Nurses with Eczema...Help!!!

[stellina615]

I live in New England and every winter, the eczema on my hands flares up, sometimes to the point where my skin cracks and bleeds. I do keep my hands moisturized, but frequent handwashing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers at work dries them right out again. I'm embarrassed because my hands look gross, but more importantly, I worry because the skin is the first line of defense against pathogens. Where I work (psych unit), it just isn't feasible to run around wearing gloves all day long. Can anyone offer some suggestions? Thank you!

Best,

Erin

[nightmare, RN]

Firstly stop using the sanitiser.This happens to my hands as well.I have an immediate reaction to that stuff and will not use it.The cracks and hacks are an added infection portal I can do without.I wash my hands thoroughly using soap and water each and every room I enter and leave.

[truern]

Does it help to wear cotton gloves over vaseline at night??

I know this time of the year my daughter's seborreac dermititis on her scalp flares up and leaves horrible flakes *everywhere*...we've tried everything from prescriptions to listerine

My hands tend to be a problem as well, but I found if I avoid most hand soap and use a ton of lotion they stay somewhat normal. I know they say not to use lotion at work because of the glove issue, but I can't stand for my hands to hurt

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

A couple of excellent products, Burt's Bee's rescue remedy and something called (I am not kidding) Crack Cream. Another is udder cream. As truern said slather it on when you sleep and wear gloves on top. Also, wear gloves out side all the time in cold weather.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

I live in New England also and my eczema seems to flare up as soon as November hits. Eucerin is the only thing that works for me. However, my eczema is on my elbows and shins, not constantly irritated areas like my hands. But maybe one of the heavier Eucerin creams would help for hands.

[sunray12]

Shea butter. It works great. And IA with the cotton gloves while sleeping needed too.

[SAHMStudent]

I grew up in NH and I know your pain. My mom used to have it so badly her hands would crack and bleed too. Udder Cream is great, and for an everyday moisturizer, try Aveeno Baby; it's gentle and and hypoallergenic. Also, do you wash your hands and use a paper towel at home? Like Bounty or another bleached paper towel? I know of a few people who had allergic reactions to the paper towels they were using and they had red, blotchy, raw and cracking skin from the constant hand-washing and drying with a paper towel. Eliminating the paper towel helped them greatly. There is a lotion that I cannot remember the name of to save my life. I used to use it in the restaurant; talk about hand washing, I think my hands were almost always wet or in sanitizer. It has a red cross on it, and it lasts through hand washings. GL.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

I have dyshidrotic eczema on my hands. I literally don't remember a time when I've seen them healed. It does make a HUGE difference to use Vaseline or shortening on the hands with cotton gloves. I carry around Benadryl cream and Vaseline at all times and dare not use latex on my hands (allergy!). Do not use anything with fragrance or alcohol. You may want to consider carrying around soap that doesn't dry out your hands.

[Rookie12]

I also live in new england and have eczema that flares in the winter, though not on my hands, i get it on my stomach and hips. No matter how much medicated cream i put on i can't stop the itch! Then i tried burt's bee's and i swear it was a miracle! The itch was gone and it moisturized my skin beautifully. I know our situations are different but i would def. give burts bee's a try!

[animal1993]

Believe it or not, good old-fashioned Desitin (original, not creamy) helps my hands the most when mine flares up. I literally slather it on, and then watch my favorite shows. It's amazing what a difference it makes as far as the pain and redness goes. Also, as a PP said, try not to use the sanitizer so much, as the alcohol continually irritates the skin and allows other things you come in contact with to kind of cause contact dermatitis, even if it's not something you're usually bothered by. But, expect it to take at least a couple of weeks for your skin to heal after you stop using it.

[Midwest4me]

Clobetasol works VERY well for me; I use it primarily during winter months.

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

Desitin and Triamcinolone ointment (sparingly)works for me!