Lotion

[mingez]

Hey all. I searched and found little on this subject.

Hand washing--- It's one of the most important aspects of our profession. Since nursing school, my hands have taken a beating. I used to not even need lotion. Now, I've got two sand paper mitts.

I use lotion, but nothing's really making a dent. Any suggestions in terms of brand/types of lotion?

Also, what about a brand of soap for the house? Something that still kills the microorganisms but doesn't dry me up.

Thanks in advance!

[Myxel67]

Try cotton gloves and sleep with a foot cream or petroleum jelly on your hands. For handwashing at home, try Dove soap or a moisturizing liquid soap. There's no real need for antibacterial soap at home.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Anything with Lanolin in it. Bag Balm is also good. Corn Husker lotion might help as well since it was designed for cracked, dry hands.

When my hands got red and raw from hand washing years ago it was recommended that I use Aquacare HP. At the time that active ingredient that did the trick was urea. I had relief from the pain and burning immediately. Since then, they've changed the formula and I don't know if it works the same as it did back then.

[NewEastCoastRN]

I have found that Aveeno is the only lotion that works for me. I also have very dry hands with cracking/bleeding. I use the Daily Moisturizing Lotion during the day and the thick stuff in the tub at night (well, day since I work nights :nuke: ).

[mingez]

There's no real need for antibacterial soap at home.

Oh yeah. I didn't mean antibacterial, I wasn't paying attention to what I was typing. I guess what I mean is a soap still capable of washing off, or sluffing off the Micro's.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I agree with cotton gloves and petroleum jelly - this simple treatment can work wonders overnight. If you don't have cotton gloves (they sell them in the beauty section where the loofahs and sponges are) then cotton athletic socks work just as well. I've also done this treatment with Aquaphor - this is especially good if your hands are cracked and bleeding, as the vitamin E in Aquaphor helps with healing while the petroleum jelly in it moisturizes.

If you do a search of this website, there have been many, many threads about lotion over the years. Try it - there are tons of suggestions out there!

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

I have always been an avid lotion-user since I was young....I just started my second semester of school and don't seem to be having any problems so far, but I took lotion with me last semester to clinicals and this semester the hospital has lotion by the sinks that we have to use (meaning can't use our own)....

I don't use any particular soap or lotion, but I am religious about using lotion every time I wash my hands....keep a small one in my purse for when I am out....

The suggestions for gloves at night and something like the Bag Balm that Daytonite suggests would probably be a good place to start the "repair"...WalMart had the cotton gloves near the beauty aisle last I knew....

[tatgirl]

When I am at work I use bath and bodyworks moisturizing hand sanitizer after washing my hands. At home I use goldbond ultimate softening lotion with shea butter. The gold bond has helped my husbands hands when they were cracked and bleeding.

Wendy

[callalily32]

I love Gold Bond Ultimate. It's really thick, and you don't need a whole lot.

At home I just use an antibacterial soap (Dial or the store-brand version) before the lotion.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Since I work 16-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays, my hands take a beating because I have washed my hands at least 1 hundred times. At work I apply vitamin A&D ointment or Laniseptic to my hands and, voila, the moisture has been restored.

At home I apply Curel lotion for skin moisture, or the Victoria's Secret skin butter (because it is long-lasting).

[Myxel67]

At the time that active ingredient that did the trick was urea. I had relief from the pain and burning immediately. Since then, they've changed the formula and I don't know if it works the same as it did back then.

Both urea and lactic acid are excellent. Lac-Hydrin is 12% lactic acid and works wonders on severly dry skin. You may still need Rx for it though.

http://www.talkeczema.com/webpages/skincare/skin_care_eucerin_handfoot.htm

[future L&Dnurse]

I am a Bath & Body Works devotee at home and outside of clincials, but like most other nursing programs we're not allowed to use perfume or scented lotion at the hospital. I have found that vaseline intensive rescue lotion works really well for me during clinicals, and as soon as I get home I start layering on the body cream on my hands. So far so good, 7 weeks into level 1.