Careful Handwashing or an Obsession?

“I can’t go outside without having hand sanitizer with me, and when I return home, I instantly wash my hands before touching anything else,” Jay Maldonado said. The resident of Orange County, New York, and millions of Americans responded to COVID and warnings from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to wash their hands and carry hand sanitizer. Some admit they overdo it, and now it has become an unbreakable habit.

A year into the pandemic, the CDC still advises, “Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick.” Many like Maldonado worried about contracting the virus, took this seriously, and overwash their hands.

According to the Bradley Cooper Corporation, 57 percent of Americans wash their hands around 6 to 15 times a day since January 2021. That percentage was 78 percent right after the pandemic started.

Armani Rodriguez, a student at the City College of New York (CCNY) and a healthcare worker, takes care of her grandmother. She worries a lot, especially when she commutes. She strategically takes a train from the Bronx to Queens around 6:30 a.m. because the subways feels less crowded. “I always leave my house with hand sanitizer. Everything in New York City disgusts me now, and I can’t even ride the subway to work without thinking about how many germs are on the seats and poles,” Rodriguez said.

Maldonado and Rodriguez realize their handwashing has become excessive, but it’s their new norm. Maldonado fears touching doors that others use and doesn’t like to use grocery store shopping carts. He wears gloves and brings his own shopping bag. He even worries about putting his stuff down on public counters. “There are personal items you have and may not think about where you place them while being out. Think about your cellphone, keys, and wallet and about where you place them down when you’re out in public,” Maldonado said.

Similarly, Rodriguez always takes extra precaution to sanitizes the things she carries. “When I get to my destination, I always sanitize my phone and headphones with hand sanitizer and a napkin, and then I go wash my hands afterward.”

Dermatologists warn about drying out your skin. If you wash or use hand sanitizer too much, your skin can crack, and bacteria can creep inside the broken skin. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends moisturizing after handwashing or sanitizing to avoid drying out your skin.

If you feel confused about conflicting information, the CDC has also compiled a list of situations where you should wash your hands, including before and after’s, to help keep you and your family safe.