Dry, Chapped, Cracked, Burning Hands

Nurses General Nursing

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My poor, poor hands. After washing them over and over and over again, gloves on and off repeatedly throughout my shift, they actually started to crack and bleed tonight. Any type of lotion causes them to burn and break out in a red rash, even the lotions that claim to be for sensitive skin/fragrance free, etc. I have fair, sensitive skin to begin with. It can't be a latex allergy because the gloves are latex free.

Any suggestions?

Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

i went per diem and that worked great!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

i also use udder cream ( yep, for cow udders) find in any convenience or discount store, works great,doesn't sting.

I've found that drying my hands with paper towels is what really does the damage, especially on my knuckles. I just pat dry instead of rubbing, and it has helped.

Elidel is a non-steroidal cream and clobetasol is a corticosteroid. I don't know about Elidel, but clobetasol is not suggested to be used for more than 2 weeks consecutively. My daughter's pediatrician has written prescriptions for both Elidel and clobetasol for her eczema and I found the clobetasol worked better for her. It was also cheaper because clobetasol is a generic and Elidel is not available in generic form yet. However, my daughter started out using the Elidel because it is approved for children 2 and older and she was very young when we started eczema treatment for her. I don't know why Bactroban would be used, because isn't that an antibiotic and eczema's not an infection, is it? As far as the OP's question, I don't know but in our facility we're only supposed to use hospital approved lotions because others may cause deterioration in our gloves. Sorry, I'm not a help at all, am I? :down:

Your post is very informative. Thank you. My son is two, so this information is very applicable to my situation. I also was never told not to use the Clobetasol for more than two weeks consecutively. I acutally didn't need to use it that long, but it's good to know.

Yes, Bactroban is an antibiotic, but my son does not have an infection. I had eczema as a teenager, and the Doc confirmed that is what my son has. Perhaps it's time for this Doc to retire! :p Like I said..lol.. Lookin for a new Pediatrician for my son. I will bring up Elidel due to my son being two. I prefer to avoid the steroids if possible, but if the Doc recommends the other, then that is what I will go with. It's been such an awful ordeal. The little guy will scratch and scratch til his feet bleed. His daycare teacher tells me that the Pediatricans' lack of proper care for my son is boarderline negligent. Been having to deal with this for a good 6 months. :angryfire ... and thanks to everyone with the awsome lotion recommendations in this thread.

Try "acid mantle" cream---your pharmacists will know what it is....(non-prescription, but a lot of stuff can be added to it in terms of medications).

My sister in law, a NICU nurse, got us turned onto it. See about getting maybe 1/4 pound or so---a full pound can set you back $80 or more, even as over the counter!---but a little goes a LONG way, and it's fantastic.

This was exactly what I was going to rec. Burt's Bee's Line. Found in drug stores, grocery stores, retail,etc. They offer a large round container that says hand sauve on it. It works. I personally believe in his whole line as I have seen results from cuts,scratches, sores,it's amazing.

I second the vote.

I use the Burt's Beex Coconut foot creme (simply because that is what I have on hand, ha ha).

I don't use it at work--I don't use any lotion at work. But before and after work, and every night in between, I slather it on and then put on cotton gloves (or socks, if I'm sleeping). So far this year my hands are doing better than they ever have. No cracks, no bleeding cuticles.

I use a natural wax called Nurses' Glove Moisturizing Balm. Apparently, the formula was created by a nurse with the same problem. This wax/balm is great because it really heals dry hands fast and forms like a film to protect hands from handwashing. It doesn't feel greasy and has a mild clean smell. I love it and since I started using it,I never had dry hands again. Unfortunately, we nurses are exposed to so many chemicals that it is scary what they do to our hands. I recommend Nurses Glove Balm blindfolded. It's the best cream I have used... I have tried severaL! Good luck!

have you tried using the alcohol hand sanitizers in lieu of washing your hands? it's just as effective as long as you wash your hands every 10th time you use it. some women at work do this because they had really bad dry hands and their hands aren't dried out anymore. (although i wouldn't use the alcohol sanitizer until your hands have completely healed)

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

a friend with toddler age twins and a newborn shared her soft uncracked hand secret: balmex. it's a diaper rash ointment and works well on sore frequently washed hands. our vet recommended bag balm for our dog's cracked nose and it helped my hands too.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

Try Nurses Glove deep moisturizer balm. It's great! I used to have terrible hands as well and it healed my hands in less than 2 weeks and it's not greasy. It's 100% natural. I use it for minor burns too and my husband discovered that it works wonders in psoriasis... the best I have tried... Good luck

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