Cranberry USA : Maintaining Skin Integrity

By M. Anjum Shah, BSDH, MS, RDH

Hand hygiene is vital to preventing the spread of infections in both dental and medical settings.¹ Effective and frequent hand washing and the continued donning and doffing of gloves are the ­cornerstones of hygiene protocol, but they can be harsh on the skin.^2–4 As hands are washed frequently, the skin becomes damaged, which can lead to more frequent colonization of pathogenic microorganisms. Injured skin needs to be restored with emollients because the skin flora is altered, which results in an increased concentration of staphylococci and Gram-negative bacteria.^5,6 As both medical and dental professionals are at increased risk of skin injury, they must remain up-to-date on strategies for maintaining skin integrity—from washing hands in warm water to increasing their use of alcohol-based hand rubs to choosing gloves coated with emollients and soothing ingredients.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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