Risk of open wound on hand while working?

[soffy]

Hi everyone,

I have eczema on my right pinky and normally it's not too bad, a bit rough but no open wounds. However since I started working, about 2 months ago, with ALL that hand-washing, I find my little pinky inflamed and cracked open. Hurts and itches a lot and leaks a small amount of serous-sang discharge. Everytime I get my pinky wet, it gets irritated as u can imagine so hand washing is quite painful :S I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to protect it at work?

Thanks you for your time!

[Grumpygs, MSN, RN]

Have you tried liquid bandage stuff? I'm not sure what it's called, but think you can probably find it at a local pharmacy or drug store. It may help...

Good luck! :icon_hug:

[casi, ASN, RN]

I've tried liquid bandaid and by the 10th hand washing the protection is gone.

Have you tried throwing a layer of tegaderm over it?

[premedturnednursing]

I have the same problem! I am still a student but the instructors have told me to wash my hands and put on 1-2 pairs of gloves everytime I touch a patient....I know that doesn't help with the burning, stinging and itching.....i'm still looking for a remedy to that myself!

[Jolie, BSN]

Is there a wound care nurse at your facility you could talk to?

[*LadyJane*]

I had a couple of quarter-sized patches, tried all sorts of things,but what worked for me was one teensy jar of kenalog cream. That stuff is great. To try that, see your dr.

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

I've had good luck covering minor lacs with either/ or both tegaderm or liquid bandage. Neither is permanent but two coats of the liquid bandage usually gets me through a shift before it peels off. A tegaderm covering will last a few hours but I usually need to re-apply a new one once or twice in a shift. Sometimes I will combine the two (like for a papercut) or use tegaderm over a small band-aid with abx ointment (for a larger cut or blister).

The liquid bandage I have is called New Skin; it comes in liquid form in a 0.3 oz bottle and you "paint" it on the cleaned and dried cut with a little brush that comes attached to the bottle cap. (Obviously only one person can use the bottle if you use the brush on open cuts). There is also a similar product with disposable single-use packs that I keep at work in my locker. The active ingredient is 1% 8-hydroxyquinoline. It also contains clove oil and alcohol so smells really nice, but burns like crazy when you put it on broken skin. (Beats exposing others to your bodily fluids OR picking up all those little germies lurking at work, though!)

[soffy]

that's a great idea! i will definitely see her when i get the chance :)

[Dolce, RN]

I think you should discuss this with employee health.

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

I think you should discuss this with employee health.

I agree, they should provide different gloves, soap, and medication. If this started after you began your new job, it's an "on the job" injury.

That's what would happen at our hospital.

[imagr81]

You should definatly contact your supervisor. i have had one patch of dry skin/eczema on my four finger. I seem to get it when i am stressed out. I wonder why I would be stressed....haha two kids, gas, mortgage..anyways.. hygiene is very important and you must stick to a strict regimine in order to clear up that dry skin. I use Glove'n Care designed for health-care workers a few times a day every day. After about two days my eczema patch is gone! how ever i have found that you cant just stop, else it coems back, so you have to use soemthing every day. Especially in our profession. Hand hygiene is a serious matter and under CDC rules your hospital should be doing naythign it takes to keep your skin healthy. here is a link of soem good articles that hopefully your supervisor is aware of.

http://www.glovencare.com/skinfo_articles/Guidelines_handhealth.html

We currently order our skin care products through finesthands.com a distributor medical skin care items. Good luck.

[imagr81]

Another good article!!

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-5945/6/1