My Hands Are A Mess! Which Lotion?

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Naturally, I wash often, and use the gel going in and out of every room. I might get to use lotion about 3/4 way through my night-shift when it's time to sit down and chart, but inevitably a patient needs me the minute it's rubbed in. My hands are so sore, they hurt. Any lotion suggestions?

Aveda healing hand lotion is the best! It is pricey but well worth it.

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Specializes in GI, OR, Oncology.

I love L'Occitane shea butter hand cream. It's a bit pricey, but works wonders. I also keep a tin of their pure shea butter in my nightstand and work that into my hands at night (it's too heavy for day use).

Someone had given me the MaryKay trio hand care a few years back and I loved that too - I'd forgotten about it. I may have to get some more ;)

Christine

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Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.

I like Curel for use throughout the day--not to heavy or greasy. They used to make a Curel specifically for frequent hand washing--not sure if they still do since I just use the regular Curel.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ICU.

I use Arbonne hand cream and I love it. It is light, and soaks right into the skin...not greasy at all. It contains no petroleum or mineral oil which causes the skin to not be able to breathe and repair itself. I believe it's around 15 dollars for a tube, but WELL worth the money.

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I have to second the recommendation for Curel. It has worked wonders on my skin. Even my dry, cracked nursing student feet have benefited since I started using it a few months ago. Actually, I started using Curel after doing assessment on a pt that had the softest skin.

Stephanie

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Naturally, I wash often, and use the gel going in and out of every room. I might get to use lotion about 3/4 way through my night-shift when it's time to sit down and chart, but inevitably a patient needs me the minute it's rubbed in. My hands are so sore, they hurt. Any lotion suggestions?

I don't know if this is okay to admit, but I never use that alcohol hand gel stuff hanging in the hallway. I wash my hands with warm soap and water with every contact, but that hand gel literally eats my skin alive. With just tons of handwashing, my hands are very dry and cracked, so I use vaseline on that. Plus eucerin. If I have a really nasty dry spot that is cracked, bleeding or red I saw a small amount of hydrocortisone in that spot with vaseline on top.

Rebecca

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

My hands really only act up during the fall and winter, and the skin breaks down in patches that won't heal. The only thing that stays on and heals my skin is Johnson & Johnson's baby lotion, the one in the yellow tube. It says it lasts through multiple handwashings on the bottle. It's got a little baby oil, so even though you wash your hands a ton, you can still feel it softening/protecting your hands after about 10 washings. It absorbs quickly, so you can put it on frequently.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Case Management, also OR/OB.

What I use is Bath and Body works, "lay it on thick" it comes from their spa line in a blue tube,,, this is the best, I get those little gloves (wal-mart has them. after your shower or bathm rub in and sleep in the gloves. they will heal. also burt's bees and bag balm,

morghan

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Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.
Neutrogena, the small tube, they say "Norwegian Fisherman" use it. Awesome stuff. Also, you may want to go to Employee Health or Infection Control. They may have better alcohol gel for you to try. At our hospital they do, and in the IC office, we're always getting sample products from vendors, and are looking for gunea pigs to try it! We're looking into gloves with the lotion impregnated in them. Dry cracked hands are a serious infection control issue. They're awesome! Good luck!

i love those gloves with the aloe in them....feel so nice!

bath and body works has a spa line in blue tubes...tell them you're a nurse and they'll show you a nice thick cream to use at night with gloves.

body shop has a hemp product in a silver tube smells nice, earthy, kinda greasy, need to use it just at hs as well with some cotton gloves.

i use gold bold ultimate lotion at work, works great, not greasy. i knew someone who was allergic to the gloves at work, both latex and vinyl, had to get a special kind. also she had to carry her own soap, forget what kind.

good luck! dry cracked hands are no fun. hope you feel better soon.

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i love those gloves with the aloe in them....feel so nice!

bath and body works has a spa line in blue tubes...tell them you're a nurse and they'll show you a nice thick cream to use at night with gloves.

body shop has a hemp product in a silver tube smells nice, earthy, kinda greasy, need to use it just at hs as well with some cotton gloves.

i use gold bold ultimate lotion at work, works great, not greasy. i knew someone who was allergic to the gloves at work, both latex and vinyl, had to get a special kind. also she had to carry her own soap, forget what kind.

good luck! dry cracked hands are no fun. hope you feel better soon.

When I was still working in a hospital, I had the same problem. I would use A&D ointment on my hands at night, put cotton gloves on, or just keeping your hands under the covers, also worked. The next morning, my chapped hands would be all smooth, and the cracks had healed up. It worked wonders, better than expensive lotions. I used cheapo Payless Drugstore Brand A&D.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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Here's a secret I learned from a dental hygenist years ago. Use pure glycerin on your hands at night. I have dealt with cracking/dry hands all my adult life, even before I started working as an RN 10 months ago. I knew all the handwashing would kill my hands and it has, but the old glycerin trick still works the best. Here's what I do:

-Apply glycerin to hands after showering (while they are moist), cover hands with gloves (I bring a few pairs home from work). Sleep with hands covered in glycerin and gloves. In the morning your hands will be ultra moisturized. If you do this religiously every night your hands will stay smooth.

Using lotions at work is not a good fix because the lotion you put on is washed off within 5 minutes! You can find glycerin at your local drug store, in the aisle with the mineral oil etc. My mother dealt with cracked/dry hands for years and even was treated by a dermatologist with no success. The glycerin trick is the only thing that has worked for her too!

Try it and see . . . I think you will be surprised ;)

PS One thing to note: if your hands are cracked the glycerin might burn at first, but this sensation will go away in a few minutes.

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Specializes in PMHNP.

I like Lubriderm lotion, personally. It's inexpensive, non-greasy, and non-fragrant.

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