OCD prone? Or just clean!
So off to the dermotoligist (sp) I went. He asked me how many times a day I wash my hand. Hmmmmm...many. How many? Probably a dozen or more times a day. It is excema caused by hand washing. He told me to stop washing so much. But its freaking me out, because, I wash after I used the rest room (and with all the water I drink, I pee A LOT!) He said I don't have to wash so completely, just wash my finger tips. WHAT?! I also do the bank deposits, and the money is gross and stinky, so I was a few times during the process. I wash before I eat, and after I eat. I wash when someone shakes my hand (as soon as possible) He sort of looked at me odd. Now I'm worried that maybe I have OCD. I just really need my hand to feel clean! I have cut back, and I am using gloves to do dishes, and I do see an improvement for the medicine and cream he prescribed. But now he has me all paranoid about my mental health! Am I turning into Monk?! Do you wash a lot? Do you think my washing is excessive? I don't! |
|
|
 What part did you wash after we hugged at the picnic?
I'll tell Joan what your Dermatologist said, and see if I can get her to stop washing her hands so much. Edit: Joan tells me that she changed from liquid soap (Dial and Jergens which I love) back to a hard-milled bar soap and that is gentler on her hands. Her dermo also mentioned Dove liquid soap as being gentle, but Joan didn't try that, she went with the bar soap and finds that it helps. |
Ron wrote: 8O What part did you wash after we hugged at the picnic?
ROFLMAO  |
Ron wrote: 8O What part did you wash after we hugged at the picnic?
I'll tell Joan what your Dermatologist said, and see if I can get her to stop washing her hands so much. Edit: Joan tells me that she changed from liquid soap (Dial and Jergens which I love) back to a hard-milled bar soap and that is gentler on her hands. Her dermo also mentioned Dove liquid soap as being gentle, but Joan didn't try that, she went with the bar soap and finds that it helps. Ron, I took a shower  The cream he has me using (in addition to the RX) is CereVe. Tell Joan, it's really wonderful. And thank her about the recommendation for Dove. I use Palmolive which I think is very harsh. Oh..and he told me NEVER use anti-bacterial soap...EVER! |
debcram wrote: Am I turning into Monk?!
Hubby loves Monk. Anytime someone in the house starts to get a bit compulsive, they are told to stop "Monking it". How about using gentle baby wipes to replace a few of the full washes? |
Well, if he sees a dozen or so patients a day, isn't he washing his hands as much as you?  |
| I might have a solution for you---if you are interested PM me and I will explain. Lot's of Nurses have this problem and I have been able to help. |
cynmcreid wrote: Well, if he sees a dozen or so patients a day, isn't he washing his hands as much as you?
One would hope so! (although, he wore gloves to examine me.) |
mmmmmm I think its a little excessive 
I never use bar soap, despite what it says, because it still solidifies - the liquid Dove soap is just lovely and gentle, but whenever I wash my hands I always moisturise. Also to condition your skin, get some almond oil, very good, espcially for cuticles - double bonus !! I have to say and think what you will, but I don't always wash my hands as I think we all need a few germs - I only ever wash my hands before I eat. |
| It may not be excessive but, if you've developed eczema, any amount of washing is going to irritate it. I've had it for years on my hands and, as terrible as it sounds, I really limit my hand washing otherwise my hands are a cracked, bloody mess. With me, it settles in my knuckles and the palms of my hands and it gets really painful.
If you are going to wash, pick up a fragrance free mild soap that you might use on your face, like Cetaphil and keep that in the place you wash the most. It'll be a lot more gentle. Most often, it's the scented soaps that irritate it even more. If you do have to use a soap like that, just try to keep it on the palms rather than the sifter skin on the outside. Ugh, I know that itching and burning feeling so well and, thank goodness, I've had mine under control for awhile but I still get flare ups sometimes. I'm glad the meds are helping. |
| Yeah, I get that especially bad on my knuckles, especially since the baby came and I felt I needed to be more 'sterile' for her. I just make sure to keep aquaphor around and slather it on. It really seems to help.
I'm glad what the dr prescribed is helping you, though. |
| I don't think you have OCD but you do wash your hands a lot. Is it necessary to wash after you've eaten (unless you've eaten ribs or corn on the cob)? Do you use lotion after you wash your hands? And this may sound weird, but use gloves when handling money. I bought a box of 100 thin latex-free gloves at Walgreen's for $4 and wear them when I do dirty chores (like scrubbing the toilet). That would lessen your exposure to soap and water. And obviously continue to wear glove when washing dishes.
If you're worried about going nuts, watch the show Obsessed on A&E (Monday nights, at 9 I think). You'll see that you are nowhere NEAR OCD. |
| My is worse across my knuckles...and down between my thumb and wrists. That night itching is crazy! Thank goodness, it has finally stopped. I'm washing my palms mostly, and wearing the gloves for dishes. I actually have some scarring from this, but my hands are looking much better. I don't look like they've been in a meat grinder! |
Paula O. wrote: I don't think you have OCD but you do wash your hands a lot. Is it necessary to wash after you've eaten (unless you've eaten ribs or corn on the cob)? Do you use lotion after you wash your hands? And this may sound weird, but use gloves when handling money. I bought a box of 100 thin latex-free gloves at Walgreen's for $4 and wear them when I do dirty chores (like scrubbing the toilet). That would lessen your exposure to soap and water. And obviously continue to wear glove when washing dishes.
If you're worried about going nuts, watch the show Obsessed on A&E (Monday nights, at 9 I think). You'll see that you are nowhere NEAR OCD. Oh Paula! I've watched that! NO! I'm nothing like that. And when I wash its to feel clean, not to do a ritual. And, I don't bathe obsessively. I do shower every morning (sometimes skipping sunday if we are staying home). I don't wash my hair everyday, it gets too dry. So this is only a clean hand thing. I wash after I eat, because I don't like the smell of food on my hands...if I eat something I have not touched, I don't wash. But I do tend to play with my food I used ton of lotion on my hands, and I actually think the ones I was using was making it worse. I really like the one he suggested. I have to pick up another bottle for work. And yes, latek gloves are in my future! |
| Note to self: When visiting with Deborah, always invite her out to your place on Sundays.
Use Nitrile gloves, Deborah... don't risk getting a Latex allergy as well. |
Ron wrote: Note to self: When visiting with Deborah, always invite her out to your place on Sundays.
Use Nitrile gloves, Deborah... don't risk getting a Latex allergy as well. I was just going to say that! I'm also allergic to latex, which I found out when trying to block my hands from other elements. It made them so much worse. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|