Handwashing and Dry Skin

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

I wash my hands constantly at work....our soap is a harsh soap with Triclosan (?) - The Steris brand of healthcare handwash. Due to all the handwashing, my skin gets red, very itchy and dry.

The hospital has a unique brand of lotion for both patients and staff - "Medline Remedy Skin Repair Cream".

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST SKIN CARE PRODUCT I HAVE EVER USED ON MYSELF AND ON PATIENTS.

Do any of you out there have the cream? My skin was soft, healthy and basically normal after a few applications.

Patients love it....Excellent for bedside pressure ulcer prevention and routine skin care.

Medline Remedy Skin Repair Cream and all associated Medline Remedy products are a LIFESAVER

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I can't use antibacterial soap at all and neither can my kids. If I have no other choice, my hands will be cracked and bleeding within 6 hours, and sometimes leads to a pretty bad eczema breakout. I bring my own moisturising Soft Soap and Curel hand cream. That seems to work well for me.

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.
I can't use antibacterial soap at all and neither can my kids. If I have no other choice, my hands will be cracked and bleeding within 6 hours, and sometimes leads to a pretty bad eczema breakout. I bring my own moisturising Soft Soap and Curel hand cream. That seems to work well for me.

Glad to hear someone else has the same problem I do. Our infection control practitioner says "That only happens when you wash with soap and water, don't dry well, then use alcohol based product". BUNK! All I have to do is wash hands 10-20 times and they are dry, itching, and cracked. They don't provide lotion at work so I use my Bath and Body Works, Look Ma New Hands, it helps, but need several days without the hospital soap to feel normal again.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
Glad to hear someone else has the same problem I do. Our infection control practitioner says "That only happens when you wash with soap and water, don't dry well, then use alcohol based product". BUNK! All I have to do is wash hands 10-20 times and they are dry, itching, and cracked. They don't provide lotion at work so I use my Bath and Body Works, Look Ma New Hands, it helps, but need several days without the hospital soap to feel normal again.

I agree with you. My hands will be a complete bloody mess in one day if I use antibacterial soap. I almost never use the alcohol-based products, so it can't be that. I figure it's better for me to use a moisturizing soap and have intact skin, than use the harsh stuff they provide and have open skin.

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Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Try 99% aloe. It's fairly inexpensive. Lots of different companies make it. It helps to really slather it on after I get home, and on my days off. I also avoid (as much as possible) the alcohol-based stuff in the pumps in every pt's room, and just wash my hands all day long at work with their anti--bacterial soap. We keep cocoa butter at the nursing station.

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Specializes in all things maternity.

My hands are the same. The hospital provides lotion but it causes the damage to be worse. I carry Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion in my pocket and I love it. But Bath and Body Works has some nice smelling stuff :)

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

My facilities policy is to use hand gel prior to going in and after coming out of the room. Dispensers are outside every room, and they have a team of "SECRET" monitors who watch and report ALL who do not comply.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

my secret is the left over tube of lansinoh once i was finished nursing my daughter. I put a little dab on my hands right before bed and have no problems with even the harshest soaps.

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The alcohol in the hand gel is awful...I learned a remedy years ago that keeps my hands and feet intact....Crisco and socks or glove before going to bed at night...Sounds gross, but it works. 32 years as a nurse and I don't have to use lotion on my hands during the day!!!:hrnsmlys:

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Gold Bond has a new moisturizing sanitizer that is EXCELLENT. My skin felt incredible when I used it...until the hives started. Turns out it has corn oil in it, and I'm allergic to corn. :uhoh3:

I do okay most of the time with Lubriderm SPF 15 Daily Moisture. When that's not enough, I use Bag Balm at bedtime and wear cotton gloves overnight.

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