COVID-19 Skin Care Tips

Wearing face masks and frequently washing your skin can cause skin rashes and drying of the skin. Here's how you can prevent it from happening.

The majority of us are now following strict health care protocols like frequent washing of hands and wearing face masks when out in the public and even while working. These measures prevent further spread of COVID-19 but they can cause irritation and skin dryness. Following these simple tips can help minimize the effects of it.

Hand Care

Making sure your hands are clean and free from germs is the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. The DOH has recommended washing at least 20 seconds with the use of soap or any alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 75% alcohol. Doing this though can strip your skin with its natural oils making it dry and cracked.

Be gentle on your hands - Use lukewarm water with a gentle soap to wash your hands. Using hot water to wash your hands is not helpful and can cause burns. Avoid using antibacterial soaps since these don't kill viruses and can contain fragrance which is skin irritating.

Use gloves when cleaning - The chemicals used in cleaning surfaces can contain irritants that are harmful to your skin so make sure you use gloves when cleaning.

Moisturize Regularly - Apply moisturizer after washing your hands and patting them dry. Hypoallergenic moisturizers and fragrance-free are recommended as these don't contain irritants. Make moisturizers handy with you so that you can use them as needed.

Facial Care

Wearing facemasks while working and in public is a must that the government catches violators and penalizes shops that won't follow these regulations. Although these measures help stop the virus, it can lead to chafing of the skin that is covered by the mask. To help you minimize this problem here are some tips:

Follow a regular skincare routine - properly cleanse and moisturize your face before and after using any mask. Using non-comedogenic products means they won't clog your pores. Avoid using petroleum jelly since these can prevent your mask from functioning properly. This is mainly due to the ingredient "petrolatum" found on some heavy-duty creams and ointments. You can replace it with a water-soluble moisturizer instead.

Use a bandage or barrier ointment - Put zinc oxide on areas where friction or chapping of the skin is present. These ointments prevent further damage. Areas like the bridge of the nose and behind your ears are the most commonly affected areas.

Lessen blisters - When you have a blister, keep it clean and apply an antibiotic ointment. Protect it with a bandage to prevent further complications.

Treat your acne - If you have acne from wearing masks or also called as "mascne", treat it with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid but avoid popping or squeezing it since this can further inflame the affected site.

Get Professional Help

Continually protect yourself from the virus by washing your hands and wearing your facemask as these greatly reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. If a skin problem occurs just follow these simple steps to minimize and heal it. As always if the problem persists get professional help from Loveli Skin Beauty Centre, they offer free skin assessment.