Put your skin in good hands

WASHING your hands is still the best way to combat Covid-19.

But frequent scrubbing can leave you with sore, chapped skin – often made worse by harsh, alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

As the lockdown lifts, good personal hygiene will be more important than ever.

But Prof Hywel Williams, consultant dermatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, says it’s vital to keep skin moisturised too.

“Frequent hand washing can make your hands dry, and even break out in eczema,” he said.

“You should continue to follow the government advice and use soap and water to wash your hands for 20 seconds to clear your hands of the virus.

“But dry them properly and apply plenty of emollient to replenish the precious oils on your skin.” Here are six of the best moisturising hand creams on the market. Aveeno Dermexa Emollient Cream, £9.99 for 200ml, Superdrug

This daily moisturiser is formulated using oats, which are known for their skin soothing properties.

If you have ever had chicken pox you will understand.

The cream leaves skin feeling smooth and hydrated in super-fast time.

But it is not recommended for use on broken skin, so we suggest using this just after a flare- up to lock in the skin’s natural moisture and promote hydration.

Cerave Healing Ointment, £22.49 for 144g, Amazon

If you are looking for a miracle cream that doesn’t just sit on top of your skin, but actually penetrates and hydrates it, this might be worth a look.

Cerave’s healing ointment can also be used on your face and other parts of the body that are dry and irritated.

It has been developed by dermatologists and has a silky, lightweight finish.

Epaderm Cream, £10.49 for 500g, Boots

Epaderm is a great solution for a whole host of skin conditions across the board and will leave you with soft, nourished skin all year round.

The two-in-one cleanser and moisturiser can be used on broken skin, so will provide you with relief before, during and after a flare-up.

It is often a prescribed treatment, so you can be assured it does something right.

Cetraben Natural Oatmeal Cream, £8.99 for 190g, Lloyds Pharmacy The active ingredient in this cream is, unsurprisingly, oatmeal – known for its natural moisturising and soothing properties.

It provides 24 hours of roundthe-clock hydration for your skin and is also suitable for babies from birth. As it’s an allnatural product, it is good for irritable skin that is prone to eczema.

Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm, £9 for 40ml, Boots If your skin can only be described as extremely parched this might be one to keep an eye out for.

The lightweight formula hydrates really dry skin and helps to stop it from becoming as dehydrated in the future.

It is not recommended for use on damaged skin, so it’s best to wait until any flare-ups have passed before trying it.

As it has quite a heavy feel compared with the other products, we’d recommend you only use this on affected parts of the body and not the face.

Avène Tolérance Extreme Emulsion, £13.50 for 50ml, lookfantastic.com If you suffer from very sensitive skin, this cream from Avène is both affordable and free from any artificial fragrances and gluten.

It’s suitable for daily use and has been made from just six ingredients.

The lightweight formula helps to hydrate and replenish damaged skin, and is suitable for use on even the most delicate skin types.