Anyone who works in a profession where repeated hand washing and exposure to cleaning products and harsh chemicals is part of their everyday tasks knows what it's like to struggle with hand and nail care. This is certainly the case for many nurses and caregivers, many of whom have no longer bother with special manicures or polishes for their hands and nails.
Our hands, as people in the health care field would say, are not only used for manual tasks, but are part of the process for helping and healing others. We reach out and touch those who need to be reassured. We hold the hands of the ill and frail. We cradle babies and children in our arms, and stroke tiny hands with our fingertips as we do our best to help them feel cared for and heal. Hand washing is an obvious must, as hygiene is critical in any healthcare environment. Keeping our hands soft and supple is important, but do we know how to take care of them?
Easy Everyday Hand Care
Dry, chapped skin can be painful. Repeated washing and scrubbing with harsh and strong soaps can leave sensitive skin red and sore. Wearing gloves may seem like a way to protect your hands, but a lot of health care workers find that even the repeated wearing of gloves can irritate their skin.
Using lotion is an obvious solution for dry skin. There are some great lotions on the market. Keep a bottle or jar of cream in your locker or at your desk, and even at home.
For women, Eucerin ® Plus Intensive Repair Hand Crème contains a great combination of soothing alpha hydroxyl and urea. And since we know it's important to stay away from greasy and heavily fragranced lotions, you'll love this cream because it's fast absorbing, fragrance-free, and great for sensitive skin.
Men might prefer something less feminine, like Jack Black: Industrial Strength Hand Healer. It's actually specifically made for men who have to wash their hands several times through out the day and it's free of all color and fragrance. No worries about smelling like a petunia here!
Exfoliation for Hands
If your hands are dry and flaking you can buy exfoliating creams for your hands. If you're watching your pennies you can easily create your own gentle exfoliating scrub at home. Remember that when you exfoliate the skin on your hands you must do this very gently and softly, and immediately sooth your hands with cool water and a really good moisturizer.
Hand Exfoliating Scrub
Ingredients:
• ½ cup of granulated white sugar
• 2 tablespoon almond, coconut or olive oil
• 1 tablespoon natural honey
• Juice of half a lemon
Directions:
1. Combine the ingredients, except the lemon juice, in a little bowl and microwave for 8 seconds on high.
2. Remove the bowl from the microwave and add in the lemon juice and stir well.
3. Allow to cool completely.
4. Spoon a tablespoon in to the palm of your hand. Gently rub the mixture around your hands, both palms and tops of your hands.
5. Rinse the scrub off of your hands with cool water.
Hand Exercises
Have you ever thought of hand exercises as part of your hand care regime? Considering that our hands can become stiff and sore at the end of a busy shift, it's important to make hand exercises part of your routine. This helps keep the skin on your hands flexible and encourages good circulation through your hands and fingertips.
Your nails speak volumes about you. Well cared for nails that are neat, trimmed and healthy not only look better, but they also tell people that you are focused, centered, and that you take care of yourself. You may not have the means to go for a professional manicure every month, but you can certainly take care of your nails in a few easy steps on your own.
Keep nails clean
As we mentioned earlier, repeated hand washing is part of any nurse's busy daily routine. Beyond washing with soap and water, using a nail brush will help you remove any dirt and scum from under your nails, and any oils from on top of your nails. In addition, a nail brush can help remove any dead skin from around our nails and soften your cuticles.
Don't bite your nails
It's a hard habit to break, isn't it? Some people chew on their nails as a way to keep them short and manageable. Unfortunately your nails usually look far worse than if you had simply too a moment to file them. Of course it goes without saying that chewing your nails means putting potentially sickening germs and bacteria into your mouth! If you can't stop chewing your nails, you may want to try any one of the anti-nail biting paints on the market, like Control-it! Nail Biting Treatment ® .
Keep nails short
A lot of hospitals and clinics prefer that nursing staff keep nails short and manicured and free of nail polish. Nails can grow fast, so it's important to keep a nail file short to file nails straight across. Always file nails in one direction to stop nails from splitting.
Male nurses should also be aware of the need for nail care. Along with using a moisturizer for softer and healthier hand skin, rubbing the nails with moisturizer helps keep nails soft and avoid broken, jagged nails.
Avoiding hangnails
Almost everyone has had a hangnail; that little piece of dry skin around your nail that catches on clothes or tempts you to pick at it. To avoid hangnails, it's important to moisturize the skin around your nails and avoid biting your nails. If you do have a hangnail, clip the little piece of dry skin off with a sterilized nail clipper or scissors and wrap a band-aid around your finger to let the finger heal. Don't bite hangnails off or rip them off. Taking care of the skin around your nails is the best defense against future hangnails.
Your hands say so much and are the tools of your caring career. Take the time to pamper your hands and show the world that along with taking care of those around you, you also take the time to take care of yourself.
Article © 2009 My Nursing Uniforms.com / Young Lion Incorporated
Image courtesy of Indy Charlie's
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