Affect you physically

It may be brand-new, but many things have touched your latest mask before you get it, especially if it's handmade. So wash it in hot water (160 F) with residue-free detergent or soap. Rinse it well with fresh water. Then hang to dry. Or soak your mask for 5 minutes in a quart of water with 2 tablespoons of bleach, or a gallon with a third of a cup of bleach.

Washing your hands is an important part of curbing the spread of COVID-19, but doing it often can break down the natural oils that protect your hands and dry them out. If you notice that your hands are drier than usual, especially if you have a condition like eczema, try using a smaller amount of soap, and warm water instead of hot. When you're done, pat your hands with a towel, then use hand cream or petroleum jelly right away.

Thinning or falling clumps of hair can be a troubling sign of pandemic stress, but it's only temporary. It happens when more hairs than usual go into the "shedding phase" at the same time. You may start to notice it 2 to 3 months after the stress kicks in, and that it stops after the stress eases up.