My poor hands!

[MelHarris]

What do you guys do about your hands? I'm working my first LPN job full time, and my hands are all dry and cracked and awful from washing them a blue million times/day. My best luck has been Aveda Hand Relief at night, but it's too big to carry during the day. Any suggestions?

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Travel size Jergens or cocoa butter lotion. I personally don't carry lotion because I'm only going to wash it right off. But my facility has the best lotion on the walls at each nurses station beside the hand sanitizer.

The first time I tried it, I was absolutely amazed at the scent and the results. I thought it was going to be similar to that found in a cheap motel. I was wrong...

[whatdayisit11to7Nrse]

Try to use cool water when you wash your hands. Hot or too warm will dry them out more. Use lots of friction to kill germs though. The soap at your job may be drying them out more. A travel size as previous comment will help. Even if you wash it off each time as you keep reapplying it will still help

[MelHarris]

Thanks guys! :)

[Cat365]

Can you try to use the foam hand sanitizer between patients instead of washing quite as often?

Ive also used thick lotion with socks over my hands for an hour or two at night.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

When I sleep I slather on aquaphor and put on soft gloves. I use this on my feet too. It helps. During the day I try to apply a non greasy lotion in-between things. I avoid using hot water when washing my hands and I try to not use the liquid sanitizer often. I still get the dry cracked hands in the winter time sometimes. I also wear rubber gloves when I am at home washing dishes. I've noticed that helps.

[desertace]

Use thick hand creme by O'Keefe, its saved my hands plenty of times at work.

[Vette RN BSN]

I know what you are going through, I have washed my hands so often over 30 years I have no finger prints. I have a license in two states and have had to get waivers in both due to the inability to get my prints. Aside from Cocoa butter and other lotions I also use "corn huskers" lotion to heal the cracks. Hope you find what works best for you.

[BellsyNurse]

Hand sanitizer (often has emolients) is less harsh than soap and water. I clean my hands a thousand times a day this way (icu, no joke) and have sensitive skin, and I don't have alligator hands :)