First ptid Care For Shiu Tips To Protect Chafed, Chapped, Cracked & Dry Hands (NAPS)—An estimated 8.6 million adults in the U.S. suffer from the signs and symptoms of hand eczema and hand dermatitis— chafing, chapping, cracking, and dry skin. Fortunately, there’s now non-prescription relief that helps fight the symptoms of both of these conditions. There are a multitude of elements which can irritate skin and destroy its protective barrier. Skin can becomedry andirritated when work is done with harsh chemicals, or from frequent hand washings. For active people, such as nurses, cosmetologists, mechanics or household workers, protective gloves and heavy ointments are impractical. TheraSeal Hand Protection, newly available in first aid sections, protects hands from chaf- ing, chapping, cracking and dry skin, causedbyirritants. “TheraSeal Hand Protection helps to protect hands from cosmetic, household, occupational and/or environmental irritants,” says Dr. Braham Shroot, Vice President of Research & Development for Healthpoint. “Further- more, the elegant formula permits people to continue routine daily activities whether at homeor in the workplace.” To protect hands from the reoc- currence of signs and symptomsof hand eczema and hand dermatitis—as well as preventingirrita- There’s now “hands on”relief for chafed, chapped, cracked and dry skin with new TheraSeal HandProtection. While preparing food Avoid contact of hands with fruits, fruit juices, vegetables, raw meats, fish and especially raw onionsandgarlic. When working with chemicals e Avoid or minimize contact with hair tonics, lotions, deter- gents and bleaches, solvents such as turpentine or benzene, or epoxy resins used in hobbies. Protect hands with a plastic polymer glove (vinyl), instead of latex. Try cotton swabs or brushes when workingwith hairtonics. Whencleansing skin Choose plain, unscented soaps, free of color, antiseptics or tion caused by cosmetic, household, vitamins. For very dry skin, try a superfatted soap. Avoid deodorant followingtips: Remove rings whencleansing to avoid getting soap trapped occupational and/or environmental irritants—experts recommend the During house/kitchen work Protect hands with rubber gloves and line them with white cotton (absorbent) gloves. Wear gloves for no more than or antibacterial soaps. underneathjewelry. Use lukewarm water. e Rinse hands gently and thoroughly, especially between 30 minutes at a time. fingers. Gently pat—never rub—skin maypenetrate gloves. Use long-handled brushesfor e Wash as infrequently as possible. e Wear cotton gloves during tion, liberally and frequently. TheraSeal Hand Protection is Avoid very hot water, which washing dishes and cleansing of pots, stoves and dishwashers. dry, dirty or dusty housework. Washgloves, not hands. e Apply a protective lotion lib- erally and frequently for best results. dry. Finish by applying a product such as TheraSeal Hand Protec- available in the first aid section at drug stores. For more information, visit the Web site at www. theraseal.com.
