the water

6. Are Sanitisers drying out your hands

If you want to use a hand sanitiser but can’t as it's irritating your skin or you don’t want to use the alcohol we have an alcohol-free alternative Natural Hand Sanitiser which uses the power of essential oils.

The dirty list: a list of chemical ingredients found in a popular hand wash

• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate -cuts through grease- causes allergic reactions such as cracking of the top layer of skin and inflammation to the epidermal layer of skin – a known irritant for people suffering eczema and other skin conditions
• PEGs – petroleum-based compounds
• Parfum, CI 19140, CI 42090 synthetic fragrance– is an endocrine disrupter which means it can interfere with your hormones
• Glycerin -adds texture to a product it may dry out the skin and hair
• Cocamide MEA - synthetically derived from coconut oil - it is not a naturally occurring product
• Citric Acid - a preservative used in a wide range of products because it is inexpensive.
• Salicylic Acid - acts as an antiseptic & preservative.
• Tetrasodium EDTA - can cause eye & skin irritation and is used as a stabiliser
• Magnesium Nitrate - is a toxic substance and skin, eye and respiratory tract irritant. Skin or eye contact will cause redness and pain. Inhalation will cause coughing and shortness of breath.
• EDTA - s short for ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, a stabilizer used in cosmetics to prevent ingredients in a given formula from binding with trace elements (particularly minerals) that can be present in water. ... Ingredients that perform this function are known as chelating agents.
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone -These common preservatives are found in many liquid personal
• Magnesium Chloride, - The Material Safety Data Sheet for magnesium chloride lists many harmful effects including Eye irritation and burn from contact. Skin irritation and burn (including in the mouth and throat) when touched or ingested. Gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when ingested.
• Methylisothiazolinone Methylisothiazolinone, the Toxic Ingredient That Could Cause Nerve Damage. Also called MIT, this ingredient is often found in an antibacterial product

WHY USE THESE INGREDIENTS

Please google the ingredients you don't understand, ask why they are included in products that are used on the skin and hair. Most of these ingredients are cheap and serve the purpose they are supposed to, they are just not nice for your body.

Do your research and understand why we don't use these chemical and synthetic ingredients in any Saroma skincare products