Gnarly Hands
 

So my job involves working with food (well actually I'm more of a foods stocker) so I have to wash my hands "after every possible contamination" which I do (unlike some of my co-workers :eek: ).

As a result my hands have become very dry and cracked - something that has never happened on this scale before.

In addition to the above problem, the skin on my hands also have obtained a "streched out" feeling. It feels as if my skin is so tight, it feels like when I strech my hands out (as if I'm making a 5) it literally "springs" back into the sei-fisted posistion.

I've tried lotion, but for the 8 hours I'm at work, I cannot use any. And it seems like the stocking job just wicks away any moisture I might have.

And plus the fact that it doesn't seem "manly" to use lotion doesn't help either :p but I'm willing to try.

So whatchu got for me?

Could you use gloves, I see a lot of people that do work with food using them.

And there is nothing wrong with men using lotion, I put it on daily if I need it or not.

See if you can use gloves at work- that'd be my first measure of prevention. Also, get some Udder Balm, or at least a lotion/cream that has urea in it. Yes, urea. As in usually found in urine. It's not gross- it's synthisized- and it works WONDERS on dry skin. Put some on your hands before bedtime and go to bed with gloves on (like the nice cotton kind, not the kind you throw snowballs with). I know it's all girly, but it'll make your hands nice and clear up the dry skin.

Use a different type of soap for washing your hands.
Use one of those hand sanitizing gels v. hand washing.
Gloves might help.
Lotion before you go to bed.

Ulgh. Gloves = prune hands. I've tried it before, if it gets really bad I'll do it again.

Yerrr urine? Where you you get those types of cotton gloves?

We have soap that's liquid but turns to foam. At home I tend to jsut wipe my hands down with a wet paper towel, unless I was touching some meat or something.

Hrm... try the beauty section of your local grocery store for the gloves- that or the makeup counters at a department store. And yeah, urea. It's not actually urine (which has a bunch of other stuff in it) but it's a component of urine.
From Wikipedia: "Urea is used in topical dermatological products to promote rehydration of the skin." Wikipedia Article on Urea

Jason, there are gloves with a dusting of talc inside to prevent that sweaty feeling, but you would need to switch out those as often as you come into contact with a potential contaminent, yes?

Hospitals use waterless antibacterial wipes that might be of help. The after- work care that has been recommended by others is so necessary. Once you have brought your hands back to a healthy condition, it will be easier to keep them that way with just normal care.

We buy cotton gloves by the case, but I think the important thing is that you wear a glove at night that breathes and prevents the lotion from being wiped off. Pick a fragrance free lotion, because those can sting a wound. I recommend Vaseline Intensive Care because it is easy to find. Hospital lotions are probably better. Slather on the VIC, put on the gloves and I think you will begin to see the difference the next morning.

My 2 cents. Let us know how things turn out, ok? :)

I used to be in landscaping back in high school. I wore gloves. They were a spandex something or other mix, and they could breathe quite well (not leather, leather only works when it's very very cold, and still only for a short time). In tandum with simple hand moisturizer lotion and you should be fine. If the problem persists, you need to talk to a dermitologist. Cracked skin can lead to nasty infections, especially when working with organic matter (foods, wood, etc.).

Elphaba, no these are just plain rubber gloves.

Suppose you could send a case of cotton gloves my way? I've got no idea where to get them! :confused:

Will, costco has some, they look like kevlar type gloves, but I doubt they are. They're given out to the stockers (either that or they buy them from costco).

Will just reminded me...cotton gardening gloves might just do the trick.

They sell cotton gloves at Target in the beauty section next to all the poofs, loofahs, and other bath fooferah. They'll probably say something about a manicure on the package.

Having worked in food service, my biggest recommendation is to moisturize every time you are not handling food (every time you have a break), use a water-resistant lotion on your hands--Vaseline makes a really good one--to mitigate damage. The lotion itself will wash off, but it will leave a barrier behind to protect your skin from further damage.

You can also step up the lotion/glove combo by slathering your hands in bag balm and putting them in the gloves for a while, then covering them in lotion/glove combo for bedtime. Using something like bag balm will also increase your skin's resistance to water, so apply some before work.

Thanks!

Now I got some advice, now I have to actually put it to use!

Thanks again!

Pro Shield Plus
 

A friend is a nurse at a hospital. They are washing their hands constantly throughout the day. Some folks there use ProShield Pluss I have seen it at local pharmacies, but had trouble finding a link. I have used it, It feels kind of strange.

btw, it is used primarily for protecting incontinent patients from skin irrritation,
resulting from contact with ,uhm.... various sorts of leakage. :eek:

OOo I went into a local pharmacy today and found out where they keep the cotton gloves- next to the band-aids. Also, that's where they keep the super ultra amazing cracked skin healing cream. :D