Washing hands frequently is harmful: It’s good to wash hands. Washing hands after being outside or touching something infected can be a good and healthy habit. But washing hands more often than necessary causes great harm to health. After Corona, awareness about cleanliness has increased among people. After this, people have started always keeping sanitizer with them. People have started washing hands with soap every once in a while. But do you know that washing hands frequently can harm your health.
What health experts say:
According to the article, frequent hand washing is a psychological disorder. Dr. SM Fayaz, consultant in internal medicine at Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, said that it is important to maintain cleanliness. But you are betraying your skin under the guise of cleanliness. This psychological disorder is called obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD. In this disorder the person repeats the same habit again and again. Like washing hands, checking whether doors are closed or not.
What will be the benefit of washing hands frequently:
Dr. SM Faiyaz says that frequent hand washing can cause damage to the skin. Hands come in contact with chemicals through frequent use of hand sanitizer or hand wash. Due to which the natural oil of the skin starts getting depleted. Due to this the skin becomes dry. There is a problem of itching in the skin. Many palms begin to crack and the skin begins to peel. If we talk about problems other than skin, a person remains stressed due to the problem of frequent hand washing. Because it increases the oxidative stress level. Frequent washing of hands with soap can cause eczema. It is a skin related disease. In which the skin may turn red. It starts swelling and bursting.
How often to wash hands:
According to health experts, it is okay to wash hands 5 to 10 times a day. It becomes even more serious. Besides, some time has also been fixed for washing hands. Like before eating food, after freshening up or after coming home from outside, it is important to have hands. Hands should also be washed after touching any contaminated object. Apart from this, it is advisable to wash hands after coming in contact with cough, cold or mouth.
How to get rid of this habit:
Use correct handwash to wash hands.
Use a good moisturizer after washing hands. This will keep hands soft.
Instead of washing your hands with hot water, use lukewarm water.