If there’s one factor Covid-19 has taught us, it’s the significance of excellent hygiene round us. The end result? All of us went overboard when it got here to washing our arms often for the sake of our lives. Now, despite the fact that the pandemic appears to have subsided, the behavior of handwashing has nonetheless not decreased. However do you know the repercussions of extreme handwashing? This behavior could make our arms dry and might result in different pores and skin issues.

Well being Photographs reached out to pores and skin and wellness specialist Dr Kiran Sethi to grasp the negative effects of an excessive amount of handwashing.

5 negative effects of extreme handwashing

1. Extreme dryness

This goes with out saying that if we get into the behavior of washing our arms every now and then, there could also be a excessive likelihood of our arms working dry. Dr Sethi provides, “This dryness makes the pores and skin barrier weaker, which may improve the danger of an infection.” Excessively dry pores and skin can crack, making room for micro organism to enter. Dry arms are at all times extra vulnerable to catching an an infection. So, it is very important preserve your washing carefully and observe the precise strategy.

2. Excessive pH

Our pores and skin’s floor is of a pH beneath 5, and that’s very best for the traditional functioning of our pores and skin. A pH of seven is deemed impartial. Something beneath 7 is taken into account acidic, whereas above it’s alkaline. So, our pores and skin’s pure pH is extra in direction of the acidic facet. Nonetheless, as per Dr Sethi, soaps and a few washes are of a excessive pH. And, this in itself disrupts the pores and skin barrier, inflicting excessive probabilities of an infection.

3. An excessive amount of handwashing causes irritation

Extreme handwashing irritates and makes our pores and skin extra liable to an infection. It’s so as a result of irritation opens up the pores and skin barrier and might set off eczema-like rashes which make our pores and skin irritable and turns into a breeding floor for an infection.

4. Cleaning soap can get caught beneath our rings

Whereas we wash our arms, it’s regular for us to put on our equipment or jewellery items like rings. “Cleaning soap can get caught beneath our rings, inflicting irritation and wetness, and may end up in extra fungal an infection.” Washing our arms whereas carrying any jewelry could make it troublesome for the cleaning soap to move via, and it could get caught beneath our equipment inflicting problems with dry pores and skin.

Additionally learn: 5 steps to scrub arms correctly to cease the unfold of ailments

5. An excessive amount of handwashing can go away our pores and skin parched

Common handwashing and sanitizing can go away our pores and skin parched. And, when there’s much less water within the pores and skin, it’s extra inclined to break. The pure barrier of our pores and skin is made up of lipids, oils, and ceramides. Therefore, fixed washing rips off that layer of protecting oil from the pores and skin’s barrier. It’s then unable to revive its moisture and turns into excessively dry.

So, earlier than falling into this behavior of washing arms an excessive amount of, we should always keep in mind the ailing results of it.