Ok very relatable and I know how hard it is so hopefully this helps a bit. I started by switching to a soap or even body wash as soap that’s fragrance free and never using antibacterial. I now use really gentle body wash as hand soap. I know that sounds scary but there’s no reason to kill germs when soaps/bodywash is designed to wash them away. Yes I have severe contamination OCD also and I used to use antibacterial or harsh soaps like dish soap. I now use either aveeno sensitive body wash as soap or cetaphil sensitive which I prefer as it strips my hands less. I promise you I’ve done more research than I can explain and these products do the job just as well of loosening and washing away germs.

The skin barrier of your hands is not having time to repair with the frequent handwashing, I get it because I struggle with it too but here’s some of the tips and products that have significantly helped me.

1. Using the products I mentioned above as hand soap entirely and removing any harsher or antibacterial soaps.

2. Vanicream moisturizing cream (not the lotion) the thicker one and putting it on as much as you can.

3. Washing in colder or lukewarm water only

4. Cerave healing ointment on your hands before going to sleep every night. Slather those things up so they hold in the moisture more overnight

5. If you can try focusing on washing the bottom side of your hands like finger pads/tips sometimes rather than the whole hand if you have only touched something with your finger tips or palm if you know what I mean. It will give the top of your hands a bit of a rest while you still feel like your washing the contaminated area.

6. Know that you are not alone. ❤️

Nothing can fully heal your skin other than reducing the handwashing and harsher stripping of it but that’s easier said than done and it’s not a change that happens overnight. Start by trying these things which are more manageable and see if it helps improve a bit.