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Original poster

Bad reaction on hand

18 replies

smurfgirl · 02/02/2008 22:05

I am a student nurse, worked 7am-8pm today. One of my hands has developed a very sore scaly rash type thing, it looks a lot like eczema but obviously isn't!

Am on placement again Mon, Tues, Wed and am not sure what to do, do I need to change gloves from the latex ones? I can't wash my hands less or stop using alcohol gel.

What can I do to help my hand recover for Monday? It really is very sore and cracked

OP posts:

dippydeedoo · 02/02/2008 22:09

oh no im sorry to say that sounds just like me .....its dermatitus!! rubber gloves and soaps and cleaning products set it off and cheap jewellry!! docs given me a huge tub of doublebase and some low steroid cream ....u can get higher steroid cream in superdrug from the pharmacy but its not long term also some badger organic stuff like vaseline from boots has helped me!

dippydeedoo · 02/02/2008 22:09

did it kind of blister and weep b4 it cracked?

CaliAndiemcdowellFrau · 02/02/2008 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChipButty · 02/02/2008 22:10

Loads of handcream and a pair of cotton gloves overnight? Are you drying your hands properly? - this can make things worse. Where are you on placement? - I know you are in my neck of the woods and I'm naturally nosey!!!!

LittleMissNorty · 02/02/2008 22:11

You should be able to be given some hypoallergenic gloves or cotton undergloves from work...this is common for those who wear these horrible gloves all the time.

Also change them frequently and wash your hands and use a barrier cream when at work...

Original poster

smurfgirl · 02/02/2008 22:12

Are you in Hull chipbutty? I am at Castle Hill.

Non-latex is hard though - have not seen any on the ward, have never had such a bad reaction, ho hum.

OP posts:

ChipButty · 02/02/2008 22:21

Had DS1 at Castle Hill. I'm in the Avenues. x

Original poster

smurfgirl · 02/02/2008 22:24

I am very very near you then!

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BigBadMouse · 02/02/2008 22:25

Definitely dermatitus. You should be provided with non-latex gloves or cotton undergloves or you put yourself (and others) at risk of infection when you aren't wearing gloves.

It's a PITA when you have to wash your hands all the time and tbh just changing to Non Latex gloves was not enough to help me. I have a huge tub of diprobase to put on after washing my hands whenever possible and that helps a lot. Steroid cream is good too but you shouldn't use it too much so I rely on diprobase a lot.

I thought you had to report to occupational health if you had dermatitus and you worked in the NHS (not sure, just thought that was the case - then they had to do something to make sure you got decent treatment for it before it got worse for you)

Original poster

smurfgirl · 02/02/2008 22:27

I obviously always wear gloves, would not stop.

I'll have a chat with my mentor on Monday about it. Have put some E45 on it tonight, just quite surprised by how quickly its come up in just one shift after working in healthcare for 3+ years!

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BigBadMouse · 02/02/2008 22:36

Sorry, didn't mean you didn't wear gloves when you are working...I'm sure you do.

Mine came up almost overnight - looked like I have plague within a few weeks . No idea why it suddenly appeared - after I got it once I seemed more prone to it. I used to have to wear gloves at work and wash hands all the time and sometimes the hand washing really hurt.

I have to put the diprobase on (similar E45 I think) every 45 mins to get on top of it at first.

Original poster

smurfgirl · 02/02/2008 22:38

Thanks for the advice I just wanted to clarify that I am still going to do all the normal hand hygiene stuff - jsut maybe need to take better care of my hands in future.

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glitterandsparkle · 02/02/2008 22:51

hi smurfgirl i have been nursing 17 yrs and have just recently developed exactly the same sensitivity as yours (looks like dry snake skin). started on one hand and has gradually developed on both. i know its the gloves because by the end of a shift my hands are itching like mad.

we havent changed our brand of gloves at work so i think is either :

different powder inside the glove

alcohol gel makes skin less resilient.

i used steroid cream to clear mine up but comes right back, one of my colleagues who is aromatherapist made me mixture of aloe vera gel and lavender, its very soothing and stops the itch.

i really feel for you, its a nightmare.

wonder if its worth reporting to someone ie clinical stores, infection control because could be batch problem??

dippydeedoo · 03/02/2008 00:53

glitter and sparkle.....mine started out of the blue too,......the doctor thinks it was a silver ring coupled with stress that set it off(i dunno tbh id worn the ring for 12 years and stress is life isnt it/)
bigbadmouse that diprobase is so slimey i think the doctor said to me to use it all the time whenever i had a sec i had to use it and he expected me to use a giant pot in 2 weeks.....

MeMySonAndI · 03/02/2008 00:56

I get that from the soap used at my local hospital, it has definitively helped to give my hands a very good rinse.

BigBadMouse · 03/02/2008 00:56

dippydeedoo - yes 'tis slimy. My doc gave me a huge tub of it too . I rarely get a moment when I am not just about to wash my hands again so I don't use it as often as he said I should.

Rarely wear the gloves now but under the gloves it is particularly yuk

Original poster

smurfgirl · 05/02/2008 21:48

To bump this, my hand has got a lot worse and my other hand and wrists have started with it. A nurse suggested that on my next shift I took my own small liquid hand soap in and just used that on my hands to see if its the soap or latex. So I will do that and then see how it goes.

Its definately placement because my hands get much better when I get home.

OP posts:

glitterandsparkle · 07/02/2008 03:48

thats exactly how mine are, all over hands and wrists. gets better on days off then flares up again at work.

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