With the CDC recommending regular hand washing as a must for stopping the spread of COVID-19, you’ve probably been washing and sanitizing your hands more now than ever before. That’s a good thing – you don’t want to stop doing that. Unfortunately, washing and sanitizing often can also result in dry, red, cracked and chapped hands in need of relief.

Nothing should keep you from this important habit. Ritual handwashing is the single best thing you can do to prevent the spread of disease.

“At a time like this, the last thing we want is for sore, chapped hands to keep you from washing them. It’s just too important,” says Joel Schlessinger, MD, board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO. “Over-washing can break down the outer layer of skin which is made up of oils and wax. This outer layer acts as a shield, preventing bacteria from getting in and moisture from getting out. Over-washing can lead to dry cracks in the skin that give bacteria an easy point of entry into our bodies.”

At LovelySkin, we want to help any way we can. With the need for clean hands so vitally important right now, we have compiled a list of the five best hand creams you can purchase online, from the safety of your own home, for dry, over-washed hands.

5 Best Hand Creams for Dry, Over-Washed Hands

Epionce Medical Barrier Cream

Hand Creams are different than hand lotions. Creams, serums and ointments are more effective for protecting over-washed hands because they are thicker and have more oil than lotions.

Epionce Medical Barrier Cream soothes sensitive skin with some of the most advanced ingredients on the market. The patented mixture of ingredients in this cream restores damaged cells while avocado, rosehip and safflower extracts hydrate skin and restore softness.

Epionce Medical Barrier Cream is so effective at calming inflammation and damaged skin that many dermatologists recommend it for patients who have just had a cosmetic procedure.

FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm

Don’t just hydrate your skin--fix damage with the power of 1% hydrocortisone. FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm is the perfect mix of versatility and effectiveness. Hydrocortisone penetrates deep into the skin to heal irritation, while shea butter and cocoa butter moisturize and replenish the skin’s barrier functions.

FixMySkin’s unique stick design gives you the freedom to drop it in your pocket or bag and carry it with you for immediate relief of sore, over-washed hands, or to soothe insect bites, poison ivy and other rashes.

FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm is fragrance- and gluten-free, won’t melt in the heat and is completely mess-free. You may use it up to four times a day and is ideal for eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and allergic reaction.

Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream

Dermatologist-tested free of common chemical irritants like dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens, sulfates and gluten, Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream easily spreads onto irritated skin without the greasy feel.

As a recipient of the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, this moisturizing formula from Vanicream not only relieves dry, irritated skin, but provides an extra layer of protection against harsh wind and exposure that could cause irritation.

This versatile cream will not only protect and repair over-washed hands, but you may also use it for massage, as a night cream, after bathing and so much more.

EltaMD So Silky Hand Crème

Tired of having to apply hand cream every time you wash your hands? EltaMD has the perfect solution.

EltaMD® So Silky Hand Crème is clinically proven to moisturize dry, flaky skin for up to 12 hours.

So Silky Hand Crème helps maintain moisture even after handwashing. Powerful ceramides, gentle emollients and antioxidant vitamin E nourish and revive dry, rough hands. Additionally, this smoothing formula uses sclareolide, a plant-derived ingredient that helps improve the appearance of skin discoloration.

EltaMD® So Silky Hand Crème is fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

LovelySkin Lipid Drops

Looking for something even stronger for your sore hands? LovelySkin Lipid Drops instantly hydrate and provide a protective layer of moisture that lasts for hours. This powerful serum contains lipids and ceramides, two components crucial to maintaining a healthy moisture barrier. These two ingredients bind moisture to cells, hydrating thirsty skin immediately and locking moisture in.

This extreme moisture booster is also ideal for use on the face and neck to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and is even safe for acne-prone skin.

At LovelySkin, nothing is more important to us than your health. If you have any questions or concerns regarding skin, skin care or the best ways to keep from spreading germs, we would be happy to try and answer them for you.

For tips and tricks on how to keep germs at bay during the COVID-19 outbreak, check out this message from Dr. Schlessinger.

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