Dry Hands..Just starting clinicals?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am going into my third week of clinical and my hands have become extremely dry from the washing and gloving all day. What is the best lotion to use while working?

After trying every cream/lotion/"butter" I could find, I have finally found the on I cannot live without" L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. It is a little pricey ($26 for a 5.2 oz. tube) but one tube lasts me about 3 months.

You can find it at Sephora, L'Occitane.com, and QVC sometimes runs a "two pack for $40" special.

Good luck.

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Specializes in oncology, med/surg (all kinds).

the unit you are working on should have lotion in a dispenser next to the soap. many places do not allow pocket lotion. i am not exactly sure why actually. regardless of what lotion you try, a trick i learned was after you wash your hands but before you dry them, put your lotion on--then dry your hands. seems to work pretty well. very dry hands are no fun--and if your skin integrity is broken, is away for "cooties" to get in.

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aveeno daily moisturizing lotion.

i recently started using this after trying pretty much everything and its awesome.

i find i am washing my hands too much at work for anything to stay on so i just use it after i get home, and it really works well.

havent found a small enough size for it to take to work yet, and its a bit expensive, but im glad to have maybe finally found something that works that you dont have to keep putting on.

although.....winter will be the true test

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Do you use latex gloves? If so, you may have a contact latex allergy. Over time, this allergy can cause your hands to become extremely dry, crack, get a rash/blisters, bleed, etc.

Even if you are not using latex gloves, I have know Nurses who have had reactions to Nitrile gloves that they use (actually, they are having a reaction to the chemicals in the process of making the gloves).

if it is caused from an allergic reaction.

Try some different lotions. I se a lot of good recommendations listed here. If nothing seems to help, I would go to Employee Health and have some allergy tests done.

Good Luck!!

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