Hand gel that won’t trigger excema

[Helpmyhair2019]

Hello
Just wondered if anyone new of a hand sanitising gel that doesn’t trigger their excema? I can’t wear my wedding rings at the moment as the excema between my fingers is red raw and flares up especially after a day of being out and about (ie post office/supermarket - nothing exciting!!!) so needing hand gel instead of soap and water.
Thank you!

Dermal 500 might be your best option, not sure if it's over the counter but it's an antimicrobial cream/soap. The hospital have given it to dd for her eczema on her hands

@cantkeepawayforever

Does Cetaphil handwash feel a bit more 'soapy' than washing with aqueous cream or similar?

I like aqueous, but am not convinced of its decontamination powers! At the moment I use a Faith in Nature coconut oil soap when needed.

I will look out for Dermal 500 soap.

Dermol 500 isn't effective against Covid.

www.bsuh.nhs.uk/library/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/04/Handwashing-Dermol-500-guidance-April-2020v3.pdf

Cetaphil, on the other hand, does contain a detergent in the form of SLS. It isn't as 'kind' as aqueous cream / Dermol 500 BUT it is better IME than soap [I use Simple soap for general washing purposes, as my severe eczema is now confined to my hands]. It's a compromise, given that i am a teacher so effective hand cleansing is basically my only anti-Covid measure. I apply it neat, rub it in like I would aqueous cream or Dermol, then rinse it off. It doesn't lather, but it does emulsify and wash off much more completely than most emollient soap substitutes.

However, as I know from many bitter and painful unsuccessful emollient and treatment trials, what works for me may well not work for you!

Just don't use it and don't touch your face. I never used it as a nurse, as it ruined my hands. Cracked hands increases the risk or bacteria and viruses getting caught there. Washing with soap and water and then moisturising worked best for me, even if this is more frequent if not using gel. I see people using hand gel a lot and they do not apply it properly, giving only a quick rub over and not into all the creases, thumb, etc. I think it gives a false sense of security.

I’m actually concerned about this for the kids come September. My DC school has chosen to get lots of anti bac gel dispensers as opposed to more sinks which was an option (when hand washing would be better). My DCs were in as keyworkers and my littlest ended up with cracked and bleeding hands and wrists which they were still making him put anti bac gel on. Even my eldest who doesn’t have eczema had really sore hands.

I think there is question of knowingly causing harm to someone with a recognised health condition (albeit generally a minor one, it can still have an effect on wellbeing) vs the unquantified and unknown risk of coronavirus transmission.

I use ecohydra which is alcohol free - its not caused any issues with my skin and I use it a lot (also kills norovirus which a lot of other dont). Also aquaint water is good for hands, surfaces etc - looking at non uk research it looks like it should kill covid but not communicated in the UK

Thank you. I’m also worried about my son when he goes back to primary as they have to use the school gel. Before lockdown he was red raw from all the hand washing. Any other parents with a similar concern? Would you insist school don’t make him use it all the time?

Can you wear disposable gloves and sanitize them instead?

Helpmyhair,

Just to say that as a teacher with severe eczema, I would have no problem allowing a (primary) child to wash their hands with cleanser and water rather than sanitise with gel. The latter is quicker, which is why I think it will be in use much more in September even than it was during partial opening from March - July.

I can't guarantee that all teachers will be like me, and nor can i guarantee that enough sinks will be available for your child to wash their hands as often as needed without mixing 'bubbles', but that's what I have done and will do.

I have excema and so does my daughter, we both use Creightons pure touch cleansing hand foam, bought it in Boots. It’s alcohol free, cleans hands without need of water and is antibacterial killing 99.9% of bacteria. Boots also make their own variation for the same thing. I carry it in my bag and use it whenever going into a shop instead of the hand gel the shop provides.

I get excema on my hands - not as bad at the moment as it’s summer and it generally gets worse in the winter. However it was quite bad at the start of lockdown Thanks to all the hand washing and sanitising and I found a combination of Dover Beauty Bar soap and Carex Aloe Vera hand gel seems to be working for me after I switched to those

I think the official advice is to wash with soap and water but use hand gel where that isn’t an option. Carry your usual emollient around with you in a pump dispenser and apply after each hand wash.

I believe it is the alcohol that stings and dries your hands and unfortunately in a pandemic you need to use an alcohol based hand gel.

Sunflower101 if it's alcohol free it won't be effective on coronavirus I'm afraid.

OP I think the key is to get your eczema under control asap with steroid cream or ointment and then use emollient rigorously to keen the skin hydrated. Doing this should mean using 70% plus alcohol gel which kills coronavirus doesnt irritate as much. You can always put emollient on after you've applied the hand gel and rubbed it in for 20 secs as advised. I have bad eczema on both hands but mine is controlled this way and I've had no issues with having to use more hand gel and wash hands more often these past few months.

I use EcoHydra too - it is alcohol free but it has been lab tested and certified for coronavirus. It’s the gentlest one I’ve found and really stopped my hands getting awful.

I also slather on working hands cream every night at bedtime and a couple of times in the day normally too.

Following with interest - as a lifelong severe eczema sufferer I'm not liking all the enforced hand sanitising on arrival to the shops that some shops insist on!
I have allergies, parabens being one which is in a hell of a lot of skin care stuff and crack my hands up/blister them.
How do I know it's not in the generic stuff you're insisting I wash my hands with?
Not sure what the best way to go about it is. Luckily it's not severe lately so I'm getting away with the odd squirt when out and about, but washing thoroughly in my own stuff when I get home.

Thank you. I’m also worried about my son when he goes back to primary as they have to use the school gel. Before lockdown he was red raw from all the hand washing. Any other parents with a similar concern?

Me - DS2 suffers from eczema which is prone to flaring up and feeling a bit worried since receiving the latest update letter from school - apparently there's about 4 handwashes a day when going back (when you get there in a morning, between each lesson, lunchtime etc) can see his hands being red raw
High school though not primary here

ecohydra for me too. My hands no longer sting. It is alcohol-free and works effectively against COVID-19.

ecohydra.com/news/effectiveness-of-ecohydra-hand-sanitiser-against-sars-cov-2-known-to-cause-covid-19-2020-05-07

How confusing this all is, I bought the foaming handgel thinking that I had bought an effective way of looking after my hands avoiding the stinging gel when out and about. Will look out for EcoHydra instead then.

OP I've just had an awful patch of eczema on my hands which then got infected due to overuse of hand sanitizer. I've started wearing disposable gloves (latex or vinyl, not sure exactly) and then I put the gel on top of those. I'm in a country where customers are expected to use hand sanitizer in every shop they go in. My hands are better now so just soap and water washing at home, and always moisturising afterwards. Good luck OP and other fellow eczema sufferers!

Thank you everyone - lots to look at. Good luck everyone as well x

Hi all, i Came across this amazing sanitiser - Alcohol free so no stinging and has all the test certificates for covid-19! We love it and invested in the surface spray as well for cleaning the house!
ligneus.co.uk/product-category/cleaning-hygiene/nilaqua-sanitiser/