Like a wistful lover longing for his beloved, we have been busy ogling at pretty manicures on our Insta feed, saving designs to opt for post the lockdown, whenever that happens. For now, even a coat of nail paint is a pointless exercise, given the constant sanitising and handwashing, and daily domestic chores.

The thing about using cleaners, detergents, dish wash (soap or liquid) is that no matter how gentle they claim to be, they can dry and corrode the skin and make the nails weak and brittle, says Dr Rinky Kapoor, consultant dermatologist, cosmetic dermatologist and dermato-surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics. Dust can cause irritation and damage the skin. "Household cleaning and sanitisation products have harmful ingredients like sulphates, alcohol, phthalates, PEG (polyethylene glycols) and other ingredients that strip the skin and nails of its natural barriers leading to dryness and cracks. Hot water can cause tears to your skin, and make it prone to rashes; hard water also damages the barrier of skin and exposes it to the risk of developing eczema and increased sensitivity," she warns.