There is a really good chance that you know someone in the trades who has “not so well kept hands”. A lot of construction jobs are quite literally hands-on and overtime can leave your hands cracked, cut, scraped, scarred, or all of the above. There are many methods to prevent and lessen these strains on your hands. One such method is by using hand cream regularly and there are many options out there. Really consider the different types of hand creams and lotions that are out there and how they can benefit you and improve your wellbeing. Some construction workers just put up with their damaged hands but you should not have to.
That being said, not all lotions and creams will work for everyone. Everybody’s skin is different and the ingredients used in these lotions and creams are going to be different. One product that will work for someone may not work as well or feel as good for another. It does not hurt to try what some may recommend or what you will see here and compare it to other products that you can try out. Once you have found the product that works for you, stick with it and continue to take care of those hands that make the money.
Construction Worker Hand Cream
Have you ever thought about using hand cream? Sure, you can probably tough it out and not need to use hand cream while in construction. But your hands will crack and become dry quickly depending on the materials that you are handling on a regular basis. Especially in the dry winters. Taking care of your hands can help your comfortability through these periods of the year or throughout the year. Protect your hands on a regular basis.
Of course, when using hand cream you will want to apply it when you are not going to be handling materials during the day. Hand cream will make your hands greasy and slippery for a period of time until your skin has absorbed it fully. This is why it is usually best to apply hand cream after the work day or on an extended break.
How Construction Workers Can Protect Their Hands
There are a multitude of reasons as to why you should protect your hands as a construction worker. Some people see these construction “battle scars” as a trophy for a hard worker. Rest assured, there is not anything glorious to having painful cuts and sores on your hands. Remember, your primary tools are your hands, so why would you want to be working in pain? Cuts can also get infected especially when working outside in the dirt and that can lead to all sorts of other serious problems. Finally, the most noticeable reason why protecting your hands is important is because it doesn’t look too pretty when you have blistery, cracked and calloused hands.
Work gloves are always a great start, however they aren’t the only thing that will prevent damage to your hands. Sometimes gloves can even be the reason for blisters due to friction. It’s important to have the right glove for the job too, otherwise it can lead to some other serious injuries such as puncture wounds or cuts. Always evaluate what hazards are on your job site and make sure your hands are properly protected. Don’t use flimsy gardening gloves when dealing with sharp objects otherwise you’re asking for an accident to happen. Job site safety is no joke, take it seriously and save your hands.
Best Lotion for Construction Workers
Hand cream is probably the best long term way to protect your hands. And as mentioned, there are a ton of them out there. Here are the benefits and features of some of our favorites and how they can protect your hands.
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O’Keeffe’s Working Hands
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Gold Bond Healing Hand Cream
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Vaseline Healing Jelly
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Burt’s Bees Hand Salve
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands has solidified themselves as a household name for people who work with their hands a lot. Their hand cream comes in a plastic container and in tubes depending on what you prefer. It spreads on relatively thick so you know it will last long on your hands giving you long lasting moisture on your hands that fights dryness and prevents cracking. The other awesome thing about O’Keeffe’s is that a container of it lasts a long time as you only need to use a small amount to cover your hands. They pride themselves that their product relieves and repairs extremely dry, cracked skin. If your current hand cream doesn’t seem to do the job for you, definitely give O’Keeffe’s a try.
This hand cream is perfect for immediate relief from dry hands. It goes on easily and absorbs into your skin very fast. It is also non-greasy which is huge when you work with your hands. This particular product from gold bond is specifically designed for dry hands. A common symptom that construction workers deal with on a day to day basis. It claims to relieve and repair dryness while adding a protective layer of moisture to prevent future dryness. This stops your skin from cracking before it even has a chance to get dry. Tubes of these do go rather fast though as you need to apply it liberally, so if you like this product make sure you stock up.
Vaseline has been around for 150 years and there’s a reason why. Their product is reliable and cost effective. It is great on dry, cracked skin and also provides a moisture barrier to stop further damage. You can use it on just small problem areas or you can use it similarly to a lotion and cover your whole hand. If you use it sparingly, a container of it will last a while and provide you with long lasting relief. The biggest benefit to Vaseline is its long lasting and cost effective nature.
An 100% natural alternative to the above options is Burt’s bees hand salve. It moisturizes dry, cracked hands and is very simple to apply. Just use it before and after your work day to notice results. Salve has been around since ancient times and is still being used today as a treatment for dryness.
If you have never tried using hand cream as part of your daily routine as a construction worker, you’re missing out. It’s the small things in life that make the difference and not having to deal with irritating, painful, dry hands will be a game changer for you. These four products we have discussed are all amazing products. Try one of them and see how it works for you. Just remember that being consistent is key. Put it on before you start your workday and once your day is over and maybe even before bed. If your hands are particularly damaged you might not notice results immediately but give it a couple days, you will be surprised.