Yikes, my hands are a mess, help!l

[dlmrn]

Hi everyone, I'm Diana from Michigan. I've been a nurse 13 years and this is the first time I've had this problem. My hands are breaking out with small raised red itchy bumps between the knuckles. I think it might be the alcohol sanitizer. I try not to use it but sometimes the water in the patient's room doesn't get hot or there's too much equipment to get to the bathroom. I have stopped using the sanitizer but don't know what to do for my hands. I don't know if it's eczema, or an allergic reaction. I don't think it's latex. I've never had a problem with it before. I have been drying my hands thoroughly after each washing, using hand lotion and wearing gloves outside. I've tried antibacterial ointment, hydrocortizone cream. What can I do? They are getting worse and I'm stressed about doing patient care with broken skin on my hands. Advise me please, thanks.

[nekhismom]

Do you wear rings? If so, this could be causing your breakouts. I have the same problem every winter when I wear rings at the hospital. Don't know why, but the sanitizer makes it much worse. I just try not to do to much to irritate my skin during the breakout, and it usually goes away in about 2 weeks. Hydrocortisone cream helps with itching for me. Sorry I don't know what else to say, but I hope this helps.

[live4today, RN]

:balloons: Welcome aboard, dlmrn!

Sounds like you have some dermatitis going on...most likely brought on by the excessive handwashing (in hard water) and the soap in the dispensers. I had a little of this at one time, and the hard water combined with the soap in the hospital dispensers was not userfriendly at all.

What kind of lotion do you use? Have you tried Shea Butter Lotion before?

[nurseygrrl, LPN]

I get this from the powdered gloves and also from keeping gloves on for too long (powdered and non-powdered alike). I used an antifungal cream...worked wonders!

[Jill - Pa]

I also occasionally get itchy bumps that occur between my knuckles. I get three or four insanely itchy bumps every few months. My dermatologist diagnosed "Dyshidrotic Eczema" and says it is related to frequent washing of hands with harsh, hospital soaps.

Here is a picture of very bad cases:

http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html

More info:

http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic110.htm

Threatment for me is prescription steriod cream at the first sign of itchiness.

Jill (Pa)

[EMC NURSE]

Try using Udder Cream, my hands used to get cracked and broken out during the winter also. I think the powder in gloves makes the situation worse as well. Udder Cream did wonders for me, it is greaseless and seems to form a barrier between the powder and soap. You can get it at Walmart and comes in a black and white tube or tub. Hope this helps.

[Shotzie]

My hands used to break out all the time when I worked in the ICU. I used the best remedy around...plain old fashioned petroleum jelly!

I used it one night when my hands looked especially bad. I thickly covered my hands, fingers, cuticles and inbetween my fingers with the stuff and then slipped on an old pair of socks over my hands while I slept.

I was amazed to find that when I awoke, the redness was all gone, my broken places almost looked healed and my nails were in great shape. From then on I kept a jar by my bed and about every 2nd or 3rd night I did the treatment with Vaseline and covered my hands with the socks to keep from accidently rubbing the salve off. I never had any more problems with my hands cracking or breaking out.

[ADNRN]

It could be scabies. I got scabies once from a LTC facility. I bought some Nix (permethrin) from a Canadian pharmacy on-line and treated it myself.

Just a thought

[BrandieRNq]

Latex allergies can occur no matter how long you have been using latex gloves. In fact, according to our clinical coordinator, the longer you wear them (in terms of years) the bigger the chance you will develop one later. Request and wear latex-free, powder free gloves for a week....then you will know for sure. Your hospital has to provide them if you ask. You'll probably have to keep several in your scrub pockets so that you have easy access to them no matter what!! For a whole week!!!

[prunepie]

my derm recommended amlactin lotion 12% for my eczema which is what it sounds like you have..you can get it at a pharmacy... i have eczema and also contact dermitis or allegic eczema and i do notice after long periods of washing hands..that it flares up...

even if you dont have eczema this amlactin rocks..i would highly recommend it ..its about 12 bucks..and not prescription but they have it behind the counter at most pharmacies or you can buy it online xoxo jenn....

i have tried everythign else..that helps soothe but never helps prevent or cure like this xoxo jenn

[Jolie, BSN]

Get thee to a dermatologist! If you have a latex allergy, it needs diagnosing NOW!

In the meantime, ditto removing your rings. I find that I am much better about applying lotion if I'm not wearing mine. They now go into hibernation for about 4 months a year.

My (rash-prone) family has discovered Udder cream, and we have been thrilled with the results, but be aware that it contains lanolin, so it's not for those with wool allergies.

[atxnurse]

Our hospital just installed some of those alcohol sanitizers on our unit and it instantly irritated my hands. I stopped using it, left my rings off and switched to Eucerin cream for hand lotion. I left a bottle at the nurses station and noticed a huge improvement in a few days.