How to Wash your Hands Properly

Washing your hands may be a habit that you take for granted.  Just like breathing, because it’s so simple and you do it all the time. But do you know if you have been washing your hands properly? Because washing your hands the correct way makes all the difference. Appropriate handwashing minimizes the transmission of microorganism that may cause diseases.

Most importantly, when applying makeup, our hands is the most basic tool that we used. Hence, it’s important that it’s clean first before we apply any skincare or makeup product.

Washing hands should be done often. Use soap and water to clean your hands for at least 20 seconds. Here is the proper procedure of handwashing:

1. Wet your hands with water and apply soap.
2. Spread soap on your hands, palm and back, wrist, as well as between the fingers, and nails.
3. After washing your hands, dry them with paper towel, tissue, or hand dryer. Wet hands attract things (bacteria and viruses, among other things) to latch onto you.
4. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand wipes or sanitizer. Alcohol is effective against many viruses if used properly. Rub it onto your hands until it dries.

image courtesy of National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, The Philippines.