HELP my dry hands!!!!

[OneChattyNurse]

Tis the season...every fall and winter my hands get so dry they crack and bleed. I literally have blood visible under my gloves. I have tried ALL kinds of creams and lotions, I bought a parrafin wax bath but cannot use it most of the time as it is too hot and hurts too bad, I wear powder free gloves, and have tried different soaps. I have even used anhydrous lanolin...GOD WHAT A MESS!!!(although it does kinda work) None of this seems to help and I can tell the inevitable is soon to come. I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I will be willing to try ANYTHING!!!!!

Shari

[NurseAngie]

I just started using Curel lotion a few months ago and I love it. I haven't had any cracked or burning hnads since. I noticed that drying with paper towels a million times each day was the problem, but nothing I can really do about that. I also apply olive oil to my cuticles to help keep them nice. Works for me!

Ciao for now~Ang

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

RE Vaseline/Anhydrous Lanolin:

In Homecare land, I recommend A and D ointment to my clients with chapped hands and incontinent patients. It's major ingredianet is anhydrous lanolin and fish oil. My incontient patients NEVER breakdown if adequate pressure reduction---prevents against shearing forces too. MUCH better than Vaseline. My winter hands too have appeared. I apply at bed and in AM and keep hands soft + water repellent too.

[deespoohbear]

I had a problem a couple of years ago with an ecezma I couldn't clear up. I ended up going to a dermatologist and he said part of the problems was the anti-bacterial soap I was washing my hands with at work. I can't do much about that, but I home I avoid the stuff like the plague. I only use anti-bacterial soap at home when I have a cut, or before and after handling raw meat. Otherwise, I use a bar of oatmeal soap that a friend of mine makes. It has all natural ingriedents in it. The suggestions of putting lotion on after every time you wash is a good suggestion. It is worth the effort. Plus, I really think you need to see a dermatologist. Hope something works for you soon. Good luck.

[CATHYW]

try cornhusker's lotion . i have had similar problems for years, and also have dry, flaky skin on my arms and legs that seemed not to respond to any kind of lotion. cornhusker's did it for me. i was able to find it at wal-mart (bottom shelf). it also works well on my husband's hands-he is outdoors a lot, and is always needing something to soften them.

btw, our roll paper towels here are made directly from wood pulp-i swear i see splinters in the paper sometimes!

[fiestynurse]

I have always like Avon Moisture Therapy hand cream.

http://www.justavon.com/moistherhanc.html

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Bag Balm if you are not sensitive to it is great.

You might smell like a sheep but your hands will hopefully get better. First go to employee health to document this.

Good luck.

[OneChattyNurse]

Thanks again for all the GREAT advice...I really appreciate it!

Shari

[tiger]

one more word. bag balm is cheap and soaks in to the skin so it doesn't wash off. i aso like aquaphor--prescribed for pts that have radiation therapy. more expensive and same results.

[micro, RN]

have dealt with dry skin, especially hands all my life. long story, no exp. also skin grafts on fingers. what seems to work best for me this year is gold bond medication lotion. also rx strength steroid cream when it gets real bad. keeping tube of something with me during the work day. caking lotion(choice of the season) on at night. and endurance. this year, latex gloves do not seem to bother me. never dx with latex allergy, but i think the powder aggravated the situation. sometimes i switch and use vinyl gloves. and as much as i can without violating universal precautions and my own protection, i don't wear gloves. they seem to aggravate the situation.

good luck, from another dry skin to point of pain sufferer

micro:eek: :eek:

[Rita44]

I have had dry hands for years and so has my husband. Last year, we asked our doctor about it, and he prescribed Lac-Hydrin cream. This is the best stuff we have ever used. My husband is a meat cutter and his hands crack and bleed in the winter. This cream helps heal the cracks fast. Stings a little when you put it on, but by morning there is a noticable difference. Hope this helps.

[Marijke]

As an OR nurse I know the problem very well. This is what I do. I use The Bodyshop Shea bodybutter at night and at work after I scrub I apply some sterile Vaseline (we have little strips of Vaseline packing that work very well) after that I put on liners and then my gloves. The liners will protect the latex from being broken down by the Vaseline (that would work well with the bag balm I presume).

I also try to get rid of calusses on my fingers as much as possible, since that is where my problems usually start(I use an emery board on them).

Now if I do get cracks, I treat them by applying a Band-aid advanced healing dressing, they are like duoderm. Fairly pricy, but worth it I think, just cut them in half, so you will get better value.

Good luck!

[disher]

I have allergic contact dermatitis on my hands and agree that you should not let your hands get to the point this winter where they are cracked and bleeding, its too risky for you. Before trying any new products on your sensitive skin go to a dermatoligist and have a patch test! I had a history of dry hands every winter then last winter, I developed itchy water blisters with open areas. The patch test was positive for an allergiy to Formeldhyde. Formeldehyde and its releasers are used to preserve soaps, shampoos, lotions, paper towels, laundry detergents, toner, vaccines... In order to prevent my hands from reacting while I do patient care, I wear white cotton gloves under sensicare gloves, I wash my hands with Aveeno soap, dry with a cloth towel. Its extra work for me to take these precautions, but considering what I could be exposing myself to if my hands react again its worth it.