unsure where to put this. student nurse with Eczema

[DrewsWife]

I'm a student nurse with eczema. I am struggling to clear one patch on my hands. I neeeeed my hands to be clear. I don't want to pass on or pick up any infections.

I can't start my placement until I clear them.

Do you know any nurses with eczema on their hands?

Should I just give in and think of another career path? I have wanted to go into nursing for a very long time.

I'm seeing dermatology tomorrow.

Ask the Dermatology Consultant and discuss his advice with your Occupational Health Department. That's all you can do.
You know already that the bottom line is that you have to be able to wash your hands (a lot) and use alcohol hand gel as per Infection Prevention and Control standards and if you cannot do that, then you cannot nurse patients, but please do not write off your chosen career until you get the experts opinion.
All the best, Op.

seen nurses with eczema they just wore gloves

I was given cotton gloves to wear under my gloves to help stop any risk of developing an allergy . I also washed my hands with diprobase or epiderm instead of hospital soap .
Adding your steroid cream at night , 20 minutes before your emollient and then putting on a cotton glove really helped outbreaks.
I've been nursing 20 years and never had a problem . Hope it goes well for you .

In the longer term could you consider a form of nursing that doesn't require as much hand washing e.g. Mental health nursing or community learning disability nursing?

Thanks. I saw dermatology yesterday. They were amazing. They don't think my eczema is so bad that I can't start placement.

They have given me 2 sets of antibiotics and one of antiviral meds. I'm already seeing massive changes.

No alcohol get for me. They prescribed dermol 500 and said I can use that instead. It's actually quite nice to use.

I'm going to outpatient to have the nurses dress my skin for a few days.

And then took soooooo many vials of blood to test for various other conditions.

The difference today from yesterday is beyond belief.

Placement next week then it appears.

I have also been told that if my skin starts to break down when on placement, that I will get access to get it back under control.

It's been 10 years since my last major outbreak according to records. So this is favourable

I am a theatre nurse with fairly severe hand eczema. I went for patch testing and avoided the allergens it showed up (nickel and potatoes) I also use high dose steroids intensively when I have a flare up and avoid clinical duties if I have broken skin. You need to be meticulous with rinsing after hand washing and moisturizing religiously. Speak to occy health and see if they can offer you a dermatology referral. I also use antihistimanes during a flare up and socks on my hands in bed to avoid scratching.

I also use dermol 500 for scrubbing, evidence shows it's just as effective at reducing hospital acquired infections as betafine and is approved by our infection control team.

I may need to name change for this... I swear for the love of all things holy that I am not a dreaded 'bot' and I promise I don't sell it... But I had excema for years on my hands and knees and after being talked into trying drinking forever aloe gel shots and using the aloe Vera hand soap, by my crazy friend it really did clear it up after a few weeks.
I didn't know whether to be happy my hands were not scaly or annoyed the fl stuff worked!!

Hahaha. I had a debate with a woman who told me that FL is far better than anything a Dr can give me.

I promise not to have a go at you as well .

I can't use aloe Vera.

The dermol is pretty good.

I promise to rinse after hand washing thoroughly.

I have a latex allergy. So whilst surgical appeals to me. I'm more interested in palliative care.

I'm heading to gynae next week. Very excited about it I am too!

I just wanted to say I work in an area traditionally very bad for eczema and am still safe to work, and have been for eight years so far so it's definitely possible. Good luck with your training!

Thanks for all the replies. This gives me huge hope.

Nothing to do with your eczema but I'm so jealous you got gynae placement.......mine is medical

In my hospital they've switched to non-latex gloves and the relief for me is massive! Turns out it was a major trigger.

Back then on placement I used to say "sorry, do you have any non-latex gloves I could use? Or would any other ward have a box?" They'd always be scrounged up. Only pain was I had to bring the box along with me all day (and hope it hadn't been nicked during my off days!)

I reckon nursing is actually one of the professions with the most people with troublesome skin on their hands, tbh as you're constantly washing them. So don't worry too much, you'll be in good company.

Where are you? Honestly I'm not into woo (i'm a clinical biochemist ffs!) but I work closely with a Chinese herbalist (proper qualified medical dr with a CHM specialism, not your high st job) and I'm convinced it works.

They had a trial but which showed efficacy but couldn't get it licensed as it contained too many active ingredients.