Nursing is brutal on hands. Constant hand washing, alcohol sanitizer multiple times per hour, hours inside latex or nitrile gloves — the combination strips skin of its natural oils and leaves hands cracked, painful, and prone to infection.
The irony is cruel: healthcare workers whose hands must be clean to protect patients often develop skin damage that actually increases infection risk. Cracked skin harbors bacteria that soap and sanitizer can't reach.
The Hand Hygiene Paradox
Hand hygiene compliance saves lives. But the products and frequency required cause cumulative damage to skin. Soap strips lipids. Alcohol sanitizer disrupts the skin barrier. Gloves create a humid environment that promotes breakdown. Over months and years, hands that were once healthy become chronically damaged.
Protection Strategies
Self-adhering finger tape provides a barrier against further mechanical damage on already cracked fingertips. It stays in place through hand washing (though it should be replaced regularly for hygiene), doesn't leave residue that could contaminate patients, and can be removed easily for procedures requiring bare hands.
Between-Shift Care
What you do off shift matters as much as what you do on. Apply heavy moisturizer immediately after your last hand wash. Consider wearing cotton gloves over moisturizer overnight. Give your hands the recovery time they need to rebuild their protective barrier.
Deep cracks, bleeding, or signs of infection require medical attention. Occupational health can help with accommodations and treatment plans for severe hand dermatitis.