Issue link: http://www.finelinesmagazine.com/i/1221552
12 ASCP Fine Lines 20 Seconds By Karrie Osborn Important Times to Wash Your Hands • Before, during, and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the toilet • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste • After handling pet food or pet treats • After touching garbage Proper handwashing techniques have likely never been more researched than today as we try to avoid COVID-19. It's what had me realize I was woefully falling short with my own handwashing protocol. I am surrounded by the wisdom of health professionals every day at work, I have taught my children when they were young to wash their hands before every meal (and especially after playing in our Colorado parks when the elk have just moved through), and I have tried to stay current on the research that says antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers may not be the be-all and end-all we had hoped. And now, after years of being the "disinfector" in my home whenever anyone falls ill, I felt fairly assured that my handwashing knowledge was solid. And then I read these handwashing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. 2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. 3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. 4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. 5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. This simple reminder had me reevaluate my handwashing style, and what I found was that I had become a "lazy" hand-washer. A squirt of soap, some back and forth, a rinse, and I'm out. Nowhere near 20 seconds, or the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended 43 seconds. So while the intent was good, the protocol wasn't. The CDC says that "handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick." So, give it a try. Make 20 seconds (or 43) your new normal. ▪ Your esthetician follows these protocols and more to provide a clean and safe environment for clients. Feel free to talk to your skin care professional about the universal precautions they use.