Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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What do you guys use for your fingers on a long shift day? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Owlengish
My fingers hurt so bad not even halfway through my 8 hours shift lol. I’m guessing it’s because of the heat when I skim the milk. Do you simply carry your own hand moisturizer or is it crazy if I cover the tip of my fingers with some sort of tape lol
avocadogreatness 15 points 1y ago
Im sorry I honestly can't relate to this. Which part of your fingers are hurting? Is it like after streaming milk? Just curious
Owlengish [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Oh? I honestly thought it’s a normal thing that can happen to baristas. Like generally the area around the nails are getting really dry so the skin’s peeling. It’s just really annoying to have those while working with hot steams and stuff:’))
pranasoup 10 points 1y ago
sounds like you may be sensitive to the sanitizer? does that maybe sound like a thing?
avocadogreatness 3 points 1y ago
I definitely suffer from super dry, cracked hands because of excessive handwashing. My knuckles bleed alot and I also experience the peeling you're talking about, but it's not the milk steaming for me personally. But i'm not on hot bar that often either haha. But if it's burns, that sounds very painful.
I'll sometimes wrap my fingers in band aids when it's really bad and put on gloves with a light layer of lotion. Working hands lotion is really good. Cerave, too.
Also maybe try sleeping with gloves and lotion. One of my coworkers reccomends bag balm.
I'll sometimes wrap my fingers in band aids when it's really bad and put on gloves with a light layer of lotion. Working hands lotion is really good. Cerave, too.
Also maybe try sleeping with gloves and lotion. One of my coworkers reccomends bag balm.
dazedinreverse 5 points 1y ago
Like your skin is cracking or the heat is just painful? For cracking skin get O'Keefes working hands. Its a miracle cream i swear by because my skin dries so bad from the sani
Owlengish [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Hmm. By sanitizer, which one do you mean? Like those liquid we put the cloth for the steamer or what?
dazedinreverse 2 points 1y ago
Yeah, and general hand sanitizer too. And the constant hand washing. When you work food service your hands get a beating for sure
converselvr 2 points 1y ago
It’s not my fingers for me but my wrist! It’s gotten really bad to where I’m wearing a heavy duty brace and taking advil for it. I’m guessing it’s the milk jugs while on bar?
pranasoup 2 points 1y ago
literally same. braces at night help me some, too. but it’s definitely the constant and consistent motion overall. it sounds extra but work on your rotator cuff (baristas frequently internally rotate but infrequently externally rotate), the insert of your triceps to your elbows, and especially the group of muscles that originate at your elbow and stretch over your forearm. generally, the muscles just below your elbow on the top of your forearm release more tension in your wrists than stretching your wrists themselves. i’m sure this is unwarranted advice now that i’m typing it out and thinking about it but we’re partners here right?! i wish someone told me about this stuff six years ago lol.
Owlengish [OP] 1 points 1y ago
You too? Steaming the milk were fun at first but it’s a literal pain when I have to do it for a whole day😭 the skin in my palm starts to become really dry and sometimes I’d get minor cuts because the skin is so dry it cracks. And i’ve only been doing this as part time job for almost 3 months. What can happen to those who’s been doing this for much longer and almost every day of the week😭
champshere 1 points 1y ago
What are you talking about
ConfusionDisastrous8 1 points 1y ago
I have a big tube of aquaphor I keep with me. I also use gold bond healing hand cream I keep in my car. I use a paraffin wax dip at home. They get so bad that I mix hydrocortisone and neosporin together as a salve. I've tried everything, those are my go tos. Get some cotton gloves for bed and slather whatever works well for you on before going to sleep. Currently, my fingertips are split on 5 fingers, most of my knuckles are split and my palms are cracking. I feel you. Even using the sani towel to wipe the steam wand hurts. I try to keep that solution as clean as possible as that is the thing that most affects me personally. Maybe try the vinyl gloves while working. That helps me some. Good luck starbuddy.
georgecarlinsneice 1 points 1y ago
I use working hands by okeefs every night, and moisturize then put finger cots over the fingers that are really bad to sleep in.
HuntConsoleGuy 1 points 1y ago
The skin on my hands gets pretty dry, especially when it’s cold out, so I use working hands. It helps to keep them from cracking even with all of the hand washing
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