Those cracks in your clean, dry hands can be COVID-19 traps, so moisturize, expert warns

There's a global pandemic that's changing day by day and we don't know when or how it's going to end, but a Calgary dermatologist has one more thing for you to think about during COVID-19.

Your cleanbut dry hands can make things worse.

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"Frequently washed skin is actually more likely to acquire viruses and bacteria because of the imperfections dryness introduces," Dr. Ken Alanen toldCBC News.

"So moisturize as much as you can."

Hands are not like other parts of the body so a conditionrelated to frequently cleaningis common.

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"Hands don't have an oil gland density, unlike, for example, the face," Alanen said, adding irritant hand eczema is a big deal right now.

"It's very common because the hands just don't have enough oil glands to moisturize the skin. The more you use hand sanitizers or harsh soaps, the more you are a sitting duck to develop irritant hand eczema."

For cleaning, Alanen says sanitizers are OK if you don't have access to his first choice.

"I would rather people use soap and water as compared to sanitizers because the alcohol is quite irritating."

And then, go to town on the moisturizer.

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"Ideally a water-based moisturizer, because if there is too much oil in the skin, it's still thirsty. When your skin is dry, it requires moisture. When you are thirsty, you don't drink oil," Alanen said.

"If you don't have moisturizer, you can use regular water and lock it in with Vaseline."