Does Wearing PPE Give You a Sad Face? 4 Tips for Reducing Skin Damage

Wearing PPE full-time can be trying. Acne. Rashes. Bruising. Headaches. Unrecognizable co-workers. PPE has never been comfortable, but now an unprecedented number of healthcare providers are experiencing PPE discomfort, and their misery is prolonged by working conditions related to the pandemic. Shortages and the life-or-death risk of infection often make it impossible to take a PPE break and don fresh equipment every two-to-four hours as recommended; as a result, clinicians all over the world are suffering from sad faces (and sad hands as well).

So far no one has suggested ways to make coworkers more recognizable, but there are measures you can take to help protect your skin from the effects of chafing, pressure, lack of air, and sweating while wearing PPE (spending hours in a tight-fitting N-95 is especially onerous).

1. Drink PLENTY of Water

Rule number one is, hydrate! When you’re not working, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and make sure you have a water bottle ready at the end of each shift.

2. Your Face and Hands Need Water, Too!

And rule number two is… Hydrate! Keeping your face and hands well-moisturized is always a good idea; when you’re wearing PPE this becomes a must. Use a cleanser for sensitive skin, and gently pat your face dry with a towel. Moisturizer is essential but stick with water-soluble products and avoid zinc, petroleum jelly (whether pure or in a blended ointment such as Aquaphor or Cerave), and heavy creams that can clog your pores. Products such as Aquaphor are useful for protecting your hands, though, and preventing dry hands is an essential part of hand hygiene. In addition to regular applications of skin ointment, make a habit of moisturizing your hands every time you wash them (all hospital hand hygiene stations should provide moisturizing lotions).

3. Make Your Face a Fortress

If your employers permit, experiment with protective cushioning options to prevent chafing and irritation from N-95s. Before putting on a mask and goggles, apply an alcohol-free liquid barrier to provide your face with clear, breathable protection. Thicker barriers such as dressing tapes should be avoided, as they can interfere with the proper fitting and seal of your mask.

4. Go to a Reliable Source for More Tips

For an authoritative discussion of the skin issues that can be caused by PPE and a guide to the safest, most effective methods of skin protection, see the Medscape interview with Kimberly LeBlanc PhD, RN, Step-by-Step Guide to Preventing PPE-Related Skin Damage.

Author
Recent Posts

Koren Thomas

Associate Editor at DailyNurse

Koren Thomas (pictured with Assistant) was the associate editor of DailyNurse from late 2019 through July, 2022—and she was not joking about the "issue postage stamps saluting US nurses" idea. Send your article ideas, submissions, Nurse of the Week suggestions, comments, and corrections to the current Editor in Chief at [email protected].