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

By handling food I mean "working in a food environment", not actively making it necessarily.

I think you need to get on to your dermatologist to to look at autoimmune conditions. Coeliac is autoimmune as I understand it, and if all the other treatments have not worked it’s the next avenue surely? I have IBD and a bad flare can set off skin problems where you’d least expect it!

I'm quite shocked at most the replies @BadNailsnotabadperson . Having worked in nhs and hospitality with people with skin conditions and other physical differences , I automatically assumed that it wouldn't be a ' flacky or a scabby ' conditions cause that just wouldn't be following food hygiene or infection control guidelines. I'm shocked and sad that people see a difference and immediately think that this makes someone unclean or infectious. If your boss doesn't feel its a health hazard then that should be fine. Ironically could you work in the kitchen so people wouldn't see you hands?

You poor thing op. Has discoid lupus been mentioned/considered?

Nobody has said they think she's unclean. They just feel as though she should wear gloves when handling people's cash, trays, plates etc. which is hardly outrageous.

I'd assume it was eczema or something rather than something contagious.

If anything good comes from all of this OP it’s that you might get the right diagnosis and treatment based on you sharing your experience on Mumsnet.
I suffer from contact dermatitis and used to be a bar manager. Say no more, I’ve been subject of some awful comments from customers. Gloves made my condition worse but in the end I had to leave the food industry all together because people’s looks and comments made everything worse. I did understand to an extent but I was just trying to make a living and I took way better care of my skin than the majority of my co workers who didn’t pay much attention to hygiene. I can see the other side of the coin too though.

I've never looked at the nails of a waiter or waitress in my life?!

I was going to say this sounds more like an auto-immune condition (of which celiac is one).

I assume they've ruled-out psoriasis which is also an auto-immune condition? There's more than one type that present differently, nails can become pitted and raised, and raindrop psoriasis appears in spots all over the body.

I’ve just googled nodular prurigo (I know you said it’s not that, but I assume it looks similar if they suspected it) and it does look like something that people might worry is contagious. No one should be rude of course.

Any broken skin, inflamed skin etc on the hands should be covered by blue plasters when working in a food environment. Also you can't be using any creams, lotions etc apart from food safe ones while you are at work.

They're not keen on people wearing disposable gloves as people tend to wash their hands less when wearing them but might be an option if agreed with occupational health.

To be honest even if occ health agree there's no risk to health it's not going to do your skin any good working with food as the constant hand washing in hot water with harsh soaps etc is tough on most people's skins.

I agree. Doing a quick search I've found a few links to auto-immune conditions that can cause these types of skin and nail problems. They suspect a link between psoriasis, coeliac and gluten sensitivity. Stress and illness can trigger these things, but they manifest in the gut, and cause havoc throughout the body until you work out what the gut is sensitive to that is causing the inflammatory response.

My son had an acute bout of raindrop psoriasis during lock-down, it was triggered by stress over his studies, but ended up with him being severely lactose intolerant at the same time (at the time I saw these things as separate, but now I believe it was all part of the same thing). The skin condition went away eventually, after his stress was managed, and he stopped putting milk on his cereal. His nails are much better now but they still have quite a few little pits in them.

@BadNailsnotabadperson Can you post photos of your nails and skin? Someone here might have the same condition. Have you been to an immunologist? My DH saw numerous dermatologists, who were useless, and then an immunologist who finally diagnosed him. He’s now on autoimmune biologics injections and his skin has vastly improved.

Unfortunately it’s not just about contagion though… people dont want flakes of skin/scab/bits of nail/pus/blood in their food and seeing this may turn customers stomachs meaning you’re not a good fit for the business.

I say that with sympathy as I have severe eczema. But thinking someone’s hands look unhygienic would put most people off.

It sounds very upsetting. I’m sorry you’re having difficult comments. Reminiscent of when DSIS had terrible acne as a teen and one old dear on the bus thought she had a contagious disease and should be in hospital.. Personally, I would know on a logical level that the skin condition probably isn’t contagious, but it’s just never a good look in an environment where food is served, and if people are worried enough to send their meals back, it’s a problem. I too wouldn’t like open oozy wounds or flakes near my food tbh. Like others have said, I would look for a new role if you can’t bear covering up with gloves.

It’s awful OP. I really sympathise, I also have a chronic skin condition although luckily after well over a decade of trying found a medication that keeps it under control. Since you say you’re feeling fragile I would recommend light cotton gloves and loose long sleeves, I found that combination didn’t make my skin flare. You shouldn’t have to but powering through a skin condition requires a really thick skin as so many people will comment.

People are really ignorant. I'm really sorry you've had to put up with this. Please try to ignore them and don't apologise for something you can't do anything about. Your following the rules and are being hygienic. People need to better educate themselves

Not the same as your situation but there is a girl working in our local cafe and she has these big black fake lashes covered in glue and just look dirty and crusty plus her skin is always covered in sores / cold sore type spots, it would put you off th food at times but I would never say anything of course

Sorry you get this - people are so bloody rude.
It would be common sense that if you had a contagious disease of some sort you wouldn't work in close contact with food/drink and people.
Hope you find something that helps you though 🌟

Can you wear white cotton gloves? Cheap on Amazon

Fair enough, but it would put folk off going another time

I'm not sure it's ignorant not to want someone with a skin condition (contagious or otherwise) to be around food.

Why not? It's not contagious. There is no legal reason not to. Just because you don't like the look? Very ignorant

I agree. I think the vast majority of people would be (at least a little bit) put off their food if served by someone with a very unsightly skin condition and ridged black finger nails. That's just a natural human reaction, not ignorance. Food and nasty skin conditions don't usually go together in the same breath.

It doesn't matter that it's not contagious - I don't want someone with sores all over their hands and nails to be handling my food, even if that's just a tray or the edge of a plate. That's hardly an outrageous reaction to have.

Cotton or silk gloves wouldn't cause irritation and would easily solve the problem.