The winter months can be especially harsh on skin. For healthcare professionals, healthy hands are key to carrying out everyday tasks correctly and safely – however, skin care problems are commonly seen in the sector and can be exacerbated during the winter months. Redness, dryness, scaling and cracking have all been reported as symptoms, with skin care provision inadequate or ineffective.
Skin care experts SC Johnson Professional run through their recommendations for best practice during winter.
The skin
The skin is the largest organ in the body and comes with a set of defence mechanisms designed to minimise irritation and damage. However, as an external organ, the skin is exposed to a wide range of potentially harsh environmental conditions and contaminants, some of which can eventually produce irritations or dermatitis. There are eight main factors that impact an individual’s risk of skin irritation, according to a Deb Skin Care blog:
- Perspiration (may result in skin damage)
- Season of the year (especially colder months)
- Gender (women’s skin is more susceptible)
- Pre-existing skin diseases
- Allergies
- Cleanliness
- Occupation
- Home environment
- Repeat exposure to contaminants in the workplace
The most common forms of occupational dermatitis include irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). ICD is caused by products that dry out and damage the skin, or excessive hand cleansing, especially when carried out incorrectly. ACD is caused by allergic reactions; once the skin is sensitised to the substance, ACD may reoccur.
Seasonal weather has a significant impact on the risk level of skin irritation, which means that skin care routines should be adjusted to combat seasonal risk. Dry, chapped skin also tends to become rough and difficult to clean, thus making it more susceptible to infection. To alleviate the effects of dry winter skin, it is important to regularly apply appropriate moisturising creams.
Best products and practice
Prolonged periods of cold weather reduce the amount of moisture in the air, which in turn can lead to the drying of the skin. While creams are always an important part of skin care best practice, they are especially crucial during the winter. Deb Skin Care’s website reports that a coalition of the world’s most eminent dermatologists recommend the daily, routine use of creams to reduce the risk of occupational skin disease.
SC Johnson Professional recommend using an appropriate restorative, moisturising cream as a crucial step in skin care best practice. These creams should be applied at break times and at the end of the day or working period to moisturise, nourish and condition the skin. When consistently used, moisturising creams can help improve skin strength and prevent the skin from becoming dry or damaged.
Products such as SC Johnson Professional’s Moisturising Cream are ideal for healthcare environments. With ultrasonically sealed cartridges, the containers are developed for maximum hygiene to prevent cross-contamination. The cream is also fragrance-free with a neutral pH and is ointment based, meaning it is quickly absorbed, leaving a non-greasy after feel – ideal for busy healthcare environments where time is limited. The moisturising cream is complemented by gentle yet effective soaps and sanitisers to help maintain a high level of skin care and hygiene compliance.
For more information on SC Johnson Professional’s recommendations and products, head to www.scjp.com.
