Good Hand Care
I. Causes:
The number of causes of hand rashes is almost limitless. A few of the more common are overexposure to water, too much dry air, soaps and detergents, solvents, cleaning agents, rubber gloves or even ingredients in skin and personal care products. Once skin becomes red and dry, even so called “harmless” things like water and baby products can irritate skin further.
II. Washing Hands:
Take your rings off to wash because they trap soap and moisture next to the skin. Use lukewarm water and rinse thoroughly after washing with soap. Blot your skin dry carefully. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp (see below).
Use soap sparingly. Because soap strips oil from your skin, use it only where it’s really needed such as in skin-fold areas. Avoid detergents, perfumed soaps, harsh soaps and deodorant soaps, which can be extra drying. Instead, you might want to try soap substitutes or soaps that contain moisturizers.
Short warm showers are better for your skin than hot baths. Be sure to gently pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer.
III. Lotions and Moisturizers:
Apply a moisturizer liberally after each hand washing immediately after bathing and after removing gloves. The rule of thumb for moisturizers is: the messier, the better. Ointments like white petroleum jelly work best followed (in order of effectiveness) by mineral oils, hydrating gels and creams. Lotions, which contain mostly water, are the least effective as moisturizers. A word of caution: petroleum products and some others can damage latex gloves – be sure to use an approved moisturizer at work if you wear latex gloves. A greasy ointment like white petrolatum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) applied to hands and covered with cotton gloves at night can really help.
IV. Gloves:
Plastic or vinyl is better than latex and powder free is much better than powdered when choosing glove for people with sensitive hands. WEAR THEM AT HOME too for tasks such as dishes, folding laundry (the fabric soaks the moisture out of your hands), peeling vegetables or for handling citrus fruits or tomatoes. Keep several pairs of gloves at home in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, etc. Use gloves for non-wet housework and gardening too. Always replace gloves that develop holes. Dry gloves out between uses and change them if they become wet on the inside or wear them with a thin pair of cotton gloves under them to absorb water.
V. Moisturizer after Removing Your Gloves:
Use of cotton gloves underneath plastic household gloves is highly recommended. Cotton gloves can be worn without plastic gloves all day to protect hands from irritation. These cotton gloves should be washed frequently.
VI. Miscellaneous:
Protect your hands from the cold dry air. Wear gloves or at least keep your hands in your pockets to prevent exposure to the cold and wind.
Don’t wear your rings to do housework. Clean your rings frequently by soaking them in ammonia water (1 tablespoon full per pint) overnight.
Do not peel or press oranges, lemons, grapefruits, tomatoes, or onions with the bare hands. Avoid hand contact with solvents and stain removers as well as cleaning products for metals, glass, floors, cars and furniture.
Don’t pick at any loose ends of skin. Loose ends are best clipped off with a small nail clipper or scissors.
If dry skin doesn’t respond to self-care measures, discussing other treatments with your doctor is always an option. If you feel your hand problems are work related, please let us know.
The number of causes of hand rashes is almost limitless. A few of the more common are overexposure to water, too much dry air, soaps and detergents, solvents, cleaning agents, rubber gloves or even ingredients in skin and personal care products. Once skin becomes red and dry, even so called “harmless” things like water and baby products can irritate skin further.
II. Washing Hands:
Take your rings off to wash because they trap soap and moisture next to the skin. Use lukewarm water and rinse thoroughly after washing with soap. Blot your skin dry carefully. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp (see below).
Use soap sparingly. Because soap strips oil from your skin, use it only where it’s really needed such as in skin-fold areas. Avoid detergents, perfumed soaps, harsh soaps and deodorant soaps, which can be extra drying. Instead, you might want to try soap substitutes or soaps that contain moisturizers.
Short warm showers are better for your skin than hot baths. Be sure to gently pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer.
III. Lotions and Moisturizers:
Apply a moisturizer liberally after each hand washing immediately after bathing and after removing gloves. The rule of thumb for moisturizers is: the messier, the better. Ointments like white petroleum jelly work best followed (in order of effectiveness) by mineral oils, hydrating gels and creams. Lotions, which contain mostly water, are the least effective as moisturizers. A word of caution: petroleum products and some others can damage latex gloves – be sure to use an approved moisturizer at work if you wear latex gloves. A greasy ointment like white petrolatum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) applied to hands and covered with cotton gloves at night can really help.
IV. Gloves:
Plastic or vinyl is better than latex and powder free is much better than powdered when choosing glove for people with sensitive hands. WEAR THEM AT HOME too for tasks such as dishes, folding laundry (the fabric soaks the moisture out of your hands), peeling vegetables or for handling citrus fruits or tomatoes. Keep several pairs of gloves at home in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, etc. Use gloves for non-wet housework and gardening too. Always replace gloves that develop holes. Dry gloves out between uses and change them if they become wet on the inside or wear them with a thin pair of cotton gloves under them to absorb water.
V. Moisturizer after Removing Your Gloves:
Use of cotton gloves underneath plastic household gloves is highly recommended. Cotton gloves can be worn without plastic gloves all day to protect hands from irritation. These cotton gloves should be washed frequently.
VI. Miscellaneous:
Protect your hands from the cold dry air. Wear gloves or at least keep your hands in your pockets to prevent exposure to the cold and wind.
Don’t wear your rings to do housework. Clean your rings frequently by soaking them in ammonia water (1 tablespoon full per pint) overnight.
Do not peel or press oranges, lemons, grapefruits, tomatoes, or onions with the bare hands. Avoid hand contact with solvents and stain removers as well as cleaning products for metals, glass, floors, cars and furniture.
Don’t pick at any loose ends of skin. Loose ends are best clipped off with a small nail clipper or scissors.
If dry skin doesn’t respond to self-care measures, discussing other treatments with your doctor is always an option. If you feel your hand problems are work related, please let us know.