Will nursing wreck my hands?

3ringnursing, BSN · Mar 1, 2017

I found it was harder on my hands than the average nurse. My hands were always inflamed, chapped, cracked, sore and at times even bleeding. My cuticles were a mess. The skin on the back of my hands was so rough it was like shark skin - you could probably strike a match on it, or use it to file your nails.

Two decades ago it was the norm for gloves to be latex and powdered - it was rare and expensive to find nitrile, unpowdered gloves for routine use and the skin on my hands took a battering. The harsh hand soap in the dispensers, and ultra cheap, rough paper towels made it much, much worse - especially at the rate a nurse providing patient care washes their hands. When ETOH hand sanitizer was introduced I thought my hands would combust on contact! The burning pain was insane!

I tried a variety of different hand lotions and emollient moisturizing creams without success. I bought a paraffin wax machine for hands and feet designed to use after applying hand cream to help retain the moisture and increase effectiveness. My skin was so red and irritated I went to the employee health RN on a routine basis - she Rx'd steroid ointment it was so painful.

You name it, I tried it without much relief.

In 2004 I got really sick and almost died. I was out of nursing for 10 years - it took nearly 5 years for the skin condition on my hands to settle down and return to pre-health care baseline.

The effects on my hands was NOT the norm â€¦ lucky me.

BookishBelle · Mar 1, 2017

I found it was harder on my hands than the average nurse. My hands were always inflamed, chapped, cracked, sore and at times even bleeding. My cuticles were a mess. The skin on the back of my hands was so rough it was like shark skin - you could probably strike a match on it, or use it to file your nails.
Two decades ago it was the norm for gloves to be latex and powdered - it was rare and expensive to find nitrile, unpowdered gloves for routine use and the skin on my hands took a battering. The harsh hand soap in the dispensers, and ultra cheap, rough paper towels made it much, much worse - especially at the rate a nurse providing patient care washes their hands. When ETOH hand sanitizer was introduced I thought my hands would combust on contact! The burning pain was insane!
I tried a variety of different hand lotions and emollient moisturizing creams without success. I bought a paraffin wax machine for hands and feet designed to use after applying hand cream to help retain the moisture and increase effectiveness. My skin was so red and irritated I went to the employee health RN on a routine basis - she Rx'd steroid ointment it was so painful.
You name it, I tried it without much relief.
In 2004 I got really sick and almost died. I was out of nursing for 10 years - it took nearly 5 years for the skin condition on my hands to settle down and return to pre-health care baseline.
The effects on my hands was NOT the norm â€¦ lucky me.

Thank you for sharing your story! It sounds like a nightmare! And what I was kind of afraid of.... Hopefully with the alternative gloves available and(possibly?) milder soaps I will be able to avoid this. I'm so glad your hands are back to healthy- but wow! What a long time for healing! Are you back in nursing now?

Cola89 · Mar 1, 2017

it is hard on your hands. hand cream, not just regular lotion will help!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 1, 2017

OP, use L'Occitane's original scent shea butter hand cream. It's $28 for a full size tube last I checked, but it literally lasts for months and will save your hands. I have the same problem as you with my hands cracking and bleeding and this stuff keeps my skin soooooo hydrated and smooth. It's a really really thick cream that absorbs right in without being greasy.

On a less expensive note, I know lots of nurses that use Bag Balm, which is usually available at the drug store. I like "Teat Guard" or "Weather Guard" better -- available at feed stores. When I lived in farm country, I could buy a three pound tub of it for $10 and it would last two years, even when I shared it. Bath & Body Works sells "True Blue Spa Parrafin Super Softening Hand Lotion" which comes in 2.5 ounce tubes -- perfect for throwing into your work bag. I bought a half dozen of them when they were on sale, but they're expensive if not on sale.

BookishBelle · Mar 1, 2017

On a less expensive note, I know lots of nurses that use Bag Balm, which is usually available at the drug store. I like "Teat Guard" or "Weather Guard" better -- available at feed stores. When I lived in farm country, I could buy a three pound tub of it for $10 and it would last two years, even when I shared it. Bath & Body Works sells "True Blue Spa Parrafin Super Softening Hand Lotion" which comes in 2.5 ounce tubes -- perfect for throwing into your work bag. I bought a half dozen of them when they were on sale, but they're expensive if not on sale.

Love these suggestion! I'm all about a deal!

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2017

Your cuticles will never again be healthy, whole, and moisturized. Especially in the winter. Coat your hands with Eucerin or Aquaphor, dip them in a paraffin bath, and let that stuff soak into them for a good 30 minutes. Very, very soothing. For split and bleeding skin, I keep a bottle of this in my work bag at all times: Amazon.com: NEW SKIN LIQUID BANDAGE BOTTLE .3 OZ: Health & Personal Care

I second that liquid bandage is a lifesaver! I would use it at the first hint of a skin split, and though it does need to be reapplied a few times a shift, that's a world better than rubbing alcohol or soap into already compromised skin.

I had dry, sensitive skin even before nursing. I cope by using lotion almost every time I wash my hands at work and by cutting out unnecessary hand washing on days off, and applying heavy products at night/ when off the clock.

My current work favorite is Gold Bond Ultimate healing hand cream. Not *too* heavy and it's lightly scented. At home I prefer Burt's Bees Farmer's Friend hand salve or, especially if my skin is already cracking, Vick's/Mentholatum vapor rub. The menthol is very soothing on sore spots.

rmw07001 · Mar 1, 2017

Hi,

My skin also used to crack because it was dry. Since I've been using Bag Balm a few times every day, I haven't had any cracks. It doesn't smell good, but it's the only thing that works for me. I keep it in a 1 oz screw top jar made by nalgene that I picked up at EMS.

Rachel

Cardiac Med Surg RN

Cleveland, OH

foggnm · Mar 1, 2017

Hospital nursing will wreck your back and maybe at times your emotions or soul, but with frequent moisturizing you can save your hands.

DiplomaNurseRN · Mar 1, 2017

Nursing definitely will cure any nail biting and putting your fingers in your mouth .... :)

greenandsilver · Mar 1, 2017

I use Eucerin Original Healing Rich Lotion on my hands before I go to sleep. I keep it by my bed. It works well for me. I get it at the grocery store, not cheap but not very expensive either. I find that discount brands of lotion don't really heal my dry hands. If I put it on during the day I just end up washing it off before it can do its job. I wish I could buy this lotion for all of my diabetic patients with the horribly flaky skin on their feet and ankles.

guest114 · Mar 3, 2017

This is a good question and I wonder why I NEVER considered this before I began working. My hands are constantly dry this is for sure. I have tons of lotions in my bag, car, bedroom, livingroom....always accessable. I use different oils and try different stuff but definitley use lotion while working. I am still an LPN and I could have 40 patients on good day....I wash my hands frequently during an 8 hour shift and the dry feeling on my skin can drive me nuts. I found the nail salon offers parrafin treatments for 5 bucks or sometimes free if your a regular or spend a certain amount. My lady knows I'm gonna ask so she just hooks it up...I wouldn't say it "ruins" your hands, as long as you moisturize, but it's something the rest of the population is not dealing with. I also noticed a few years back nurses were bringing the gallong Poland Spring jugs to work, they cost $1 or less, and this way you can stay hydrated because it's hot, you are moving a lot and bottom line your hands are going to be dry so you do what you can. Atleast you known you always have clean hands....

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Mar 3, 2017

No it wrecks everything