Dry cracked hands

I'm working in a restaurant and I have to constantly wash my hands and now my hands are really dry. They're red and cracked. Bits of it are bleeding. Last night it was hurting real bad. It's getting worse everyday.

Anyone got any tips and remedies? I can't be constantly applying lotion in the restaurant cause it'll just be washed away again right after.

Reply 1

+ polarity -

Neutrogena Concentrated Hand Cream

It might survive a couple of hand washings before you need to reapply.

Reply 2

storm10

apply the hand cream before you go to bed everynight. your hands should be cured overnight.

Reply 3

spasmos

Sounds like you've developed dermatitis. Your best bet is a barrier cream - any chemist should have one. Use it before and after your shift, reapply halfway through if your hands are really bad. What is your position? If you are a kitchen porter, ask for gloves, as a chef you can also request gloves, though it depends on restaurant policy. If handling food, open wounds or sores should be covered anyway, so demand them under health and safety rules.

Reply 4

ShaolinTemple

Original post by spasmos

Yeah, it does look like eczema but I'm not sure. But I can assure my hand looks horrible.

I'm working as a busboy so I always have to handle dirty dishes and then handle clean stuff right after.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 5

StarsAreFixed

Lash on loads of hand cream (stronger than usual stuff- ask a chemist) before you go to bed and put gloves on over it so you don't wreck everything. Should really help your hands heal overnight.

Reply 6

EvieMo

The best thing I've found is foot cream. I wear it overnight.

Reply 7

iqlu

Use body butter. it's really thick, creamy and moisturising. I recommend Shea body butter.

Reply 8

Roxannabelle

Before you go to bed, try rubbing your hands with moisturiser/vaseline and put on some gloves to stop your hands from rubbing the cream off.

Reply 9

WJordan

We recommend a product called Gloves In A Bottle. It creates a protective waterproof shield with the outer layer of skin and doesn't wash or rub off - comes away naturally after 2-3 hours. It's effective for contact dermatitis and is used by people like hairdressers, nurses, bar staff etc.

Reply 10

Katy4341

I have persistant dermatitis on my hands and the only cream that works is 'working hands'. I have tried ALL the barrier creams from chemists, pharmacies etc and the grease/barrier just doesn't seem to work (and I find it irritating and tend to rub it off on towels etc). You cna buy it from amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/OKeeffes-Working-Hands-Hand-Cream/dp/B005PA0UV4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479915547&sr=8-1&keywords=working+hands+cream
Hope it clears up a bit :smile:

Reply 11

WJordan

Hey Katy
I've heard O'Keefes is a good product but some say it can be quite greasy. You can get Gloves in a Bottle from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000UBN5S8 and Superdrug.com http://www.superdrug.com/search?text=gloves+in+a+bottle.

Hope your hands recover soon :-)

Reply 12

Kindred

Original post by ShaolinTemple

Is ther any chance you could use a moisturising soap at work? If so, give that a go and also be sure to dry your handa well after washing them.

You can also try something like Nivea or another moisturiser whenever possible. If you use it regularly when you are not at work (maybe before/ after work and before bed) it should protect your hands enough even if you can't use it at work. Try to find non-scented ones that say they protect as well as moisturise. There are some good suggestions here already.

You may find it helpful to ask a pharmacist for suggestions of handcreams and make sure it doesn't look like anything like eczma being triggered by all the washing.

Reply 13

WJordan

Original post by Katy4341

Hey Katy
I heard that O'Keefes is a good product but some say it can be greasy. Gloves in a Bottle is greaseless and fragrance free and soaks in really quickly. You can get from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000UBN5S8 and Superdrug.com http://www.superdrug.com/search?text=gloves+in+a+bottle

Hope your hands get better soon