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

[kids]

I used to have open sores year round on my hands. I did get it to clear up and have had it stay gone for 2 years.

I wash with warm water and blot dry. I used a hand lotion with Vitamin E (what ever is cheap) and I only wear powder free vinyl gloves.

Many products contain lanolin-while I am not truely allergic it did not help me any and made my hands burn like fire, products containing petrolium actully made it worse.

Good luck

-nancy

[Thunderkat]

I had dry cracked painful hands and I started using bag balm and it helped alot.... But then I found This product from of all things Mary kay.... it is silken hands..... It is a three step deal where you use a cleanser and a penetrating moisturiser and then a hand lotion and I will tell you it is wonderful, It turned my creepy rough hands into soft pretty hands.... I love it and i have it in a small tube size which I keep in my locker and I have shared it with the other nurses in my unit and they were impressed with the instant results.....I made a deal with my Mary Kay chick and she is making me little gift baskets of these so I can give them as Xmas presents..... Too Cool!! But anyway... try it you will be amazed...... I never get thrilled about anything but this stuff is totally worth it......

[OzNurse69]

Do you have BodyShop products in the US? The thing that works for me is their Hemp Lotion at night with cotton gloves. A tip though - don't use it before driving 'cos it is REALLY greasy and your hands will just slip on the steering wheel!! I used to suffer from quite bad contact dermatitis on my knuckles, but haven't had any problems at all since I've been following this regime every night.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

My dog's vet tech uses rose oil mixed with lanolin & of course the white cotton gloves, twice a day.

I personally like Zim's Crack Cream:) Bad name, but it truly works wonders for me. It stings for a minute, but I swear, my cracks are healed the next morning:) You can find it at Walgreen's, near the cortisone creams.

my hubby calls me a "hand lotion junkie" He just doesn't get it. I like Eucerin in winter. Vaseline also just came out with "Water resistant" lotion. I haven't decided if I like it, yet, though.

[mustangsally]

I admit I have the creepy old lady hands too. I have tried many different creams my physician had recomended aquaphor at night with cotton gloves (found at my local drugstore, course I live in Wisconsin) and Cetri ok can't remember the name. I finally got frustrated with wearing the gloves at night and gooing everything up with the greasy ointment that I finally quit using it. I have been tested for latex allergy (negative) and I finally started using something my mother has always sworn by the Neutrogena Hand Cream Norwegian Formula. She is a nurse also and also has diabetes and it has always done wonders for her skin. I can usually tell the difference with my own skin overnight. Another bonus it doesn't burn when I put it on:)

[CATHYW]

May I puhleease be added to your Christmas list? Those little baskets sound way cool!

[KWD]

I WORK A MED-SURG FLOOR, AND WASH MY HANDS ALL DAY LONG. IN ADDITION, I HAVE RAYNAUDS SYNDROME, SO I CAN REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COLD, CRACKED, BLEEDING HANDS. (JUST IMAGINE BEING A PATIENT AND HAVING A NURSE WITH "COLD HANDS AND AN EVEN COLDER HEART.") NEUTROGENA NORWEGIAN FORMULA HAND (OR FOOT) CREAM, GENEROUSLY APPLIED EVERY NIGHT, SOLVED THE PROBLEM...... THEN WE GOT SOME ALCOHOL BASED HAND SANITIZER, AND SOME CHEAP PAPER TOWELS, MORE AND MORE MRSA/VRE/ C-DIFF PATIENTS, AND I HAD A REAL PROBLEM THIS FALL/WINTER AGAIN. NOW, I MASSAGE IN SOME ZIM'S CRACK CREME (LITTLE WHITE BOTTLE WITH A BLUE CAP, AT MOST DRUG STORES), THEN THE NEUTROGENA AT NIGHT. VOILA`, PROBLEM SOLVED. ONCE A NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT DOES IT.

[micro, RN]

all of us dry, chapping, cracking, "bleeding", veeeerry ddrrrryyy skin nurses and people, hang in there!!!!!

[IL RN]

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful suggestions. I, too, have this problem, especially during our cold, dry midwest winters.

One thing I found out is that I am allergic to lanolin and so many lotions contain lanolin. I have had some luck with aloe gel and Fruit of the Earth Aloe lotion (because it contains no lanolin.)

I'm going to try some of the products suggested on this thread. Thanks.

[GERINRS]

Definately, Triple Ant. ointment on cracked open areas but then to prevent: Nivea creme! I even put it on my face at night. It smells wonderful, too.

[MaryMaryH]

Try soft-E-lotion. Great lotion for dry hands. They also have a product called soft-E-gloves. I just buy the lotion and take home lab gloves from the hospital and put the lotion in. But this lotion is great! Not greasy and it has a lot of natural vitamin E, C, and A in it. Lots of information on the site too about the ingredients. Not the usuall fluff you see.

http://www.softecare.com/

or

www.softecare.com

I hope this helps,

Mary

[MaryMaryH]

Try soft-E-lotion. Great lotion for dry hands. They also have a product called soft-E-gloves. I just buy the lotion and take home lab gloves from the hospital and put the lotion in. But this lotion is great! Not greasy and it has a lot of natural vitamin E, C, and A in it. Lots of information on the site too about the ingredients. Not the usuall fluff you see.

http://www.softecare.com/

or

http://www.softecare.com

I hope this helps,

Mary