HELP my dry hands!!!!

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2001

I just thought of something else...

When I first started nursing I would rub my hands dry after washing them. The paper towels were rough and it contributed to my hands cracking. Now I always blot my hands dry (even at home) and that has helped.

kaycee · Oct 31, 2001

I love Palmers Cocoa Butter and Vit E lotion. It's great for rough scaley red hands, scars and general moisturizer in the summer. Plastic surgeons recommend it. It also smells soooo good.I carry a small tube of it in my pocket at work and use it after every hand wash.

Enright · Oct 31, 2001

I have tried all of the suggested treatment for my recalcitrant dermatitis that began when I changed careers into nursing. Essentially what worked for me was

1. a perscription grade steroid cream to halt the progressive creep

2. a 24/7 awareness of my hands, carrying a tube of something with me at all times to moisturize after each wash.

3. Washing with cold water (I was told this was not an infection control problem)

4. Avoiding powdered gloves

I really want to point out that your care may well be covered under Worker's Compensation. Do not hesitate to file an incident report with your employer. Depending on the laws of your state, if the hand problem prevented you from working, you could be entitled to salary compensation. I did case management for years and we had many RNs on total compensation because of skin problems attributed to work. I share this because I wish I had known it when my hand problems began!

Jen911 · Oct 31, 2001

Ah yes, I forgot about the cold water instead of the hot water to wash your hands, seems to help quite a bit, and eases the burning. I also try to use a regular hand towel when I can to dry my hands. It's not always handy, but when I can do it, I can. I've also been known to shake my hands off as best I could and dry them on my pants (or on my co-worker's shirt..hehe). And for goodness sakes, avoid those rub-in hand cleansers with alcohol! I'm sure you already know that one, huh? Burns like he**!

At the moment, my hands haven't been too bad, so I'm using Lubriderm's Seriously Sensitive lotion with fairly good luck..just using it several times a day and keeping a bottle at work and sharing.

Oh, and another thing I do..if I have to wear sterile latex gloves for a procedure, I always make sure I wear a second pair of gloves underneath them that won't irritate my skin. Yeah, I lose some of the tactile sensation, but I've gotten used to it, and it's certainly worth it to keep the skin on my knuckles!

essarge · Nov 1, 2001

My hubby is a diabetic and had a real problem with dry skin on his shins. I was surfing the shelves at the drug store and happened upon a lotion (it also comes in cream) called Diabetic skin care by Neoteric. The ingredients are 1% dimethicone and 0.5% allantoin. It oxenates the skin and promotes healing. This has cleared his skin up and he uses it as often as needed and following his showers. I also told my friend about it. She has dry, spit and cracked hands and fingers. She started using it and it cleared it up almost immediately. It is a little expensive (about $12.00 for 6oz of lotion), but it works and we have been using it for over a year now. I highly recommend it. :)

debbyed · Nov 1, 2001

First off, don't forget that cracked, bleeding hands are "open wounds"... treat them just like you would treat any other open wound, with an triple antibiotic cream. For the first 5-7 days coat hands in triple antibiotic cream before going to bed. Wear white cotton gloves... I don't suggest covering with plastic as that will keep too much moisture in and develope a breeding ground for all kinda of little buggies..

When the wounds begin to heal I found that either Bag Balm or the Diabetic cream noted above both work well to prevent further wound formation. You can get small tubes of the diabetic cream or make your own small container of bag balm to keep in your pocket at work. Use it EVERYTIME you wash your hands. It really only takes about a week to form a habit so pretty soon using it will be second nature.

Just remember treat any open, bleeding area as a wound. Hope this helps.

Dplear · Nov 1, 2001

get a script for Temovate oint. Apply twice a day and it will clear up the red dry cracking bleeding areas on your hands. I tried everything under the sun for mine and finally a dermatologist on the unit saw my hands and wrote a script for me. I LOVE the stuff. It works like nothing else. On the down side it is costly at about 45 bucks for a VERY small tube. but well worth it.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 1, 2001

My vote is for Norweigen hand creame and bag balm....both very effective. Eucerin just slightly below those emollients.

For leg precellulitis in diabetcs have seen Lachydin ointmwnt work wonders....no experience with it.

Best advice: See a dematologist for advice and follow-up re recomendations with above cool water, bacitracin/bactroban if severe cracks and open, cotton gloves beddtime and report to employee health.

OneChattyNurse · Nov 1, 2001

You have all given me some GREAT advice...I really appreciate it. Some of these things I have already tried...others I will be trying right away!!!! Some of the creams/lotions that have been recommended absolutely terrorize my hands once they are open and bleeding as they have alcohol in them. It hurts so bad I end up having to wash it off. This year I am hoping to keep them from getting to that point!! One time I showed the Doctor my hands when I had my son in for an appointment...he was not too sympathetic. He just told me to try some lotion!! DUH...like I had not thought of that!!! I have seriously considered making an appointment with a dermatologist...just need to make the time!! Anyway...I REALLY appreciate all of your great advice...I will be printing out this page and trying everything until I find a solution!!

Thanks again!!

Shari

aimeee, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2001

The Norweigian hand creme does work great. One nice thing is you can get it in those small tubes that you can keep in your purse and car to reapply frequently throughout the day.

When my hands get bad I use a good lotion like curel or lubriderm before going to bed, let that soak in pretty well, then apply vaseline, then sleep with white cotton socks on my hands. White cotton gloves would be nice but hard to find, and probably expensive if they are in a hand care kit. I've been doing this ever since I was a kid in grade school. We could get white cotton gloves easily then. (Anybody remember their moms and grandmas wearing white cotton gloves to church?)