Dear LPG,

Ever since I can remember I have been told how important it is to keep your hands clean.  After all, we do all sorts of things with them and often don’t even realise how quickly those little invisible things that we touch can be transferred from one surface to another.

This year, in particular, we have all been told how quickly the Covid-19 virus can be transferred from one surface to another and the fact that we need to keep those hands of ours washed regularly throughout each day is one of the few rules that the governments and scientists of the world have not argued about.  I think that if they had their way we would do nothing but keep the soap and sanitiser perpetually circulating.

One thing that they are not really touching on (no pun intended)  is the effect that all this handwashing is having on our hands and nails. I am sure I am not the only person that has finally got into the habit of dedicating the twenty seconds to washing them but, when I take a really good look at mine, I have to admit that they are the worse for wear and this is because I am not really finishing the job properly.

Has it occurred to you that while we are getting rid of all those bad and harmful particles that our hands have a habit of accumulating, we are also getting rid of the natural oils that keep our skin looking and feeling healthy and I, for one, spend the time while doing all those hand-washing exercises working out what I am going to do next.  Then comes the quick towel dry with no thought for the effect that taking away all the good nutrients from our hands is having on them, especially as they get a little older; and I am talking about both male and female hands.

My answer was to invest in four tubes of my favourite hand creams; one to be placed next to the soap that I keep by each of the sinks that I have at home, and one to be added to those essentials that you make a point of picking up before you leave the house.  My new list contains keys, mobile phone, money and cards, sanitiser and hand cream.

So I just want to remind all those responsible readers in possession of a pair of hands, that keeping them ultra-clean is vital, but being kind to the skin on them needs our attention too.

… and if you read my last message just think how many more steps you will be able to log without moving your legs… (►►►)

KC, Orpington

LPG found some related information…

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