Nurses, How Do You Care For Your Hands?

[fawnmarie, ASN]

Hello, fellow nurses and health care professionals! I would like to know if you have any secrets/tips for taking care of your hands. Is there a special cream, lotion, or moisturizer that heals and softens your over-washed hands? Should I resign myself to the fact that I may always have dry hands and ragged cuticles from frequent handwashing at work? I want to know your hand care secrets.

[Guest757854]

I use olive oil coconit oil mix and sleep with white cotton sox on my hands at nite sometimes when my hands get overly dry. I know some nurses try gold bond.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hello, fellow nurses and health care professionals! I would like to know if you have any secrets/tips for taking care of your hands. Is there a special cream, lotion, or moisturizer that heals and softens your over-washed hands? Should I resign myself to the fact that I may always have dry hands and ragged cuticles from frequent handwashing at work? I want to know your hand care secrets.

resign yourself to chapped hands and ragged cuticles.

At home Bag Balm or Aquaphor. For work I used either Avon silicone glove or my favorite is Camo-Care pricy but good.... Soothing Cream, 1 oz

[mon00707]

I have been using this stuff called eczema eraser bar. It's made of all organic coconut oil, Shea butter beeswax and essential oil. My hands have been fabulous this winter and I live in a very cold climate. Usually my hands will crack and hurt but since using this I have no problems. You can buy it here and it's only $5 for the lotion bar an $5 to ship. Very with the $$. https://www.facebook.com/EczemaEraserBar

I have tried eucerin, aquaphor, lotions etc but this has been the best I have found. I would pay more for it if it were more expensive.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Tit Guard.

Seriously -- it's a concoction manufactured for use on cow's udders to keep them pliable and intact (no cracking or bleeding) during the winter. Bag Balm, which I often see recommended, is something else again. Tit Guard is better -- it soaks into your hands so you're not leaving greasy spots on everything you touch.

I've seen tit guard sold as "Weather Guard", but you'll find it in feed stores, Farm and Fleet and sometimes in Cenex stores in the midwest. It's a thick, pale green or white cream. Duluth Trading (duluthtrading.com) sells something similar which they call "No Crack" or something like that.

[DoeRN]

I use L'Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub, lavender cream and shea butter nail and cuticle oil. I use the scub twice a week and the oil and cream everyday after work. My hands don't feel rough anymore.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[fawnmarie, ASN]

Thanks for the great suggestions! I was hoping this post would yield some "different" ideas, because I've tried every drugstore lotion and moisturizer under the sun. I know that I'll never have beautiful hands, but I know there must be some products that can repair and relieve the dry patches! I always enjoy this forum and I can't wait to hunt down these unique products!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I use Vaseline Healthy Hand and Nail - you can buy it at WalMart. It comes in a pink tube. Non-greasy, not perfum-y.

Saves my hands every winter!

[ceccia]

jojoba oil is good- it's not greasy, and it's supposedly one of the closest things to your skin's natural sebum so it absorbs well. it's expensive, so usually i'll mix it with grapeseed oil. (olive oil works too, but can stain your skin if you use it regularly and have really pale skin, hence the wonders of grapeseed - similar to olive oil but lighter in color.)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

"No Crack" from Duluth Trading Company.

No-Crack 16 oz. Super Hand Cream - Duluth Trading