Allergic to hand sanitizer

[ama3t]

I'm not sure what to do! I have a history of contact allergies but had been doing pretty good since I had allergy testing and was avoiding allergens. But I just graduated nursing school and started working in a hospital in February.

It takes awhile for the allergens to really get to me, plus I had had a steroid shot in late February, so I had developed a false sense of security that the hand sanitizer was going to be OK even though my dermatologist and I worried it would be an issue.

I hadn't said anything about the allergies to work because for some reason I thought it wasn't going to be an issue as I had gone months without breaking out.

Well today I woke up with my hands so swollen and cracking and broke out I can barely move my fingers. I went to the dermatologist and got a steroid shot but she says she's positive its the hand sanitizer and I can't use it.

First off, I guess I'm going to have to call out my whole three shifts for this week which I don't even have enough PTO for and I feel like makes me look horrible as a new employee.

Also, wth can I do about the hand sanitizer issue. My dermatologist is going to look for a santizer I can use, but in the meantime? I have no idea what to do or if we are even allowed to use a different one than they supply. I emailed my manager explaining everything but I don't know what to do. I cried my eyes out this morning because this is not how I wanted to start my career and I'm terrified that I look horrible or that I won't be able to find a solution...

I don't know what I want anyone to tell me, I guess I just need some support

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Ama, first of all stop beating yourself up because you have an allergy. You have not "failed" your employer ,or any one else because of this.

Take time to get control of the situation , and move on. If your dermatologist recommends a continued leave to get that control..

that's OKAY! You must take care of yourself.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

ama3t said:

I guess I should have been more clear... The soap contains lanolin so I can't use it either as lanolin is one of my allergies. My dermatologist said I had the most positive results on an allergy test she had ever seen and it should would have to search to find something I could use, and that she would probably have to order it from a special pharmacy. I guess I'll just have to continue using what I'm allergic to because that might take a few days...

So I'm working to get a solution I can use but in the meantime its stressful. I either call out or make the situation worse. And I don't want to call out again... But its not just a dry skin issue. My hands crack open, bleed, and weep when this happens. It's disgusting and very painful. Here is an example...

although that isn't me. Mine is more on my fingers and less on my palms. And I know my patients don't want me touching them with my hands looking like that. It's just humiliating.

My heavens....Your poor hands....! Are you sure it is the hand sanitizer?

Most gloves contain lanolin. Phisohex does but it didn't bother me. Hibicleanse does not contain lanolin. It does contain red dye. Chloroprep does not contain lanolin nor red dye.

I have used nitrile gloves some had lanolin but it never bothered me.

[ama3t]

I use shampoo to wash my hands and body at home Its the only thing I have found that doesn't irritate. Well, actually there is one other thing I can use on my hands but its bar soap. When I had patch testing I reacted to 14 things, and strongly. They were shocked by the number/severity of the reactions. Some spots started to blister even. My dermatologist is looking for something I can use because she has access to the resources to find something without one of my allergens which is not an easy task... I guess a I'm going to call Occ Health today and see what they say. Whoever suggested that, great idea!

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Occupational health has to supply you with something you can use to sanitize your hands.

[amygarside]

Soap and a clean hanky would do. :)

[ama3t]

Posted a few days ago about a horrible reaction to the hand sanitizer at work. Skin was broken, weepy, cracked. Advised to go to occupational health. So I went...

first they hey took me off duty Friday for the broken skin/ infection risk. I go back Thursday to get approved to go back to work.

the oroblem is apparently they don't have any sanitizer I'm not allergic to... So they are sending me back for the same thing to happen againin a month.... I don't know what to do. It's not like they don't have slot of options. It's just that's allergy testing shows I'm allergic to everything. Even my dermatologist cAnt find me a safe hospital grade soap or sanitizer.

I fear this means I can't be a nurse... I already looked online for office jobs for nurses and they all require experience. I just graduated in december. Any advice?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I'm not understanding why you cannot just use the soap and water in place of sanitizer?

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

What did you do during your clinicals? You must have used sanitizer then?

[ama3t]

I'm allergic to every soap and sanitizer they have. In school it wasn't that bad it's gotten progressively worse and worse. Allergic testing had 14 positive results.

when it first started getting bad I was almost done with school. I got steroid shots to pull through and hoped it was temporary . Just recently had allergy testing because it kept getting worse. I use Aveeno bar soap at home which or course isn't appropriate for the hospital...

[ama3t]

Obviously I can't get steroid shots forever but they are the only thing that works after I'm exposed to an allergen. . I've always had eczema but I guess the increased exposure with working compared to school sent it over the edge.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You don't need to sanitize your hands. Research indicates that the vast majority of "germs" are not killed but are washed down the drain with good handwashing. If Aveeno soap is safe for you, carry your own (maybe they make a liquid you can carry in a tube) and use it. If you are using gloves for pt contact, you're good to go with them and soap and water.

[ama3t]

Occupational Health isn't approving it though. They gave me a list and said I have to use one of them.