# Can hand lotion be used as a conductive gel **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hand-lotion-be-used-as-a-conductive-gel/624219 "2012-06-05T23:17:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hand-lotion-be-used-as-a-conductive-gel/624219/1 "2012-06-05T23:17:33Z")
If a person does not have access to conductive gel, would hand lotion help or hinder the transmission of electricity in devices that use conductive pads like TENS units or heart rate monitors? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hand-lotion-be-used-as-a-conductive-gel/624219/2 "2012-06-05T23:44:31Z")
Not for EKG leads. Makes 'em not stick; doesn’t interfere with the conduction, but it gives a crappy read because the leads will slide the second you turn your back. No idea about TENS. You can for Doppler and imaging ultrasounds (which transmit sound, not electricity), but it pisses off the techs 'cause it makes their equipment smelly and it’s hard to clean an oil based anything off of plastic. KY is a much better substitute if you need to make do. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hand-lotion-be-used-as-a-conductive-gel/624219/3 "2012-06-06T03:43:24Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > KY is a much better substitute if you need to make do. +1