To think people at work shouldn't ask 'what happened to your hand?'

[StarShineHello]

Currently have a bandage on my hand due to a skin infection. I have bad eczema which got infected and in a very bad state.

I've had to wrap it up because it's just so gross to see.

Today five different people have asked me what's wrong with my hand.

I don't want to explain my medical issues to strangers.

I understand there's a level of small talk in the bank/shop/post office but to ask someone a medical question just seems rude? It was every shop I went in.

And I just lied and said I burnt myself because I didn't want to go into details about infected skin and my eczema.

AIBU to think people in general shouldn't ask things like that and especially in a professional capacity? It's common sense to not point out something 'wrong' with a customer??

I have Alopecia Areata , I’m frequently asked how my chemo is going and if I have cancer by strangers coming up to me in the street. So your experience doesn’t surprise me. When I tell them it isn’t cancer, some are nosey enough to ask what it is / what caused it! Losing my hair has really opened my eyes to how ( putting it politely) forward people can be! A friend also told me that one of her relatives had a stroke and lost use of part of her face. She said that she also gets people coming up to her asking what happened to her face…..

The worst approach is 'what have you done to yourself?'. I also hate people hoping I get better soon. I've posted about this before but one woman laid hands on me and started praying. ffs.

Dd2 was born without her hand.
3/4 of people she meets will ask her about her hand within minutes of first meeting.

Be thankful yours is temporary.

That was my experience.
It would actually have been easier if someone had either taken me aside and asked or asked outright, what happened, is everything OK, can we help?

Instead I didn't really know how to bring it up and it felt really awkward as people looked at each other.

If you wanted to tell people you could have done.🙄

Love this @Thunderboltandlightningveryveryfrighteningg!!! Great idea! 🤣🤣

I have a skin condition on my hands and they have to be bandaged up all the time just so I can function. People used to ask me all the time, usually along the lines of ‘have you had your carpal tunnels done’, or ‘have you broken your wrists’. I generally reply ‘oh it’s just a boring skin condition’.

what I hadn’t realised until I was on holiday last year was how much people I see day to day and shops in the local area are used to seeing me like this and don’t ask anymore. On holiday I had lots of people asking and it was annoying me I must admit.