Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Protecting Hands With Eczema
The next time you reach for a sponge soaked with your favorite cleanser without using gloves, listen to the hand.
One hand to another: Why are you worked into a lather? Harsh products really irritate me.
All cleaning products are not equal when it comes to harshness to hands.
If it's already dry, cracking and itching, it's probably telling you that it's tired of being abused. If it's not yet, it probably will. The longer you expose those digits to household chemical cocktails, the more apparent cardboard-hard hands will become.
On its own, skin produces a waxy barrier to keep harmful chemicals out and moisture in, says Racine-based dermatologist Kenneth Pechman, who treats myriad skin condi tions.
"It's like a raincoat," he explains of the skin's protective coat. "It's waxy and flexible. But when it heats up the barrier becomes liquid and can be washed away."
The good news is that the barrier replenishes itself within an hour, Pechman says. But over time, hands that have been abused for days on end develop thicker, harder skin.
Soaps and detergents are often the culprits. Once they and other forces erode that protective barrier, the skin starts to dry out, crack, itch and burn. The damage results in a condition formally called irritant contact dermatitis, or informally known as dishpan hands. But in many cases it all can be turned around with a few lifestyle changes.
For starters, slip on a protective glove.
"If you're using chemicals that are caustic, it's probably beneficial," Pechman says of a gloved hand.
Just make sure to examine the gloves often. "Don't forget to change them, especially if you get a little pinhole in them," he says. "Otherwise, your hands will bathe in the chemicals as the hands sweat."
If your to-do list includes everything from washing clothes to washing hair, Pechman suggests grouping such water tasks together. "If you get into water and then allow the hands to dry the continuing cycle is damaging," he says.
Yet, gloves can only do so much. Take dishwashing, for instance. "While the glove is protecting you from the chemical agent, it's not from thermal injury," he explains.
He suggests using tepid water, instead of hot water, to clean dishes and not allowing the hands to air dry. Instead, blot the hands and promptly apply an unscented moisturizer. "Remember that the barrier takes a while to replenish," he says. "And the moisturizer offers a temporary barrier."
When choosing a moisturizer, Pechman says, check the labels. Fragrances should be avoided, and creams and emollients that include alcohols and plant extracts may be drying and irritating. Preservatives like parabens (that extend products' shelf life) and Kathon CG (often found in shampoos and conditioners) can be problematic, too, as can wool oil, wool alcohols or lanolin for those with eczema.
Once you decide on the right moisturizer, apply it correctly. "You want to have slow gentle strokes to avoid friction injury," he says. "Gently massage one hand over the other."
Over time, the condition should improve. But if it doesn't, Pechman says, it's best to seek professional help.
Linda Cobb, author of six common-sense housecleaning guides and host of the DIY Network's "Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean" series, says hands weren't meant to be exposed to so many chemicals in the name of cleanliness.
"On average, people will open about seven cleaners each time they clean their house," she says. "And, 99% of those will have a chemical agent involved. Their labels will say, 'Don't ingest or inhale,' and all of those are hazardous to our hands."
While a proponent of wearing rubber latex gloves and other protective gear, Cobb says she believes in using gentler products and home remedies first and foremost.
"Look for cleansers with the Green Seal logo," she says, speaking of the approval stamp offered by a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit group for products and services it deems environmentally safe. "They're 100% natural and biodegradable."
She says the Holy Cow line, for example, is worth it. "It's safe enough to wash your dog or your car engine. And while it wouldn't taste good, it wouldn't harm you (if you ingested it) either." There are other natural products lines on the market as well.
Cobb also is known for her knack for concocting homemade solutions. "Go back to using baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice to clean," she says, "and your hands will automatically improve."
Her alternative to commercial drain cleaners? Use a cup of salt, a cup of baking soda and a large tea kettle of boiling water to clear a clog.
Her homemade furniture polish: Take a cup of olive oil and one-fourth cup of white vinegar and mix well.
If your list of chores includes tubs full of water, Cobb suggests wearing a latex or synthetic glove or buying a liquid glove product that applies like a hand cream and dries into a protective coating.
Among tangible glove varieties, lined ones are preferred, she says, because "they go on and off easier." After use, remember to wash them with soapy water and allow them to dry thoroughly, inside and out.
It's also best, she says, to keep pairs in the kitchen and in each bathroom of your house.
Consumer expert Paula Begoun is known for her Paula's Choice beauty line, her sassy Web site Cosmeticscop.com and for authoring multiple beauty guides including, "Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me." Begoun contends that there is life after hard hands.
Her advice: Get your hands out of these detergents. "Even the healthiest of skin can only take so much bleach, washing dishes, doing the floors and baby," she says.
Steer clear of bar soaps. "They're incredibly drying," she says.
Use a well-formulated moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher. "Be religious about it," says Begoun.
Use a moisturizing emollient at night. Dove's Essential line, she says, is effective and cheap.
For extra dry body parts, apply a drop of olive oil on top of your moisturizer. "Massage it into your skin," she says. "Olive oil is a great antioxidant."
A word to the wise: A good moisturizer, Begoun says, will not come in a jar but an airtight container in order to keep the antioxidant ingredients active and stabilized.
