Good skin care matters all year but especially in winter and particularly for those that work outside. Preparation and prevention are key as working with unprotected skin makes any conditions worse.
This article explores ways to protect hand health and explains why conditions become exacerbated during the winter period.
The impact winter has on our hands
Good skincare is essential during winter as the weather conditions can end up drying out your skin. This is because colder conditions bring low humidity and high winds, these result in significant moisture loss on the skin’s surface. Hydration is important for healthy skin and, as many people drink less water during the winter, poor hydration can inflame skin conditions we may already have.
To try and combat this, many people use gloves to try and protect their hands during winter – but even this brings risk to skin health. When gloves are worn for long periods of time, they can prevent the moisture that naturally passes through the skin’s barrier from leaving the surface by trapping it. It can also make the skin easier to be scraped and damaged once the gloves come off.
A cold weather hand care programme
There are many tips to help prevent damage and look after your hands during the winter period. Steps for looking after your hands whilst working outside:
- Wear thermal gloves: Make sure that although they are thermal they still offer cut protection. They will also require the right dexterity for the job as well as being waterproof.
- Put your gloves on when you’re inside: To help retain body heat in your hands.
- Have the correct size of gloves: Make sure there are sizes for everyone on your team that fit well to help protect against the elements.
- Know when it is too cold outside for you to be working: The risk of frostbite is a possibility. If you start to feel numbness, tingling, or less blood flow going to your hands you need to head inside and take a break.
- Keep your hands moisturised: To help restore your skin and natural oils.
- Use a protection cream: To help protect your hands throughout long outside shifts, this will also be kinder on your skin in the cold.
- Drink enough water: Remember, hydration is important at all times of the year. Lower temperatures may make us think otherwise.
The three moments of skin care
This is a universal best practice standard for skin care that can help you keep your hands healthy throughout the winter. They were developed to help occupational health and safety professionals establish a culture where skin health is considered a priority and where the wider workforce can understand, address and improve skin care behaviour compliance.
It’s worth reminding your employees about these three simple steps:
Before work: You need to apply a skin protection cream which helps retain the natural moisture in your skin as well as improving the skin’s strength.
During work: You should be washing your hands with appropriate soap to remove dirt and any contamination followed with more protection or restorative cream.
After work: You should apply a restorative cream to help moisturise your skin.
Identifying skin conditions – the employer’s responsibility
Both employees and employers usually aren’t qualified to diagnose skin problems. This is where occupational health can help with an assessment. It’s worth remembering that all cases of workplace dermatitis should be reported – and that the HSE say that non-compliance or a deliberate act or omission in regard to occupational dermatitis prevention, management, monitoring or reporting can result in prosecution.
Find out more about dermatitis and skin health
While skin care is something that needs extra focus in winter months, good skin care is important all year round. There are many causes of skin conditions beyond cold weather and to help employers have a summary of the topic, we’ve created a short guide, available on the Cordell Health subscription site.
If you are not signed up to this service and would like to find out more, please contact us on wellbeing@cordellhealth.co.uk.
In conclusion
The impact winter can have on our skin is significantly higher than any other time of the year and yet many people don’t do anything to prevent it. Even when steps are taken, such as wearing gloves, damage can still be done. Good skin care isn’t complex and can be improved by workplace awareness of good skin care practice. If in doubt, an occupational health practitioner can offer an assessment.
Photo by Shivansh Sharma on Unsplash
