I struggled with the title for this post. I wanted to talk about the how hand sanitizer does a job on our hands. I wanted to be cute with it and come up with a catchy title, but my first idea, “Hand Job,” didn’t seem right! But it would have gotten your attention!
Okay back to the matter at hand! (Pun totally intended!) I have had old hands for thirty years. I just could not stand wearing gloves. When I cleaned, I needed to feel the clean. And because I was always cooking, (and washing dishes) I always had my hands in water. You don’t wash and cut fresh produce wearing gloves.
I remember this old lady that lived above me when I had an apartment in Philly in the 80’s yelling out her window when I was washing the car in the driveway, “You better put some gloves on young lady, unless you want to have old hands before your time.” I didn’t listen and she was right. Older women usually are.
As a result of my bad habits, I already had dry, old-looking hands, but these Covid 19 hands are next level! Of course, I will take the Covid hands over the virus all day! In fact, it feels strange complaining about my hands when folks are losing their lives. There just are no words.
But the truth is, hand sanitizers can be both good and bad, depending on how you use them and which ones you use! As with everything in this world, all things are NOT created equal. Hand sanitizers can also produce side effects that can be more than skin deep.
Dr. Chris Norris, a chartered physiotherapist and neurologist and Clinical Associate Professor at UC warns of some hand sanitizers that contain an antibiotic compound called triclosan or triclocarban. A few research studies have reported that triclosan, overused, can become a health hazard. According to the FDA, it can have negative effects on fertility, reproduction, fetal development, and rates of asthma.” It can also cause hormonal issues. (As if any of us need that!) For more detail, check out the links at the end of this post.
Hand sanitizers loaded with fragrance can also be loaded with toxic chemicals, including parabens and phthalates which are known endocrine disruptors. I talked about these toxins in the post at the end.
If you have the option to wash your hands thoroughly, by all means do that and pass on the hand sanitizer. If you wash your hands properly, you do not need to do both. For months I was working at home (Since Feb actually) and was pretty much isolated. It was only recently that I had to leave home for work and work with others. Needless to say, I was drowning my hands in sanitizer all day.
Prior to this, I only used it when I was out of the house for errands, which most days was zero! My job requires me to be on location one week out of the month now, which was last week and being outdoors most of the time, washing hands wasn’t an option. My clip-on sanitizer was my only line of defense! As a result, by the end of the week, my hands felt like sandpaper. I could have exfoliated my entire body with my bare hands! They were dry as hell and here’s why that’s bad!
Dry, cracked skin makes it easier for germs and bacteria to enter your body!
Dr. Scott Worswick, Clinical associate Professor of Dermatology at USC Keck School of Medicine states, “If you have microbreaks in our skin because your skin is dry, and you are not moisturized enough, we know that that increases your chances of getting bacterial infections.”
“It’s important to not overdo the sanitizer and to moisturize after every use,” advises dermatologist Peterson Pierre, M.D., of the Pierre Skin Care Institute.
“Individuals should rub their hands together for about 15-30 seconds covering all surfaces with hand sanitizer until the hands are dry, and then apply a moisturizer,” says Dr. Nelson. Caroline Nelson, M.D., dermatologist and instructor at Yale School of Medicine. (Especially fingertips which are prone to cracking!)
Lastly, in terms of moisturizers or lotions, go with sample size tubes or squeeze bottles to avoid contamination of the contents.
Now, here’s what I’ve been doing to repair my brillo-pad hands at night and in the AM before I start my day.
My sister made me these lotion cubes. I’m totally hijacking them and rebranding them “My Black is Not Cracking???? (Come on ya’ll come up with a name for them? It is an official name those cubes competition, with absolutely no prize!) I know, total copyright infringement, but they work. I simply hold one in my clean, freshly washed or showered, (patted dry) hands until they softened a bit (seconds) and then go to town. (And for my Sisters of Melanin, works wonders for ashy ankles and elbows too!)
Here’s the recipe created by Debbie Vaughn herself (aka The Gooch) for MBIC.
My Black is Not Cracking Lotion Bars (They also work as a lip balm if you are fortunate enough to have lips.)
This recipe was created to soothe hands suffering from repeated exposure to hand sanitizers, but can be used on any area of the body in need of moisturizing TLC. Try it as an overnight treatment with some cotton gloves (or socks on rough feet).
Yield: 1 cup
This recipe produced 18 mini cubes and 5 lip balm tubes.
In a glass measuring cup, melt the solid oils in 30 second intervals in microwave (or saucepan on low heat)
Solids:
2/3 c organic coconut oil
1 Tbs organic shea butter
1 Tbs organic cocoa butter
1.5 Tbs beeswax
Add in:
1/4 tsp vitamin E
1/4 tsp pomace oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
1/4 tsp avocado oil
8 drops hemp oil
1/2 tsp aloe butter (see link below)
1/2 tsp jojoba
9 drops helichrysum essential oil
10 drops rose hip seed oil
You can find all of these ingredients in Wholefoods, on Amazon, or maybe Sprouts.
You can add a few drops of favorite fragrance or essential oil, if desired.
Pour liquid into a silicone container and chill until solid. Store in a cool place.
About the Ingredients:
Shea Butter had high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins. It also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Shea butter helps to condition, tone and soothe the skin.
Cocoa Butter is mostly made up of fatty acids. These fats may help form a protective layer on the skin, preventing moisture from escaping, and therefore stopping the skin from drying out.
Coconut Oil contains nourishing fatty acids that help hydrate and protect. These include linoleic acid (vitamin F), which helps skin retain moisture, and lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties.
Pomace oil is the juice extracted from the fruit of the olive tree. Pomace olive oil is refined olive oil and has no flavor. It can be used to rejuvenate dry skin, and also can be used in the bath and on the scalp.
Hemp Seed Oil is an excellent skin moisturizer as it is easily absorbed by the skin and contributes significantly to the skin’s barrier function to prevent moisture loss. Hemp oil is a perfect skin food because it is rich in nutrients, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants making it an ideal carrier oil for massage and healing treatments. After using it for some time, the skin’s appearance can improve significantly.
Jojoba Oil is good for sensitive skin. It keeps the skin moist while offering healing and anti-inflammatory elements.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
A benefit of Helichrysum Oil is that it is Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Skin Helper and may help wounds heal faster.
Aloe Butter – aids in rapid hydration of dry skin
Avocado Oil contains a high percentage of Vitamin E, as well as potassium, lecithin, and many other nutrients which can nourish and moisturize skin. The oleic acid also promotes collagen production, which helps grow new skin. This accelerates the healing process, helping with issues like sunburn.
Rose Hip Seed Oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which are integral for tissue and cell regeneration in the skin.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may be effective at reducing UV damage in skin. Applied topically, Vitamin E may help nourish and protect skin from damage caused by free radicals.
Beeswax creates a protective layer on the skin. It’s also a humectant, which means that it attracts water and helps the skin stay hydrated. Beeswax also a natural exfoliator, ideal for sloughing away dead skin cells.
For more info on the toxins that may be hiding in your sanitizer, please check out the post below. And as always, if you have a solution or a hand routine that you’ve had success with, please share! (You know I wanted to say hand job again, don’t cha!)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6126357/
https://www.yalemedicine.org/specialists/caroline_nelson
Thanks for the lotion recipe credit. The bars and lip balm may be too soft if you keep them out at room temperature. It’s a blend of oils and butters, so it melts! Your options would be to increase the beeswax in the recipe (especially recommended if using lip balm tubes), or simply store the bars in a jar (or lip gloss pot) with a lid. Hope it helps!