Can washing your hands too much cause dry skin? Let’s find out.

With frequent hand washing and the use of antibacterial soaps, hands can become dry, and nails weaken. Excessive hand washing side effects include nails breaking or splitting, and the skin on the hands and around the nails may crack or develop symptoms of dermatitis from frequent contact with harsh chemicals, resulting in dry, red and itchy skin. Open skin offers an opportunity for bacteria and pathogens to enter the body. While it’s important to follow strict hand-washing hygiene measures, there are some strategies and even supplements that may help combat the damage being done to the hands.

The Skin

The skin on the hands, like the skin on the rest of the body, is an organ system made to protect the body from outside invaders; it acts as a temperature regulator (thermoregulation), a blood reservoir (housing an extensive network of blood vessels), is involved to some extent the excretion of substances from the body, and absorption of external substances to the cells allows us to experience tactile sensations – touch, pressure, vibration, tickling, hot and cold.

The skin contains two main parts, the outer layer being the epidermis (meaning above) and the deeper layer being the dermis. This layer contains connective tissue. A subcutaneous layer of areolar and adipose tissue, the hypodermis, lays below the dermis and is not considered part of the skin. This gives skin its plump, cushioned feel.

Skin protection is provided by:

• Keratin - a fibrous protein that protects the underlying tissue from microbes, abrasion, heat and chemicals.
• Lipids which retard the evaporation of water from the skin surface.
• Sebum from sebaceous glands stops hair and skin from drying and contains bactericidal chemicals that kill surface bacteria. However, these are absent in thicker skin (palms and fingertips).
• Sudoriferous glands (sweat glands). Acidic pH from perspiration retards the growth of some microbes (numerous in thicker skin).
• Melanin, a skin pigment, helps protect against the damaging effect of UV light.
• Sensory receptors protect from harm through pain, heat and cold sensations
• Langerhans cells in the epidermis alert the immune system to potential harmful microbial invaders, recognising and processing them.
• Macrophages in the dermis phagocytise bacteria and viruses, which have managed to bypass the Langerhans cells.

Nails

The nails are made of hard, tightly packed, dead keratinised epidermal cells, which form a clear and solid covering over the distal portion of the digits (fingers and toes). A nail root attaches the nail to a layer of epidermal and dermal cells deep in the nail matrix. Blood, supplied by capillaries, gives nails a pink glow. Nails grow from cell division (mitosis) at the nail matrix (located at the proximal portion of the nail). Nail growth is determined by the rate of mitosis, which is influenced by age, health and nutrition.

Clearing away germs

Hand washing is vital in preventing the spread of viruses and bacteria, which can cause and spread diseases. Frequent handwashing, using soap and water to lather and scrub the hands and nails for at least 20 seconds, is considered one of the best ways to stay healthy. 

Hand sanitiser is recommended when soap and water are unavailable and is very effective in removing most germs from the skin, but not so good at cleaning dirt, grease, pesticides and heavy metals.

Frequent hand-washing, though, can remove the natural oils and moisture from the skin, leaving it dry and, in some cases, cracking. Hand sanitisers and disinfectants can cause skin irritation, especially for those susceptible to symptoms of eczema and dermatitis.

Aging skin and nails

Ageing skin can become noticeable usually from late in the fourth decade of life. As skin becomes older, there is a decline in the immune response. Skin heals poorly and becomes more susceptible to pathological conditions. Decreased sebaceous gland secretion makes dry and broken skin more susceptible to infection. The production of sweat reduces, making thermoregulation less efficient. Blood vessels thicken and become less porous, and adipose tissue reduces (skin plumpness). The dermis level becomes thinner, and the migration of new cells to the epidermal surface slows.

The growth of nails slows down earlier, around the second or third decade of life. Nails can become brittle with age and dehydration. Nail polish removers and cuticle removers can also cause this effect.

Strategies for reducing skin irritation

Frequent hand-washing disrupts the skin's natural protective layer, resulting in dry and irritated skin.

• Wear gloves where possible - cleaning, food preparation and dishwashing
• Choose the right soap – the best soap for frequent hand washing is hypoallergenic, free from perfumes and irritants
• Water temperature – use cool or warm water, not HOT
• Pat dry rather than rubbing
• Moisturise – choose a hypoallergenic, allergy-free lotion, cream or ointment. In severe conditions, apply moisturiser under cotton gloves and wear overnight.
• Nutrition – a healthy diet supplies many nutrients for skin maintenance, nail growth and strength, and immune function. Consider supplements such as zinc and essential fatty acids. It’s important to always talk to your healthcare professional regarding vitamins and supplements. 

Ointments for dry skin

• Hand or body cream may help in achieving optimal skin hydration and help maintain the skin’s natural barrier. 

Related reads:

• Healthy hands: how to prevent dry skin
• Top 10 foods that are good for your skin, hair and nails
• How to help fix damaged hair (and get the healthy, shiny locks you’ve always dreamed of)

References

1. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/national-hand-hygiene-initiative/what-hand-hygiene#hand-nbsp-care-nbsp-issues 
2. Lopez-Ojeda, W., Pandey, A., Alhajj, M., & Oakley, A. M. (2020). Anatomy, Skin (Integument). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/
3. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/nails-fingernail-and-toenail-problems 
4. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hand-washing 
5. World Health Organization. (2009). Skin reactions related to hand hygiene. Nih.gov; World Health Organization. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144008/