A recent study by scientists at the University of Sheffield revealed that gentle cleansers are just as effective as harsh soaps in removing viruses, including coronavirus. Health care professionals often substitute harsh soaps or alcohol-based hand sanitizers with skin-friendly cleansers in order to treat or prevent irritant contact dermatitis – a common skin disease that causes red and swollen skin with a dry and damaged surface. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the incidence and severity of the disease amongst healthcare professionals increased from 20 percent to 80 percent. Despite the widespread use of gentle cleansing products for handwashing, there has been limited evidence to show the antiviral efficacy of the products to prevent the spread of viruses such as human coronavirus, herpes simplex virus, norovirus, and influenza. Scientists from the University of Sheffield’s Sheffield Dermatology Research (SDR) group tested multiple handwash products as part of the study. These included antibacterial soap, natural soap, foam cleansers, and bath wash products, with the team investigating their ability to kill both enveloped viruses; such as human coronavirus and influenza, which have an additional layer of structural protection; compared to non-enveloped viruses, such as norovirus and adenovirus.