To go to A&E?

[Chocolattay]

I’ve never had any kind of reaction to anything before.

Went for lunch at a cafe with my friend and our babies. Used the hand sanitizer (alcohol based) in the toilet and instant agony, hand swelling up. I was in there 5 minutes biting my lip in pain and soaking my hand under cold water. My friend ended up in coming in and checking on me as she’d started to wonder why I had been so long.

Had to ring DH to be picked up as pushing the pram was agony.

Been home an hour now and am still in so much pain. My hands are swollen and red and bleeding in places. When I say it’s agony I mean it. Having read up online, alcoholic hand sanitisers don’t usually cause allergic reactions and it’s more likely to be a chemical burn.

WIBU to go to minor injuries? I’m in that much pain I can’t tend to my baby.

I'd definitely get it seen to

Hope you go on ok

If your friend used it without issue, it definitely sounds like it could be some kind of reaction to your hand cream. Definitely get it looked at as soon as you're able to, it looks so sore.

I'm actually wondering if some nutter spiked the gel with something caustic.

I'd keep it under running tepid water until you can get to A&E.

@BoreOfWhabylon

Retired A&E nurse here. That needs proper A&E assessment. Someone who knows about these things needs to look at it properly.

Well if any one knows an A&E nurse does! I was going to say minor injuries just because of how long the way is at A&E.

Ah, just seen that friend used the same gel with no ill-effects. Was it from the same dispenser though? If not, spiking still a possibility.

Almost all hand gels do this to me, I have eczema on my hands so as soon as I use gel my hands burn and crack 😢.

I agree with those saying ‘try antihistamines’ if you have any, if not then go and get it checked out ASAP.

That looks very painful. I'd definitely go to A&E.

I worked in a factory and someone switched caustic soda solution for washing machinery with hand soap. It may be innocent but could be serious.

What on Earth was in that hand gel?
Yes go to a and e. Get it checked. I really hope someone hasn’t put anything in the hand gel bottle.

@BoreOfWhabylon

Retired A&E nurse here. That needs proper A&E assessment. Someone who knows about these things needs to look at it properly.

I hope Op reads this!

You can suddenly find you allergic to something unfortunately.

Its especially common during and after pregnancy.

Get to A&E with that.

The first aid I’d use for chemical burns at work is 20 minutes of irrigation with running water. Large areas (which a whole hand or two affected is a large area) definitely need A&E.

I would go get it checked out as soon as you can.

I have a latex allergy and the photo of your hand looks like mine if I put on rubber gloves - happens within seconds. Not saying it’s latex specifically but it’s some sort of allergy to an ingredient. I would go to A&E.

@Lovemusic33

Almost all hand gels do this to me, I have eczema on my hands so as soon as I use gel my hands burn and crack 😢.

I agree with those saying ‘try antihistamines’ if you have any, if not then go and get it checked out ASAP.

I think it can be quite difficult for people who've never seen this to understand just how dramatic skin reactions can be and how quickly they happen.

I travel with Hydromol as a soap substitute because I never expect to be able to use the commonly available stuff from dispensers.

Be careful not to touch your face, especially not to rub your eyes. Maybe put your glasses on if you wear them if it will remind you not to do it accidentally.

A&E - it's clearly serious. Don't mess about wasting time going to a pharmacy for something that could be a chemical burn from who knows what!

Could you be allergic to aloe Vera?

Straight to a and e I'm afraid. I have a latex and various other skin allergies and as other have said this looks like a chemical burn/ bad reaction.

Please don't listen to the dontbotherthenhs idiots. Of course you should go. Never, ever ask on here, it's preposterous that the UK doesn't have a proper system but it isn't your fault. It's the fault if the dontbotherthenhs brigade. They are both stupid and wrong.

Ouch.

Was it green or appear to have aloe Vera in it?

Someone posted on here years ago about having a nasty, similar reaction to aftersun that contained aloe Vera, she was told that it was the aloe Vera that did it.

Chemical burn. I would get it seen too but you'll probably be waiting a while.

@PollyPage

Please don't listen to the dontbotherthenhs idiots. Of course you should go. Never, ever ask on here, it's preposterous that the UK doesn't have a proper system but it isn't your fault. It's the fault if the dontbotherthenhs brigade. They are both stupid and wrong.

It does have a system.

111, GP, MIU, A&E, ambulance.

What other system could there be?

Draw a black pen line on the edge of the redness. Ring 111 for advice. Tell them how far it's spread in the time it's took you to get to speak to someone.

Do not go to a pharmacy, it will be a waste of time as they will tell you to see a Dr. Go to minor injuries or A&E if there's no MI near you.