Allergic Dermatitis

[firstyearstudent]

I've been a nurse less than two months now and I think I'm already developing a reaction to some of the products on the unit. It started with flaking and peeling and now an irritating painful red patch has started between two of fingers. It's bad enough that some of the other nurses have noticed it. I think it might be the foam we are using. I try to wash my hands instead but it takes so long and then my hands get dry from all the washing.

It usually clears up if I have a day off. I've been using lanolin on my hands overnight and it works well.

Any suggestions/comment/experience here? I know medical advice is not allowed on this forum.

I don't want to give up bedside nursing already.

[Shenanigans, RN]

I'm a 3rd year student. And I'm allergic to Latex and as you can imagine its a pain in the orifice, so I get the very expensive (down here at least) nitrile gloves. I was rather annoyed because a deaf girl who was dumb as two planks got the school to purchase a very expensive special stethoscope, two months later she dropped out, and yet they won't fund the gloves, oh well.

I found that the pink hand wash mangled my hands, so I carried around soap, which is really unhygenic and annoying to whip it out. You probably wont' be happy to hear, but it really is just trial and error finding products that you can use.

I'm sure someone wiser and more knowledgable then I might have a better idea.

[Filine]

A hospital microbiologist and hospital hygienist told me and my team a while back it's much better for the skin of the hands to use an antiseptic only unless the hands are visibly dirty. Then you use soap and when your hands are dry you also apply the antiseptic. Soap has a nasty effect on the skin when you wash your hands as often as nurses do.

[rn/writer, RN]

Please, please, please find out if your gloves are latex or if you are being exposed to latex anywhere else on the unit. What you have described sounds more like an allergic reaction than just dry skin.

If this IS a true allergic reaction, it can go from irritating to life-threatening at any time.

I can't stress this enough. People have died from latex-induced anaphylaxis. Latex shows up in the oddest places, so you can be exposed without realizing it.

If this is just a garden-variety irritation, the lanolin is a good idea. Sometimes when my hands are chapped, I cream them and wear gloves while sleeping. That helps a lot.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Well I certainly wouldnt want to make a RASH judgement here

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

Have you tried talking to occupational health at your hospital? Maybe they could suggest something for you.

[SakredStrega]

My mom and I both work in a hospital setting and we are both allergic to latex. My mom is also allergic to the soap that our facility uses. Each of our nurse managers orders us our very own latex free gloves to use and my mom even gets her very own soap. It's sort of pain in the butt, though. We have to stuff our pockets with gloves and/or bring our box of gloves with us, and my mom washes her hands at certain sinks that has "her"soap. Except for an isolation patient: then she just leaves her soap in the room so she can wash her hands before leaving. But even with the inconveniences, it's MUCH better than the reaction that occurs.

Anyway, my point: don't give up!

[psalm, RN]

Please, please, please find out if your gloves are latex or if you are being exposed to latex anywhere else on the unit. What you have described sounds more like an allergic reaction than just dry skin.

If this IS a true allergic reaction, it can go from irritating to life-threatening at any time.

I can't stress this enough. People have died from latex-induced anaphylaxis. Latex shows up in the oddest places, so you can be exposed without realizing it.

If this is just a garden-variety irritation, the lanolin is a good idea. Sometimes when my hands are chapped, I cream them and wear gloves while sleeping. That helps a lot.

Yes, I have a latex sensitivity. When I was in my last semester of clinicals I had an anaphylactic reaction, couldn't breathe in...eyes teared, face and chest red, coughed...a nurse got some ice chips to help swelling and I went to the ER. My rast was negative but I now use the latex-free gloves. I can't be around home-improvement wall-papering and painting, something in it tightens my throat and I have an inhaler I use infrequently, but I have it when I need it.