One hand to another: Why are you worked into a lather? Harsh products really irritate me.
All cleaning products are not equal when it comes to harshness to hands.
If it's already dry, cracking and itching, it's probably telling you that it's tired of being abused. If it's not yet, it probably will. The longer you expose those digits to household chemical cocktails, the more apparent cardboard-hard hands will become.
On its own, skin produces a waxy barrier to keep harmful chemicals out and moisture in, says Racine-based dermatologist Kenneth Pechman, who treats myriad skin condi tions.
"It's like a raincoat," he explains of the skin's protective coat. "It's waxy and flexible. But when it heats up the barrier becomes liquid and can be washed away."
The good news is that the barrier replenishes itself within an hour, Pechman says. But over time, hands that have been abused for days on end develop thicker, harder skin.
Soaps and detergents are often the culprits. Once they and other forces erode that protective barrier, the skin starts to dry out, crack, itch and burn. The damage results in a condition formally called irritant contact dermatitis, or informally known as dishpan hands. But in many cases it all can be turned around with a few lifestyle changes.
For starters, slip on a protective glove.
"If you're using chemicals that are caustic, it's probably beneficial," Pechman says of a gloved hand.
Just make sure to examine the gloves often. "Don't forget to change them, especially if you get a little pinhole in them," he says. "Otherwise, your hands will bathe in the chemicals as the hands sweat."
If your to-do list includes everything from washing clothes to washing hair, Pechman suggests grouping such water tasks together. "If you get into water and then allow the hands to dry the continuing cycle is damaging," he says.
Yet, gloves can only do so much. Take dishwashing, for instance. "While the glove is protecting you from the chemical agent, it's not from thermal injury," he explains.
He suggests using tepid water, instead of hot water, to clean dishes and not allowing the hands to air dry. Instead, blot the hands and promptly apply an unscented moisturizer. "Remember that the barrier takes a while to replenish," he says. "And the moisturizer offers a temporary barrier."
When choosing a moisturizer, Pechman says, check the labels. Fragrances should be avoided, and creams and emollients that include alcohols and plant extracts may be drying and irritating. Preservatives like parabens (that extend products' shelf life) and Kathon CG (often found in shampoos and conditioners) can be problematic, too, as can wool oil, wool alcohols or lanolin for those with eczema.
Once you decide on the right moisturizer, apply it correctly. "You want to have slow gentle strokes to avoid friction injury," he says. "Gently massage one hand over the other."
Over time, the condition should improve. But if it doesn't, Pechman says, it's best to seek professional help.
Linda Cobb, author of six common-sense housecleaning guides and host of the DIY Network's "Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean" series, says hands weren't meant to be exposed to so many chemicals in the name of cleanliness.
"On average, people will open about seven cleaners each time they clean their house," she says. "And, 99% of those will have a chemical agent involved. Their labels will say, 'Don't ingest or inhale,' and all of those are hazardous to our hands."
While a proponent of wearing rubber latex gloves and other protective gear, Cobb says she believes in using gentler products and home remedies first and foremost.
"Look for cleansers with the Green Seal logo," she says, speaking of the approval stamp offered by a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit group for products and services it deems environmentally safe. "They're 100% natural and biodegradable."
She says the Holy Cow line, for example, is worth it. "It's safe enough to wash your dog or your car engine. And while it wouldn't taste good, it wouldn't harm you (if you ingested it) either." There are other natural products lines on the market as well.
Cobb also is known for her knack for concocting homemade solutions. "Go back to using baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice to clean," she says, "and your hands will automatically improve."
Her alternative to commercial drain cleaners? Use a cup of salt, a cup of baking soda and a large tea kettle of boiling water to clear a clog.
Her homemade furniture polish: Take a cup of olive oil and one-fourth cup of white vinegar and mix well.
If your list of chores includes tubs full of water, Cobb suggests wearing a latex or synthetic glove or buying a liquid glove product that applies like a hand cream and dries into a protective coating.
Among tangible glove varieties, lined ones are preferred, she says, because "they go on and off easier." After use, remember to wash them with soapy water and allow them to dry thoroughly, inside and out.
It's also best, she says, to keep pairs in the kitchen and in each bathroom of your house.
Consumer expert Paula Begoun is known for her Paula's Choice beauty line, her sassy Web site Cosmeticscop.com and for authoring multiple beauty guides including, "Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me." Begoun contends that there is life after hard hands.
Her advice: Get your hands out of these detergents. "Even the healthiest of skin can only take so much bleach, washing dishes, doing the floors and baby," she says.
Steer clear of bar soaps. "They're incredibly drying," she says.
Use a well-formulated moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher. "Be religious about it," says Begoun.
Use a moisturizing emollient at night. Dove's Essential line, she says, is effective and cheap.
For extra dry body parts, apply a drop of olive oil on top of your moisturizer. "Massage it into your skin," she says. "Olive oil is a great antioxidant."
A word to the wise: A good moisturizer, Begoun says, will not come in a jar but an airtight container in order to keep the antioxidant ingredients active and stabilized.
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