I realize this does not seem like a nursing-related question, but our personal hygiene routines before and after work/school can have repercussions for us professionally.
My skin has the tendency to be dry and itchy due to longstanding hypothyroidism, and the problem is heightened in the winter. So, I strictly use liquid body wash four months out of the year from early November until early March. St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter body wash soothes and moisturizes my itchy, dry skin.
From March through late October I switch mostly to bar soaps because my skin is not as dry and itchy during warmer weather. However, I still use liquid body wash on occasion. I use Tone Bath Bars with cocoa butter for the moisturizing properties. I also like Caress Daily Silkening body wash (white peach & silky orange blossom scent).
I absolutely DO NOT use antibacterial soaps when at home. I strictly use plain bar soaps and body washes to minimize the potential of resistance to microbes.
When I am on the nursing floor, I use an antibacterial soap that keeps me free of germs and bacteria. Then, I put on some hand cream, especially during the wintertime. I always have used this type of soap on the nursing unit because I have always found that it keeps my hands feeling clean and ready for nursing duties. I believe the soap is from the Ecolab soap industry that pertains to medical suppliers. I also like Dove soap too, but it must be antibacterial for the nursing unit.
For face: locally made goat-milk organic baby soap.
For the rest: nothing, just plain water and whole lot of moisturisers. Plus mineral sunscreen, religiously.
Hands: whatever yet another schmolicy postulates for work, Elle Ombre Naturel' (French-made therapeutic brand for people with extremely sensitive skin) at home.
Extremely sensitive skin, neurodermitis plus couple of other chronic skin conditions plus hereditary risk of skin cancer. Costs a whole d*** lot but still much, much less than dermatologist + compound pharmacy.
I prefer the bath and body works antibacterial gel. I like the strawberry or cherry kind because it looks so nice and smells so nice as well. I use it when I cannot get to a sink in order to wash my hands. There are other products that are really good to use as well. Another type of soap product is called foal soap. That feels so good on the hands.
I use Johnson & Johnson's baby wash in the shower. I use it to shave too. My skin tends to be dry and a bit sensitive. I'll use whatever shampoo that's available. If my husband has left his Lever soap where I can find it, I like to use it on my feet. I think it's antibacterial. The hand soap in the bathrooms is not antibacterial and we have a lemon scented soap for hand washing in the kitchen.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I used Dove -- recommended when I was undergoing radiation therapy. It's cheap, it does the job. Now, however, we're living on our boat and bar soap is bad for the plumbing system. Since we do our own maintenence and I'm not looking forward to taking apart any drains or through-hulls, I use liquid soap. Liquid Dove is OK, but my new favorite is Neutragena RainBath in the bulk container from Costco. Smells great, seems to be good for my skin.
Since my hands can look like leprosy during the winter months; I rediscovered Olay products and Caress as a moisturizer that helps keep my skin less dry; I use St Ives as well for exfoliation, their Oatmeal and Shea butter wash for moisture, and use Bath and Body Works for fragrance and their use of Shea Butter in their body wash.
For or my face, I was using Neutrogena moisturizer face mask with the harsh beads for my oily nose to prevent blackheads, but becuase they will be off the market and are not good for water systems, I've had to switch to Clean and Clear moisturing face wash (the original drys me out and makes me peel; the rest of my face is normal).
I use coconut oil, Aquaphor, Cocoa and Shea Butter to my skin; when I'm in a rush, Vaseline's Shea Butter lotion does the trick; BBW's lotion also has Shea Butter in it as well and will use it to keep a good fragrance on as well.
I occaisionally use antibacterial soap; especially in the kitchen; when I worked at a medical daycare we had to be food-safety certified-like how restaurants are regulated, and those practices I incorporated; it keeps my kitchen clean and helps with the cooking, so I will continue the practice.
Some people need antibacterial soap; people who are prone to abscesses that basically are infected by the overgrowth of their skin bacteria need Dial and other antibacterial soaps to combat them; two of my becomes have that use due heir father; their aunt has the same condition, and it is a must for them to use antibacterial soap, and it has reduced their trips to the ED to do a I&D, or be on antibiotic therapy.
TeaPlease
36 Posts
I use my sisters' organic soaps and shampoo....and lotion...the "natural/organic" stuff is so kind to my tough old hide.