Cafe worker with obvious skin condition and bad nails

[BadNailsnotabadperson]

If you were served by someone with an obvious skin condition and very damaged misshapen sore nails would you say something?

I have the above conditions and twice now I’ve had comments. Once was not too bad just a ‘oh that looks sore it’s not contagious is it’ and then the other day told
to get someone to re serve fresh food and drink as I wasn’t wearing gloves (we don’t have to to take a tray to a table) and told my hygiene levels weren’t good enough.

I get that it looks horrendous but it’s not contagious. I don’t do food prep so don’t need gloves and I can’t just wear them all the time as it makes the soreness worse. They aren’t bleeding or anything.

I didn’t go in yesterday and I’m going to get signed off and look for something else as this kind of thing really really upsets me and I’m very fragile mentally due to not feeling well (I have other medical conditions) I get PIP so can survive while looking for another job. I felt so humiliated though last week .

Would people comment on this AIBU to think it was rude or are people entitled to say something if they are worried about contagious conditions

Sorry you’re have awful comments. If your condition is so bad that people are asking if it’s contagious to send food back I think you’re right to look for something else.

I personally wouldn’t have commented but I would have wondered if it was contagious if I didn’t know what it was. My fiend has a terrible time with psoriasis and when hers is in a flare tends to cover it up if she’s going out because people do stare and make comments. It’s not right but some people don’t understand if a skin condition is contagious or not.

I hope you find something else more suitable OP.

What is your skin issue?

I think I just assumed that people would realise we have a 5 hygiene rating and assume that my manager would have ensured nobody had anything contagious because that’s part of her job. I just find that I’m now so conscious of trying to cover up and it’s still visible and I can’t totally hide it obviously and I’m embarrassed to the point I just can’t go back .

People will worry about it being contagious.

when my dd had a skin problem she wore white cotton gloves which helped keep the creams she needed to use in contact with her skin.

Bless you that sounds upsetting. Like others said you are right to look for something else because it will carry on, and it'll be stressful for you. Customers get freaked out by anything, I was constantly sneezing on checkout at Sainsbury's as I'm allergic to dust and under our checkouts were thick with dust I discovered. A lot of customers told me "you're sitting there spreading your cold to customers" (twats)

My dermatologist still isn’t 100% sure despite biopsies and samples being looked at to check no bacteria or fungus. There was no infection or fungus ever present. They initially suspected nodular prurigo but then ruled it out. It’s basically hundreds of circular lesions all over legs arms neck and back that look infected but actually has no bacteria. Since I got this a few years ago all my nails grew ridges lifted and have huge pits and dents and very red swollen cuticles. It’s just managed now with creams and they told be to try regular antihistamines to see if that worked. They tried flucloxacillin in case but had no effect. It looks horrendous. Not painful at all weirdly just looks very bad.

I wouldn't assume it was contagious as I am aware of skin conditions like excema and psoriasis. However, if serving or touching food I do think it should be covered, yes. My husband gets psoriasis on his scalp - I know its not contagious and I am quite used to seeing bits of skin flaking off which is why its not very nice around food. So yes, I am sorry but I do feel it should be covered up purely because it's around food.

In other contexts, no.

(BTW I am not suggesting anyone should be making rude comments- that's wrong)

This is horrible for you. i cant belive people are so ignorant! It always makes me confused when people think putting gloves magically makes your hands clean!! I always worry when i see ppl in gloves becauae you have no idea when they last changed them or washes there hands.
The only thing I would worry about would be if you are washing your hand less if soap and washing is making the condition worse?

Nothing seems to make it better or worse so I wash my hands when required. My skin isn’t even dry (although I’ve been prescribed various eczema creams it’s not actually dry or eczema like)

How awful for you OP. Could you wear cotton gloves to keep it covered but without causing sweating under the awful food prep gloves?

I would try not to judge personally but I can see why some may be put off or ask questions.

I just want a job now that’s nothing to do with food or drink as the anxiety and humiliation is too much

I probably wouldn't be very keen on eating food served by someone with a skin condition that was flaky or oozy. I wouldn't automatically assume it's contagious though.

My hands don’t have lesions but gloves make my fingers in the cuticle area sore if anything touches them as they are so swollen I’d tried cotton gloves at night before they just made it feel worse

Were they actually rude or did they just ask relatively nicely? Rude comments aren’t acceptable, but I think if you have obvious sores on your hands it’s reasonable for customers to be concerned, they don’t necessarily know you don’t prep the food. I wouldn’t want somebody with what appears to be open wounds serving me food tbh.

Can you wear cotton or silk gloves to cover your hands? I do think skin conditions like that should be covered around food.

Last week they were extremely rude they were loud and looked absolutely disgusted. The other time it was a quiet question but the most recent was humiliating

Sorry OP I would probably be worried in case it was contagious if you were serving me food. Also I have a colleague who has eczema who told me she cant use soap so just rinses her hands in the sink when she uses the loo. I accept its not her fault but I dont want her making me cups of tea!

It’s horrible- several weird and hard to diagnose skin conditions here and people are horrible. The helpful advice is almost worse- have you tried this cream? Fuck off- a dermatologist is struggling your crappy MLM shit isn’t going to help.

Even if it’s not contagious I wouldn’t be keen on it if looks like it might flake or weep anywhere near my food.

I agree cotton gloves might be an idea.

I’m sorry it makes your life tricky, but I think that’s a legitimate ask from customers, and I’m surprised your manager hasn’t tackled it. No one should be nasty to you though.

They were wrong to make comments.

But if I am honest I would not like to be served food by someone with a skin condition. I would be thinking is it contagious? Has skin flaked off into my food? Have you been scratching then handling food? it would make me walk away from my food. Sorry.

Sorry you are experiencing this, it sounds rotten. DH's best friend has something similar and the years of not having a diagnosis really take their toll.

Have you been tested for coeliac disease? Apparently that can present with skin issues rather than digestive.

No that hasn’t been mentioned to me I didn’t know it could cause skin issues. I can ask at my next appointment, this literally started overnight a few years ago. Woke up with one spot one morning, next day a few more then loads. Initially I got told it must be a viral rash but I hadn’t even been ill and it’s got worse from then on.

I’m sorry people were rude to you OP and I hope you manage to find a suitable treatment soon. As much as I sympathise I have to say if your working with food you hands should possibly be covered. I say think kindly as someone who has lived in a house for many years with relatives with psoriasis and other skin conditions so pretty used to bits of skin flaking off around the home. I would be put off being served by someone if I thought there was a chance it could have contaminated the food. If yours looks infectious it will make people wary. That’s no excuse for being rude though. If you can’t or don’t want to cover up, perhaps look at another industry?

I'm sorry for the way you are treated by customers. And I understand your predicament.

But I agree with YourFirmCoralBiscuit if it's flaking off or looking like it could be, then it's just not a good look around food. Personally, I wouldn't say anything but I would feel very uncomfortable eating/ drinking what I have ordered. Sorry, this isn't helpful but unfortunately it's how many people feel around visible skin conditions in food establishments.

It’s not dry or flaky at all . It just looks red and inflamed but no risk of any skin falling as it’s not a flaky condition