Nurse reveals beauty mistake we could be making amid coronavirus outbreak
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic we seem to have ended up putting more thought into washing our hands than we could have ever have imagined was possible.
A task that used to be a mundane part of our daily lives now has more thought and research put into it than the actual virus itself.
Between watching videos of the best hand washing techniques to finding the best 20-30 second song verse to time our sink sessions and researching the most gentle hand washes to lather up with without leaving our hands parched and cracked, there’s a lot to think about when washing our hands these days.
But it turns out there could be one simple thing we’re overlooking when it comes to keeping our hands clean – and we don’t know how we never thought of it before.
MORE: Mother opens up on coronavirus symptoms in ‘heartbreaking’ post after five-year-old son is hospitalised
A nurse has revealed that not cutting our nails could be stopping us from getting the level of cleanliness that we’re aiming for.
According to an Australian health worker, long nails could be one of the fastest spreaders of the concerning virus as the humble body part could hold germs and bacteria – and could even conceal the virus underneath.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
‘Among all the hand-washing instructions and the fun 20-second song suggestions, I haven’t seen anyone note that it is impossible to wash your hands properly if your fingernails are long,’ wrote the nurse in an informative Facebook post.
‘If you can’t put your fingernails straight down against your other palm without your nails adding too much distance to do it, you cannot wash under your fingernails properly unless you use a nail brush every time,’ she explained.
‘If you can’t rub the very ends of your fingers against the other palm, then your hands aren’t truly clean after you wash them, no matter how long you soap up.
‘Please, during this global emergency, keep your nails short.’
And nail biters beware – nibbling on your fingernail is an easy way to get germs and bacteria into your system!
Aleesha Badkar is a lifestyle writer who specialises in health, beauty - and the royals. After completing her MA in Magazine Journalism at the City, the University of London in 2017, she interned at Women’s Health, Stylist, and Harper’s Bazaar, creating features and news pieces on health, beauty, and fitness, wellbeing, and food. She loves to practice what she preaches in her everyday life with copious amounts of herbal tea, Pilates, and hyaluronic acid.
-
Compromising may be killing your relationship - here are 5 ways to reach healthy compromises, according to relationship expert
Compromising isn't always the best way to keep the peace in a relationship
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Best interactive pets for kids: 15 gift ideas for children of all ages
From puppies to axolotls, take a look at our selection of the best interactive pets you can buy that are sure to be a hit with little animal lovers
By Sarah Handley Published