5 Best Hand Creams for Nurses

Those in the nursing profession are required to wash their hands frequently in order to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of infection.

Constant hand washing can result in dry, cracked, painful skin that may even bleed. To keep your hands moisturized and soft, consider trying these excellent hand creams for nurses.

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Top Pick

☛ Best Overall Hand Lotion for Nurses: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand cream

Best Hand Creams for Nurses

1. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream

The brand trusted by hard-working people for over 25 years, O’Keeffe’s, brings you this phenomenal Working Hands Hand Cream.

It goes on thick, leaving behind a protective barrier that locks moisture into your hands and keeps dryness at bay.

Hands that are severely cracked and bleeding will see improvement in as little as a week due to the potent, concentrated formula.

It’s also unscented so it’s safe for those with allergies and sensitivities to scents.

The lack of scent also makes it an ideal lotion to use while at work so patients won’t be exposed to potential allergens.

This hand cream can be applied anytime throughout the day. Apply it after showering to lock in moisture all day long. To speed up the healing process, apply it before bedtime and wear gloves overnight.

You’ll love how quickly this hand cream works and that it can be used at work because it’s fragrance-free.

Pros:

• Fragrance-free
• Thick, potent formula
• Works quickly

Cons:

• A bit greasy
• Doesn’t absorb well into the skin
• Comes in a jar

Check out the Working Hands Hand Cream on Amazon.

2. L’Occitane Fast Absorbing 20% Shea Butter Hand Cream

Shea butter is known for its healing properties, and in this L’Occitane Fast Absorbing 20% Shea Butter Hand Cream, it’s an ingredient that really delivers.

The addition of honey, almond extracts, and coconut oil provides the perfect combination of moisturizers that soften the skin and leave it smooth and supple. 

Nurses that struggle with lotions that leave their skin feeling greasy won’t find that problem with this hand cream. It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving nothing behind but beautiful, soft moisturized skin.

Since the formula doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue, nurses can use it during their shift and not worry about smudging up their paperwork or computer screens. 

There is a light floral scent that isn’t overpowering, but places of employment that enforce a strict perfume-free environment may not allow this product to be used by their staff.

Pros:

• Absorbs quickly into the skin
• Doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue
• Nourishing shea butter works fast

Cons:

• Not unscented
• Thick formula needs to be rubbed in well
• Best when warmed before spreading

The L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream is available on Amazon.com.

3. Neutrogena Moisturizing Hand Cream

The name Neutrogena has been synonymous with skincare for decades, and with good reason. This Neutrogena Moisturizing Hand Cream has been recommended by dermatologists, as have so many other Neutrogena products.

The specially-designed Norwegian formula is highly-concentrated and goes on smooth to provide fast relief of dry, cracked skin.

Just a dab helps even the most damaged skin because the ingredients are so potent. Since such a small amount needs to be used, one little 2-ounce bottle yields over 200 applications.

The glycerin-rich formula works almost immediately, but the best results are achieved when the hand cream is applied regularly. 

Apply it after a shower to skin that has been dried to help seal the hands and lock in moisture. Once it’s absorbed into the skin, a protective barrier is built throughout the day that endures even the longest nursing shifts.

Pros:

• Glycerin-rich formula works fast
• Does not have a scent
• A small amount goes a long way

Cons:

• Leaves hands slightly greasy
• Not hypoallergenic
• Does not come with a flip-top lid

The Neutrogena Hand Cream is available on Amazon.com.

4. Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion

Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion is the lotion that all nurses suffering from dry, cracked skin have been waiting for.

It’s unique formula bonds with the outer layer of the skin, creating a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and pollutants and irritants out.

It moisturizes skin fast and works for those suffering from skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

Since it bonds with the skin cells once the lotion is fully absorbed, it doesn’t require frequent applications to be effective. 

Applying it every 4 to 12 hours is recommended, depending on the severity of your skin condition. It’s hypoallergenic and recommended by dermatologists.

Since it doesn’t wash away easily, the formula lasts for hours and requires fewer applications. Each 3.5-ounce bottle yields at least 150 applications, making it a worthwhile investment for your skin.

Pros:

• Hypoallergenic
• Lasts through frequent hand washing
• Helps eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis

Cons:

• Lightly-scented
• Leaves a sticky residue if not rubbed in properly
• Works best when applied regularly, every 4 to 12 hours

The Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion is available on Amazon.

5. Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream

This Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream offers seven intensive moisturizers with each application, including vitamins B, C, and E.

Gold Bond has been a name trusted within the skincare industry for years, and this hand cream helps the company live up to its excellent reputation. A great hand cream doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and this generously-sized 3-ounce bottle proves that theory.

The hand cream goes on thick, but absorbs quickly, forming a protective shield over the top layer of the skin. The protective layer lasts through the frequent hand washing that nurses have to endure.

The non-greasy formula leaves behind a light, fresh scent that isn’t overpowering and is actually quite pleasant. It’s also hypoallergenic and can be used on all different skin types.

