How to take care of your skin properly during the epidemic?

Even though the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic is improving, we cannot relax and still need to take strict precautions to achieve final victory.

Our skin is exposed to the outside world and faces various exposure risks. However, cleaning and disinfection can cause skin damage. In particular, medical workers suffer from redness, swelling, indentation, desquamation, blisters and even ulcers on their hands and faces due to long hours of work. So how can we protect our skin and reduce skin damage? Let's learn about it below!

Understanding the Skin Barrier

The skin is our body's first line of defense against the outside world. It protects the body from various physical, chemical, and microbial invasions. It is mainly composed of physical barriers, biological barriers, and immune barriers.

1. The physical barrier is mainly composed of keratinocytes, intercellular lipids and hydrolipid membranes. The hydrolipid membrane is mainly formed by the emulsification of sebum secreted by sebaceous glands, lipids produced by the disintegration of keratinocytes and sweat secreted by sweat glands. It is weakly acidic and is the first barrier to protect the human body. It has the functions of lubricating the skin, reducing water evaporation, and resisting ultraviolet rays. The physical barrier formed by it and keratinocytes can effectively prevent the loss of water in the skin, maintain the normal water content of the skin, and prevent the invasion of external chemicals and microorganisms.

2. The biological barrier is composed of a group of microbial populations that exist in the skin and play a beneficial role, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, which has the functions of nutrition, participation in skin cell metabolism, maintaining skin physiological functions and self-cleaning.

3. The immune barrier is composed of tissues, cells and immune active factors involved in the immune response. It has the functions of protecting the body from damage caused by various stimuli, promoting the body's repair after damage, and killing or defending against pathogens.

Damage to the skin barrier can easily lead to loss of skin moisture, decreased resistance to ultraviolet rays, and external stimuli and pathogens invading the body. Therefore, protecting the skin barrier is an issue we should pay more attention to during the epidemic.

How to clean and protect the skin barrier scientifically

1. Cleaning

Wash your hands correctly using the seven-step hand washing method (as shown below). Use warm water to clean your face and avoid over-cleaning. It is recommended to clean your face 2-3 times a day, and your hair and body 1-2 times (showering is recommended, not bathing). Do not wash your hands more than 10 times. Choose the right cleaning products. Mild non-ionic surfactants can reduce damage to proteins and lipids in the skin. Weakly acidic or neutral pH products can maintain the weakly acidic environment of the skin and reduce interference with the normal microecology. Ingredients with moisturizing effects (such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, xylitol, etc.) and ingredients with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects (such as purslane and licorice extracts, etc.) are beneficial to maintaining the homeostasis of the skin barrier.

2. Moisturizing skin care

After cleaning and disinfection, special attention should be paid to skin care and skin moisturizing. According to different skin types, choose a mixture of water, oil, and emulsion in different proportions: ① Dry skin: Choose a cream or lotion with a higher oil and emulsion content. ② Oily skin: Choose a relatively refreshing gel cream or lotion with a small amount of oil and emulsion. ③ Combination skin: Mainly dry cheeks, and strong oil secretion in the T zone, skin care products should be selected by region (as shown in the figure).

In addition, cosmetics and sunscreens may contain ingredients that are harmful to the skin barrier, such as residues of heavy metals such as lead and mercury, formaldehyde, preservatives, etc. Therefore, please try not to wear makeup during the epidemic.

Skin problems during the epidemic

Long-term wearing of masks, goggles and gloves, and repeated use of disinfectants can easily cause skin maceration, allergies, and acne; and friction sites are also prone to mechanical damage such as ulcers and indentations. It is recommended to avoid wearing disposable masks for a long time and replace them every 4 hours, reduce the number of times you go out to reduce contact time, or replace them with non-allergenic products. If you are allergic to disinfectants, you should immediately stop using the suspected disinfectant and replace it with other products.

Specific steps for dealing with the problem: ① If maceration occurs, an astringent such as zinc oxide ointment can be used. ② If an allergic reaction occurs, oral antihistamines (such as ebastine tablets) can be used, and topical glucocorticoid ointments (do not use on the face) such as halometasone cream, mometasone furoate cream, etc. can be used; facial allergies can use pimecrolimus cream, paeonol ointment or Lanrun. ③ If acne occurs, fusidic acid cream can be used externally, and minocycline hydrochloride can be added in severe cases. ④ If indentation occurs, it is recommended to pad a sponge or gauze at the edge of the mask when wearing it, and apply a hot towel to the indentation, and apply polysulfonated mucopolysaccharide cream externally. ⑤ If the skin is damaged, it cannot be hot compressed. It needs to be disinfected with Aner Iodine III or 75% medical alcohol and then bandaged with a Band-Aid or gauze.

Clothing treatment and environmental disinfection

After returning from going out, it is recommended to change clothes immediately. When there is no contact with dangerous people or objects, wash them normally and dry them in a ventilated place. If the clothes may be contaminated, it is recommended to use chlorine-containing disinfectants, such as 84 disinfectant, Aiershi disinfectant tablets, etc., and soak and disinfect according to the instructions. Usually, after disinfection with medical alcohol or general disinfectant, there will be a slight odor in the environment, which usually does not have a negative impact on the skin. However, a very small number of people with allergies will be allergic to disinfectants due to inhalation or contact with disinfectants in the air. They should leave the place being disinfected in time. If allergic symptoms occur, they can take oral antihistamines or seek medical attention in time.

Avoid unhealthy lifestyle

An unhealthy lifestyle can indirectly damage the skin. Therefore, during the epidemic, more attention should be paid to the management of diet and daily routine.

① Do not eat game, eat more vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of water, and try to eat less high-fat and high-sugar foods.

②Avoid smoking, drinking, and staying up late; maintain a regular schedule, go to bed early and get up early, and choose appropriate exercise methods.

③ Regulate your body and mind, get rid of negative emotions, and maintain a peaceful state of mind.