Aquaphor Healing Ointment to the Rescue!

Bartending takes a nasty toll on my hands. My hands are constantly being washed, submerged in water and covered in citrus juice throughout my 8-hour shift. These conditions leave my hands dry, sensitized and eventually cracked. Some call it Bar Rot. Some call it Eczema. I just call it part of bartending. Bartenders aren't known for their pretty hands.

I've tried prescription strength ointments prescribed to me by dermatologists over the years. Nothing has really worked for me on a long term basis. The only thing that seems to cure the extreme dryness indefinitely is to not bartend at all. With bartending at least two nights a week, eliminating bartending from my schedule is not an option.

The only thing I have found that heals my severely cracked hands in-between bartending shifts has been Eucerin's Aquaphor Healing Ointment, a gentle, over-the-counter moisturizing gel. Aquaphor is fragrance-free, preservative-free and non-irritating. It's gentle enough to use on the most sensitive and sensitized skin and safe enough for Eczema sufferers to use. This greasy formula creates a barrier on the skin that helps direct oxygen and water to the healing area. The barrier helps to keep the skin's own moisture in the infected area which helps speed up the healing time.

Ingredients like petrolatum create a protective coat on the skin, keeping the skin's own moisture from evaporating into thin air. Panthenol is a form of Vitamin B. When the ingredient is added to a product and applied topically, it helps to condition and hydrate the skin. Glycerin is another ingredient that helps to hold moisture in the skin. This ingredient acts as a moisturizing agent in lotions, creams and cosmetics. Bisabolol is a natural ingredient derived from the Chamomile plant that provides soothing effects.

Aquaphor is effective when applied topically to extremely dry areas on hands, fingers, lips and feet, just as one would apply a lotion. If you want to bump up the conditioning and hydrating factor, apply the product liberally to the effected area and cover with either gloves or socks and leave on as an overnight treatment.