dry hands

[qpmz]

I would appriciate any advice on dry hands. I have been nursing now for about 9 months and I feel like my hands have aged 10 years. They are constantly dry from all the hand washing (probably a common problem in this profession) and I have tried everything I can think of to try to "cure" my dry hands. To give some idea about how bad it is I have constantly peeling hands and have gone thru about 8 skin layers since winter started. I use hand cream constatly, have tried sleeping with gloves/socks on with heavy duty hand cream all with no luck. Help!

[*ac*]

I would appriciate any advice on dry hands. I have been nursing now for about 9 months and I feel like my hands have aged 10 years. They are constantly dry from all the hand washing (probably a common problem in this profession) and I have tried everything I can think of to try to "cure" my dry hands. To give some idea about how bad it is I have constantly peeling hands and have gone thru about 8 skin layers since winter started. I use hand cream constatly, have tried sleeping with gloves/socks on with heavy duty hand cream all with no luck. Help!

Sounds like more than just dryness. Maybe see a dermatologist?

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

I have tried an unbelievable number of hand lotions since becoming a nurse and this is my current regimen which works well. Before work and halfway through shift, wash your hands and apply CO Bigelow Dr Hiosous Quince hand lotion which puts a protective barrier on your skin. When you go to bed, wash your hands and apply either O'Keeffe's Working Hands Overnight Relief hand lotion or True Blue Spa Shea It Isn't So Foot Cream (contains more shea than their hand lotion). The Quince and True Blue Spa lotions can be found at Bath & Body Works (available online if no store near you). The Working Hands lotion can be found in dept stores - I think RiteAide or Walgreen's carries it. Another tip for saving your hands is to use larger gloves than you need whenever you can (like turning or cleaning patients) as it isn't so hard on your hands putting them on and taking them off.

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

I've also found that using cool water when washing my hands is less irritating.

[wearingmanyhats, RN]

I would check with your doc.... could be an allergic reaction to the gloves or powder.... if it turns out to just be the washing.... I love "bag balm" --- used to be just for cows "udders" but has become popular with anyone who has problem hands. Can be found in most drug stores

[HD-RN]

GOLD BOND ULTIMATE softening lotion.....i use shea butter, but i think they have aloe and one other one

you can get it at target. its miracle cream!

also maybe try latex free gloves... couldnt hurt, however, at my hospital you have to have a prescription from employee health

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I definitely recommend the GOLD BOND Ultimate softening cream with Shea butter.

It has helped my "old lady" hands tremendously!

[nickola]

L'Occitane shea butter hand cream, the best I've ever used.

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

L'Occitane shea butter hand cream, the best I've ever used.

Haven't heard of this hand lotion before. Where do you get it?

[BrokenRNheart]

I made up this after working bone marrow transplant and treating graft vs host of the skin.

I have turned it on to people with severe dry skin issues working outside in the winter - mainly men who don't pamper their skin and had CRACKS.

You will think it is going to be greasy but trust me on this. It absorbs! It's a night treatment

Buy the average size tub of vaseline, regular size tub of eucerin, a bottle of straight vitamin E (I like Walgreen's - Meijers if you can't find it) and sometimes I add a touch of A&D ointment but you can make it without. Doesn't smell all that great with A&D and I made it for years without it.

WHIP your vaseline with just drops of water (hydropet)

Mix that with your Eucerin and at least half the bottle of Vitamin E - remember to always save a tub of Eucerin because it will come in handy when you make this. It will fill two tubs and last a LONG time.

Put this on at night. It's only greasy for about a half an hour. It helps tremendously. I made it up for a UPS guy with aweful hands and he was so impressed. My boyfriend swears by it - works outside. Everyone I have turned on to it was turned off thinking it would be greasy and couldn't believe how much it absorbed and helped.

I usually have a gallon of Body Drench Sugar Cane around and put a little bit in it for a little fragrance. But that's not an issue if you don't use the A&D. If you use the A&D, I usually only put about a tablespoon in.

I use a mixer and soak them in hot soapy water.

If you try it, let me know what you think.

You can add gloves from a bath and body shop too. I don't. My hands used to crack and I haven't had trouble in years.

[Dental Hygienist]

Glove-en-Care. It works. It's not too expensive either.

Specially made for the dryness and discomfort associated with frequent hand washing and donning gloves. Supposedly has salt from the dead sea or something like that....I don't know WHY it works, but it does.

Tip, if you get this stuff you'll need WAAAY less than you think you need...whatever you would normally use for lotion probably only need half or two thirds of that.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

I use Malibu Hemp Hand Protector from WalMart.... works well, and smells GREAT!, like toasted coconut, or the beach, or something.

I also use J&J's Soothing Naturals lotion for babies (green bottle, at Target/Walmart)

For some reason I haven't had such a hard time with my hands this year. My cuticles are dry, but my hands haven't cracked and bleed like they usually do by this time. My facility uses Purell hand sanitizer w/ lotion, so I can avoid washing my hands too much.

I think it really is people finding by trial and error what works for them.... there have been sooo many threads on this subject over the years, we've probably recommended every lotion on the market by now!