Are you experiencing itching while doing the dishes? Are you wondering constantly, “why do I get itchy when I wash dishes”?
Hands become itchy while washing dishes due to sensitive skin reactions to detergent/soap or the removal of sebum from the skin due to constant washing.
Let’s find out in detail why your hands get itchy while dishwashing!
Why Do Your Hands Get Itchy While Dishwashing?
All of us only have the basic chores to take care of because we are all locked in our homes, aside from the office work that takes 8-9 hours of the day. This is the time when we are all sweeping, mopping, and washing clothes and utensils.
Washing dishes frequently results in extremely dry hands, which, if not addressed immediately, can lead to painful cracks and flaky skin.
Dishwashing detergent chemicals may also irritate the skin. This is because you may have sensitive skin, and the chemicals in liquid soap can irritate it. This is common if the dishwashing soap contains alcohol.
If you start washing dishes every day, make sure to use a thick layer of lotion and wear sturdy gloves at night. Choose a pair that is breathable to avoid sweaty hands. This also works well in the long run. Although not wearing gloves means almost zero garbage leaves your house in a plastic bag.
Petroleum jelly is commonly used to combat dryness but does not work. It will only provide temporary protection before suffocating your skin. Avoid this by using a good moisturizer instead.
How To Avoid Dry and Itchy Hands While Performing Household Care?
Here are some tips for keeping your hands from becoming dry, flaky, and itchy while doing housework.
Put On Thick Gloves
The first thing you should do to prevent your hands from becoming dry and itchy is to purchase a pair of thick dishwashing gloves. The detergents in dishwashing soap, combined with constant contact with water, can dehydrate your skin and leave it feeling extremely dry.
Wearing gloves will protect your hands from direct contact with these elements while keeping them baby soft.
Hot Water Should Be Avoided
Another great way to keep your hands from becoming dry and itchy is to wash your dishes at room temperature or in tepid water. Hot water is extremely stripping, leaving your hands feeling extremely dry and even causing flaking.
Apply Hand Cream
Hand cream should be used after every hand wash. So, moisturize your hands with a nourishing hand cream. It absorbs quickly and penetrates deeply to help repair very dry and rough hands. It is formulated with oil essence and cell moisturizers.
Use A Fragrance-Free Moisturizer
Use a fragrance-free moisturizer to keep your hands hydrated. Put it on your hands and leave it on overnight. As soon as you wake up in the morning, use it. Use it throughout the day, especially before and after washing your hands or doing the dishes. Fragrant moisturizers should be avoided because they can irritate your skin.
Dry Your Hands Completely
Soap and water trapped between your finger webs and under your rings causes severe dryness and can even cause dermatitis. To prevent and limit this issue, ensure that you thoroughly dry your hands after washing your hands or doing the dishes.
Alternatives to Dish Soap that are Safe
While dish soap manufacturers may advertise “natural” and “organic” ingredients that make their soap superior to competitors’, these labels do not always indicate that the products are safe for your skin.
Look for fragrance-free soaps because fragrances are a common irritant and allergen. Also, avoid antibacterial soaps because they may contain skin-harming ingredients such as triclosan.
Furthermore, preservatives are a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis, so preservative-free dish soaps are a better bet for your skin.
Plain soap will still remove food and oils from your dishes while being gentle on your hands. As a result, simple hand soap is a good substitute for dish soap.
What Causes Itchiness On The Skin?
The following are some of the most common causes of itchy skin:
Dry Skin
Dry skin can become itchy and dry in hot or cold weather, in dry weather, or after using soap. Dry skin appears flaky and rough but is rarely itchy or red. The skin can sometimes crack, which can be painful.
Insect Bite
A bump or blister will usually form around an insect bite. The affected area like the feet start, may become inflamed, painful, and swollen.
Hives
Hives, also known as urticaria, are an itchy, raised, bumpy red or skin-colored rash. The rash most frequently appears on the chest, abdomen, or back but can appear anywhere. The rash will last anywhere from a few hours to 24 hours before disappearing with no scarring.
Heat Rash
Heat rash appears as small pink or red spots or blisters. They can appear anywhere on the body’s surface. Heat rash, also known as miliaria or prickly heat, is extremely common in infants.
Eczema
Itchy, red, scaly patches of skin characterize eczema. Patches are most commonly found on the cheeks, elbow creases, and behind the knees. Eczema is common in children and frequently runs in families with allergies, hay fever, or asthma. Atopic dermatitis is another name for eczema.
