You are currently browsing articles tagged moisturizers.
With frequent hand washing, health-care workers’ hands will often become dry and cracked. This can increase their risk of infection when exposed to infectious material. Health-care workers can’t just grab any moisturizer to provide relief from the effects of frequent hand washing and exposure to disinfectants.
The following conditions can be managed with proper moisturizers
- Dry, flaky skin
- Crusty bumps
- Redness
- Pain
- Itching
- Localized inflammation
Health care workers need special moisturizers that are approved by the Infection Control Department. Some moisturizers may not be compatible with latex glove use. Using the wrong moisturizer can put a health-care worker at risk if the moisturizer could compromise the integrity of the gloves used for protection from bodily fluids.
For severely irritated hands, glove liners may help to protect damaged hands from further irritation from the gloves until healing is finished. It will also provide a barrier if the gloves are the source of irritation.
Using disinfecting hand gels when possible will reduce damage from frequent hand washing. When using moisturizers in the workplace healthcare workers should choose water based moisturizers that are approved by Infection Control Department. Other moisturizers are best used at the end of a shift.