Understand my skin
Good to know to protect yourself alongside with health care authorities during COVID-19 crisis.
As NAOS dermatological department, BIODERMA is by your side to preserve the health of your skin, and is committed to support the Health Authorities by providing you the best-practice to protect yourself against the COVID-19 virus.
This health crisis we are going through lately incites us to wash our hands as often as possible. Health Authorities recommend to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with both cleansing gels and hydroalcoholic gel.
"A soap or foaming gel are an effective alternative to hydro alcoholic gels". Dr Dréno, Professor of Demartology, CHU Nantes
However the skin can lose over time its natural defense and protection faculties. Repeated hand wash has indeed an impact on skin ecosystem removing lipids which naturally preserve the skin and protect it. This all the more the case when using hand sanitizer many times a day, especially due to their high content in alcohol which weakens the hydrolipidic film and therefore dehydrates the skin.
The Professor Dominique Tennstedt from the U.C.L Dermatology Service at U.C.L asserts that anyway, we better “keep washing your hands” This is why we recommend to prefer dermatologically tested, soft cleansing gels or oils as much as possible.
To preserve the skin barrier lastingly and better protect yourself, hydration is also highly recommended.
Moisturizing your hands morning and evening with an emollient cream or even two to three times a day helps to protect and rebuild the lipidic film. For people wearing a mask, it is important to moisturize your face morning and evening
So more than ever, adopt the barrier gestures in order to protect your skin barrier: wash your hands as often as necessary and apply a moisturizer after cleansing. These essential gestures will enable you to preserve your skin barrier so it can play again its natural defense function lastingly.
We know that many of you ask yourself about the most appropriate products to use.
Aurélie Guyoux, head of Research & Development at NAOS, answers to the questions you asked us on our social networks.
We know that virus are sensitive to cleansing agents. It is why it is so important to wash carefully and regularly your hands, following the different steps recommended by the World Health Organization. All cleansing products seem to be efficient. Bioderma products contain specific cleansing agents which combine high efficiency and natural skin barrier respect. Bioderma hygiene and skincare products have been tested under medical supervision and approved for their efficacy and tolerance. You can use them safely.
We have no proof of higher efficacy of products with anti-bacterial properties against the virus COVID-19. More over bacteria and virus are not similar. Thus, as recommended by health authorities, the most effective way to protect yourself, is to wash frequently and thoroughly your hands, use a single-use towel, avoid touching your nose/eyes/mouth, maintain social distance of 1 meter and cough or sneeze in your elbow. Besides, take care to protect your skin natural barrier by moisturizing frequently your hands once they are clean.
As the COVID-19 has been recently discovered there are unfortunately not a lot of scientific studies demonstrating the specific sensitivity of this virus. But as many viruses, and in particular coronavirus, it should be sensitive to classical cleansing products. It is why barrier gestures are so important to preserve your health. These gestures include repeated hygiene and social distancing. And to respect the skin natural barrier function, it is important to select good quality cleansing products and also use regularly emollient to moisturize and restructure the skin.
Respect the safety gestures remain the most efficient way to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, protect yourself and people health. Committed to our health mission, we would like to remind the World Health Organisation’s recommended behavior to stay healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
From the evidence so far, the new COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in all areas, including areas with hot and humid weather.
There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus or other diseases. The normal human body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the external temperature or weather.
Spraying alcohol or chlorine will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying those substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (ie eyes, mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.
No these vaccines do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. The virus is new and different, and needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine and WHO is supporting their efforts.
Antibiotics are efficient only on bacteria. COVID-19 is a virus and not bacteria.
To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the COVID-19. Some specific treatments are under investigation and will be tested through clinical trials. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range of partners.
Hot drinks can certainly bring you some comfort, as long as the temperature is not too high to protect your throat. However it will have unfortunately no impact on your protection against COVID-19.
Having a hot bath may help you relax. However it will not impede the coronavirus disease.
Hand dryers are not effective in killing the COVID-19. UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can lead to skin irritation.
On their website : https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Because protecting yourself is taking care of yourself and the ones you love, Bioderma is wholeheartedly with you during this health crisis. We wish you to stay as much as you can positive, healthy and safe.
Care first.