Scabies
Scabies is a highly itchy skin rash caused by small mites. On the skin, there will be red lumps and threadlike tracks. These are most commonly found between the fingers and toes, on the insides of the wrists, armpits, tummy, and groin, or buttocks.
How Can I Prevent My Skin From Becoming Dry?
Dry air can irritate and dry out your skin. Use a humidifier in your home during the winter and in dry weather to add moisture to the air.
Certain soaps can irritate your skin. It’s best to use unscented, hypoallergenic soap. This soap contains no dyes or perfumes that may irritate your skin. You can also use a mild, unscented, hypoallergenic laundry detergent, avoid fabric softeners, and try an extra rinse cycle to keep your clothes and bed sheets from irritating your skin.
Wear clothing made of soft fabrics such as cotton or silk. Avoid wearing clothing made of rough wool, which can irritate and itch your skin.
Natural Home Remedies for Itchy Skin
Here are some natural remedies for itchy skin:
Baking Powder
This natural remedy neutralizes acids and kills harmful bacteria on the skin’s surface, balancing pH levels for cleaner, itch-free skin. Add 1 cup baking soda to your regular bathwater, soak for 30-60 minutes, then gently pat (do not rub) your hands dry).
Aloe Vera Gel
One of the best home remedies for itchy skin is aloe vera. The menthol in aloe vera gel cools, hydrates, and forms a protective layer that blocks impurities like dust and bacteria from entering the skin pores, making it ideal for sunburns, mosquito bites, eczema, and psoriasis.
Simply cut an aloe leaf in half, squeeze out the gel, and apply directly to itchy patches. If the gel causes irritation, dilute it with water before using it. It may also cause tightness in the skin, so apply moisturizer after rinsing the gel.
Ice and Water
Because ‘cold’ and ‘itchiness’ sensations travel along the same nerve fibers, exposing itchy patches to cold water or ice can stop the nerve action and eliminate itchiness.
So, while hot water may be temporarily soothing, it actually irritates the skin and increases itching. Instead, bathe, rinse with cool water, and apply ice packs to the affected areas for long-term relief.
Milk
Use the anti-inflammatory properties of milk to treat itchiness caused by dry skin by pouring it into a bowl, dipping it in a clean washcloth, and applying it directly over itchy patches for 5 minutes. Repeat daily, and once a month, take a milk bath for general itch relief and moisturization.
What Medications Are Used To Treat Itching?
A moisturizer may be all that is required to relieve itching. If a moisturizer isn’t enough, you could try using a 1% hydrocortisone steroid skin cream a week. If these measures are ineffective, your doctor may prescribe stronger steroids or antihistamine pills.
If you use a steroid cream to relieve itching, you should not use it for more than one to two weeks. When applying a steroid cream to your face or genital area, exercise extreme caution. Steroid creams can cause your skin to thin out and cause other same problems. If you are using a steroid cream or ointment to treat your itching, consult your doctor.
FAQs:
Can you be allergic to washing dishes?
Dish soap is one of the many substances that can cause allergic reactions on the skin. Certain dish soap ingredients are known irritants and allergens that can cause redness or rashes on the hands. This is known as contact dermatitis.
Why do my hands burn and itch after washing dishes?
This is because some people have sensitive skin, and the chemicals in liquid soap can irritate it. This is especially common when using alcohol-based dishwashing liquids.
Why do you start itching when you do the dishes?
While hand washing is still important at this time, it can deplete natural oils from the skin. This can result in an itchy, flaky skin condition known as hand eczema or hand dermatitis, also known as “dishpan hands” in the past.
Why do my legs get itchy in the bathroom?
Dry skin is dehydrated and may feel an itch, particularly after a shower. Cleansers, soap, and water can strip away the natural oils that keep the skin supple and prevent dryness. When someone takes a hot shower, the soap and warm water remove the skin’s oils, causing the skin to feel tight and itchy.
Legs become itchy due to the accumulation of deoxygenated blood caused by stasis while standing for an extended period.
Conclusion
In short, it is common to experience itchiness while doing dishes, and it is even more common if you have sensitive skin and are prone to skin allergies.
But you don’t have to be concerned; invest in a good pair of gloves and your favorite moisturizer. Keeping your hands moisturized and taking breaks between dishes can help you get rid of this problem.
