Q I'm in my 50s running a restaurant in Dong-gu, Incheon, so my hands are constantly in contact with water and detergent from dishwashing and cleaning. How should I care for my hands?
A Before water/detergent work, wear rubber gloves over cotton gloves, and as soon as you finish, rinse with lukewarm water and apply plenty of moisturizer. Moisturizing frequently so the barrier doesn't dry out is the key to managing hand dermatitis.
Detailed Answer
If you work with your hands frequently in water and detergent, protective habits are as important as treatment. Before detergent work, wearing thin cotton gloves with rubber gloves over them reduces both sweat and irritation at once, and when work is done, rinse lightly with lukewarm (not hot) water and apply plenty of moisturizer before the hands dry, to refill the barrier. It is best to reduce strong cleansers and alcohol hand sanitizers as much as possible.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, alongside such protective habits, we advise falling asleep before midnight to secure time for immune cells to repair the skin, and reducing eating habits that build up damp-heat, such as flour-based foods, greasy foods, and alcohol. When care that protects the outside and treatment that regulates the internal environment go together, the hand skin is maintained stably.
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