Hand Hygiene

WASHING YOUR HANDS RIGHT:

TUTORIAL AND TIPS

Washing hands seems to be a really simple hygiene routine, but when you’re washing to kill off germs and bacteria that can potentially harm you, you need not just wash but wash properly. Let us show you how to do it right.

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS:

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO GUARD YOURSELF AGAINST INFECTIONS

Always know that the time you spend at the sink could either save you trips to the doctor's office or be a total waste of time - if you don’t get the germs removed. And germs only get removed when you wash your hands following these steps:

Wet your hands with water

Hold your hands and wet them under running water at cold or warm temperature, but not too hot. If the water is too hot, it’s more likely to damage your skin and dry it out. Wet your hands properly.

Apply enough soap into your hands

Lather some bar soap or liquid soap between the wet palms of your hands. Apply the soap generously enough to create a foam. But don’t use too much. Using too much soap does not harm your skin, but it doesn’t make your hands cleaner, either. Lather the soap over your hands by rubbing them together

Soap your hands right

Wash your hands thoroughly, scrub both hands in circular movements and with light pressure: between the fingers, on the fingertips, on the nails and the palms. Take at least 20 to 30 seconds to soap your hands to carefully remove germs and bacteria. Not sure of the timing? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end, twice.

Soap between the fingers

Take special care to wash the area between your fingers. To do this, hook both hands together and move the fingers back and forth in the spaces between the other hand. Always remember your thumbs!

Rinse off thoroughly

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. Rinse the foam off completely.

Dry hands carefully

When your hands leave the water, dry them completely. Dab your hands and the spaces between your fingers with a soft towel. Do not rub, but pat your hands dry to not irritate delicate skin. Remember to change the towel regularly (e.g. at least once a week in a one-person household).

Apply hand cream

Ideally, you should use hand cream after each washing, because important skin fat is removed. Moisturizing hand creams help to support the skin's own regeneration process.

NIVEA FAVORITES FOR THOROUGHLY CLEANSED HANDS

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Body Care

Nivea Crème

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Body Care

Nivea Soft

WHAT’S RIGHT FOR WASHING YOUR HANDS

TIPS ON SOAP AND CREAM

Every time you wash your hands, you remove not only dirt but also protective skin oils. It is therefore important to choose the right soap and rich follow-up care. This helps prevent the skin from drying up. But finding the right soap and cream isn’t just about picking this or that off the shelf. We’ll tell you how to make the right choice.

SOAP BARS OR LIQUID SOAPS?

For your skin, it does not matter whether you use a liquid soap or a bar of soap. But In public facilities, where many people wash their hands, it is recommended to give preference to liquid soaps – more bacteria tend to accumulate on soap bars.

When buying soaps, make sure that the formula is as mild as possible. It is best to choose a soap that contains natural oils to prevent your hands from drying out. If you have particularly sensitive skin, you should look for the "pH-neutral" label.

WHAT CREAM SUITS YOU BEST?

Frequent washing of hands is a great hand hygiene practice, but it strains the skin and dries it out. That is why you should apply cream to your hands after every wash. You can support the skin's regeneration process and keep your hands supple with a variety of hand cream options:

- An extra rich hand cream for chapped hands has a moisturizing effect and accelerates the healing process.

- A hand cream for normal skin is ideal for maintaining the neat condition of your hands and nails. - People who work at the computer or handle important documents should go for a hand cream that is quickly absorbed – it won’t leave greasy fingerprints!

- An anti-age hand cream enriched with Q10 can help prevent skin aging on the hands.

HAND HYGIENE:

KNOW MORE ABOUT WASHING HANDS

It might be a familiar thing to you now that everywhere, people are talking about washing hands. Well, thanks to Ignaz Semmelweis – the Hungarian doctor who in 1847, discovered and pioneered a basic hygienic practice known then -and more globally now- to stop the spread of infection. Today more than ever, more questions are being asked on washing hands and we’ve provided answers for a better understanding and practice of hand hygiene.

WASHING YOUR HANDS:

WHEN AND WHY?

As you wash your hands, following advice, instruction or convention, here are points to note on when to wash hands and why.

Wash hands after visiting the toilet/bathroom:

The toilet or bathroom might look really neat and even habitable, but the truth is,

Every second in the restroom should be considered as time spent in germ land. As you know, the business that goes on in toilet and bathroom comes with a lot of germs, most of which are tiny and invisible. They hide on toilet fittings, doorknobs and other bathroom surfaces. Washing your hands properly is a way of ensuring you’re taking no germs with you.

Wash hands after you sneeze or wipe your nose:

It is important to sneeze into your elbow or sleeves and to wipe your nose with a tissue, then dispose it. That is to stop the spread of germs. But then you shouldn’t keep the germs to yourself, they are harmful to you too. Every time you sneeze or wipe your nose, you should wash your hands to get rid of germs that might have stayed on.

Wash hands before and after contact with sick people:

While people are sick, they are prone to the spread of germs and bacteria due to how often they get touched by people. They also pose a high risk of spreading germs through their body fluids. You might be visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives, always wash your hands before and after contact with such persons to avoid the spread of germs or bacteria to the person and yourself.

Wash your hands before and after you come in contact with food:

If germs and bacteria get on your hands, their mission isn’t accomplished until they get into your body system. The last thing you want is to transport them into your mouth with food. Before and after touching food for preparation or eating, always wash your hands.

When you have pet animals around, wash your hands: Animal pets can be so lovely and fun to have around you but sometimes these pets carry germs and diseases that can be passed onto people. Always wash your hands after coming in contact with animal pets; their food or their living area.
After taking out the garbage, wash your hands: Proper disposal of garbage is a measure to keep your surrounding clean. However, handling garbage can also mean handling a bag or can of germs. Always wash your hands right after.
Wash your hands before and after applying make-up: When your hands come in contact with germs or infected surfaces, one of the quickest and easiest ways of getting the germs, diseases or infection into your body system is by touching your face. Before you touch up your face with that make-up, wash your hands, and repeat the washing after the make-up is done.
Wash your hands after gardening: Every time you set out to tend the garden, consider it as going out into the wild, and this time germs and bacteria are the beasts. They sneak up on you from the soil and compost. It is important to wash your hands after leaving the garden.
Wash your hands before coming home: After a long day at work, your hands have been through a lot. Before you leave for home, wash your hands. Also wash your hands when you arrive home.