Pros:

• Seven intensive moisturizers
• Flip-top bottle
• Lasts through hand washing

Cons:

• Does have a light scent that may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
• The thick formula needs to be completely rubbed in
• Helps best when applied before bedtime and left on overnight

The Gold Bond Hand Cream is available on Amazon.com.

Hand Cream Buying Guide

Hypoallergenic

Not all hand creams are hypoallergenic. Those that contain harsh chemicals or fragrances may actually cause skin conditions to worsen. Avoid hand creams that contain ingredients like (source):

• Alcohol
• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Fragrance
• Formaldehyde
• BHT
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Polyethylene Glycol
• Oxybenzone

Dermatologist Recommended

Look for hand creams that bear the notation that they are recommended by dermatologists. Dermatologists know what is best for your skin and wouldn’t recommend products that can do more harm than good.

You may want to consult with your own dermatologist to ensure they recommend the hand cream you’ve selected to try.

Scented or Unscented

Everyone likes to smell good, but some offices- especially doctor’s offices that treat patients with allergies- may not allow fragrances in their facility.

Unscented lotions are best for work environments that enforce a strict fragrance-free policy. Even lotions that have a light fragrance may be enough to trigger an allergic reaction in highly-sensitive individuals.

Moisturizers

Some products may claim to contain active ingredients that moisturize the skin, but not all ingredients are created equal. The best moisturizing ingredients include (source, source):

• Shea butter
• Petroleum jelly
• Lanolin
• Mineral oil
• Almond extracts
• Glycerin
• Dimethicone
• Hyaluronic acid

Prescription vs. Non-Prescription

While many non-prescription hand creams are just as effective as prescription hand creams, for those suffering from severe cases of psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and other skin conditions, a stronger formula may be required.

If the hand creams recommended here do not help, consult with a dermatologist to see if a prescription hand cream is necessary.

Greasy Fingers

Nourishing hand creams can sometimes leave behind a greasy residue that can cause smudged paperwork, fingerprints on your computer screens, and an overall unpleasant experience.

To avoid a greasy residue, rub in the hand cream entirely. You can also avoid products that contain ingredients like petroleum jelly and glycerin because they are more difficult to absorb into the skin and leave a protective outer layer that may feel greasy.

Waterproof

Some hand creams advertise themselves as being waterproof or lasting through several hand washes. While this is possible, the only formulas that can achieve this are ones that are completely absorbed into the skin and that bond with the cells underneath.

Although the hand cream may last through several washes, it’s still best to reapply hand cream at least three to four times a day for the best protection.

Hand Washing

The way you wash your hands is just as important as the hand cream you put on them. Follow these tips to keep your hands moisturized throughout the day.

• Only wash hands when absolutely necessary
• Use cold water instead of warm water to wash hands
• Use a hand soap that contains moisturizers like aloe vera and avoid ones that contain harsh chemicals
• Pat hands dry instead of rubbing them with a towel
• Immediately apply hand cream after washing hands

Hand Sanitizer

Nurses don’t always have access to a sink in order to wash their hands and may need to resort to using hand sanitizer throughout the day. Hand sanitizers often contain harsh chemicals like alcohol and can dry out the hands fast.

Applying a hand cream every few hours during your shift can help replenish the moisture in the hands that is stripped when these harsh hand sanitizers are used.

Cruelty-Free

Although many companies have chosen to stop testing their products on animals, some still do.

If you are passionate about using products not tested on animals, look for the little bunny symbol on the packaging or a notation indicating that the product is “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals”.

Packaging

Packaging may not seem like a big deal when it comes to hand creams, but when you’re a busy nurse who’s always on the go and needs to moisturize their hands quickly, it is.

To make applying hand cream an easier task, look for products that come in a handy tube with a flip-top design. Smaller bottles less than 4 ounces can be carried in your pocket and used throughout your shift. Avoid tubs of hand cream and those with a screw-top lid that can easily be misplaced.

Vitamin-Enriched

Hand creams that include vitamins in their ingredients list can be greatly-beneficial to the hands. Vitamins don’t only need to be consumed in order to help the body. Some helpful vitamins to look for include (source):

• Vitamin A- rejuvenating (reduce wrinkles)
• Vitamin D- helps with chronic inflammation
• Vitamin E- may help with wound healing
• Vitamin B5- helps with skin aging

SPF

A hand cream that contains SPF is an added bonus. Exposure to the sun can cause hands to become dry and also promote aging.

SPF protects the hands from the sun and keeps them moisturized and looking youthful. Even though nurses work indoors, using a hand cream with an SPF is still beneficial when they’re outside.

Final Thoughts

Applying hand cream is crucial for anyone that washes their hands frequently. Nurses are particularly at risk for infection in dry, cracked skin due to the nature of their work. Using one or more of these hand creams will address the problem and provide you with soft, supple, healthy skin.

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