5 best hand creams for nurses

Hand washing, hand washing, hand washing! Sound familiar? If you’re like most nurses, your hands probably look as if someone has taken a piece of sandpaper and massaged your skin with it! Ouch!

The continual hand washing can take quite the toll on the hands and skin. Nurses can easily develop callouses, sores, and other unsightly blemishes on their skin after excess washing. As a nurse, I’ve used dozens of different hand lotions for nurses, including just about every skincare product on the market today, and I can confidently say some are more effective at healing extremely dry skin than others. I’ve also heard from dozens of nurses and healthcare professionals about the products they use to keep callouses away.

If you are tired of having rough, brittle skin, here are some of the best hand creams for nurses to help repair dry, cracked skin:

1) Eucerin Hand Cream

Many nurses swear by Eucerin during the winter months. This lotion feels great on the hands without having that really greasy feel afterwards. The best part about this product is that it works great for dry skin on babies. I actually tried Eucerin for the first time after it was used on my son in the local children’s hospital.

2) Vaseline Intensive Care

This is what I call “The Old Stand By.” Vaseline products have been around for years and I think that speaks volumes when it comes to product reliability. I like this lotion because it is inexpensive for a large pump size and a little bit goes a long way. This product is good for maintaining healthy skin and nails. This lotion also has a nice, but light fragrance.

3) Neutrogena Norwegian Formula

This is a great lotion that in my opinion, penetrates really well into the skin.  By this, I mean that after I wash my hands, I still feel as if they are somewhat moisturized and that I haven’t washed off all the lotion that I applied. I really like this for when my hands are feeling chapped and sore after a day at the hospital.

4) Philosophy Pure Grace Lotion

This lotion is one of my favorites. I first saw the Philosophy products on one of Oprah’s Favorite Things episodes a few years back.  Not only does this lotion feel wonderful on my hands, but it smells amazing! I know we really shouldn’t use “smelly” fragrances in the hospital, but this has a nice clean scent. By no means does it smell like a perfume. This lotion is a little pricier than the others, but it is a nice treat for your hands. While the other products can be found at local drug stores, Philosophy Pure Grace can be found at Macy’s and Ulta.

5) Johnson’s Baby Lotion

Who doesn’t love the smell of a clean baby? If it is gentle enough for our babies it must be good for our hands right? With its trademark pink bottle and baby powder scent, there is just something about Johnson’s Baby Lotion that is both nostalgic and sweet.

6) Gold Bond Advanced Healing Lotion

Gold Bond has been helping people that work with their hands for decades. Use the Advanced Healing Lotion to keep your hands smooth and hydrated throughout the day. It’s made with shea butter and replenishing ceramides, two ingredients that have been clinically proven to reduce dry skin. There is no fragrance or parabens, so it won’t distract from the job. It goes on fast to help you get back to work.

7) O’ Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream

Working Hands is designed to provide fast relief to anyone that works with thier hands for a living. It abosrbs quickly and creates a protective layer to prevent moisture loss, so you can keep washing without damaging the skin. The company guarantees relief or your money back.

9) Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion

This product is made specifically for individuals that wear gloves for a living, including surgical gloves that can suffocate your skin. It’s beloved by nurses and healthcare professionals because it protects against frequent handwashing. It stays on for hours without affecting hygiene. No need to reapply after every wash. Healthcare professionals can request a free sample on their website.

What are your favorite hand lotions?