Hand washing... use lotion?

mandana · Feb 2, 2006

I have to use lotion - my hands are cracked too. For home use, I like Nivea Creme because its very rich and cheap, and I'm a student too. :chuckle

At the hospital, we have to use their lotion because it's compatible with the gloves, fine by me, they have it everywhere.

Amanda

PhoenixGirl · Feb 2, 2006

I'm a student doing clinicals also. I take a small bottle of lubriderm with me and slather it on *all* the time. I see so many nurses in hospitals keep lotion at their work station. I think it is the norm.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Feb 2, 2006

I use Curel because it comes in the little tubes for 50 cents at walmart. It does help. We have Alcare alcohol gel at our facility so I do an actual handwash a little less because of it. But when I do wash, I always use lotion afterwards.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

One thing i do before drying my hands is put lotion on while they're wet, THEN dry with the paper towels. Hands are moisturized, yet i'll still be able to turn a doorknob.

holmgirl21 · Feb 2, 2006

My hands too, crack and bleed nearly every week. There are only two lotions that I have found that help at all. The one, I only used once and was my father's...it was shipped in from Germany. I had never heard of it before, but after using it for 2 days, my hands were 100% better. The other lotion which I do use regularly is Avon's Moisture Therapy Hand Cream (Intensive). It's a thicker lotion, but it works wonders. The tube lasts for ever and is only about 3-5 dollars per tube. That would be my recommendation.

PedsER-RN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

i have to use lotion too. i like the gold bond hand cream (good for sensitive skin-about $5.50 at wal mart) and the bath and body stuff (more expensive but smells good-also doesn't flare up my eczema like most scented lotions!). my hands are dry anyway from eczema so i'm constantly slathering something on!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

Many hospitals are now providing lotion, so if they have that, you are expected to use theirs intstead of your own from home. But something is better than nothing! If you can bring in lotion from home, make sure you find one that has no petroleum in it, as it will cause the latex in the gloves to break down.

Now, petroleum IS a good thing, but I only use it at home after bathing and before bed. When my hands get really bad, I'll slather on some petroleum jelly and then put on cotton gloves to keep the moisture in. Socks also work great if you don't have gloves. This treatment works wonders for dry feet, too. When you wake up, your hands and feet are so soft and supple, it just absorbs right in.

Walgreens came out with a petroleum jelly with shea butter in it. It's amazing and smells wonderful!!! You can also find baby powder scented ones in the baby section, and sometimes even lavendar and vanilla ones. If you have sensitive skin, just use the regular stuff with no fragrance.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 2, 2006

i love my palmer's cocoa butter lotion. and it smells wonderful.

Mirai Kangofu · Feb 2, 2006

i have to use lotion too. i like the gold bond hand cream (good for sensitive skin-about $5.50 at wal mart) and the bath and body stuff (more expensive but smells good-also doesn't flare up my eczema like most scented lotions!). my hands are dry anyway from eczema so i'm constantly slathering something on!

goldbond is #1. i use the regular lotion, which you can buy travel-sized and keep refilling. it's not greasy, and it's 5% dimethicone so it's some heavy-duty moisturizing without the sting.

noc_owl · Feb 2, 2006

I'm always trying different lotions, currently using Jergens, which is ok. I tried someone elses Goldbond the other day and it IS awesome! I also like the stuff you can get at walmart in the cow print tube, forget what it's called, Udder cream or something. It's good for a cheap lotion.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

I'm always trying different lotions, currently using Jergens, which is ok. I tried someone elses Goldbond the other day and it IS awesome! I also like the stuff you can get at walmart in the cow print tube, forget what it's called, Udder cream or something. It's good for a cheap lotion.

Udder cream is pretty good - the stuff in the tube is okay, but the thicker cream in the jar is a lot better.

Another one to try is Miracle Hand Cream. It's an As-Seen-On-TV product, but really, it works pretty well. Mainly made with aloe, and it is unscented so it doesn't sting.

I think your hands do get used to it over time. The first few years I worked, my hands would be very dry, and they'd crack and bleed in the winter. Now, it's not nearly as bad. Once your hands heal, try using the antibactial gel that most hospitals provide now. It does sting if you have cuts, but otherwise, it's actually less drying than soap and water. There are emolliants in there to counteract the alcohol. I think my hands are the best they've ever been this past winter, and this is the first year we've had the gel. I don't think it's a coincidence.