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Peeling hands

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A.Rev
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Peeling hands

Post by A.Rev »

Has anyone ever had the skin on their hands/fingers start peeling off en masse?
This has just started happening to me. It started by the skin on my hands becoming tougher, and I thought, "wehey, my hands are toughening up" but then after about a week of tougher skin, a couple of fingers just started cracking, and I couldn't resist having a little nibble. Over the next few days this happened on all my fingers and thumbs, getting especially bad after a shower when huge flaps would appear on most my fingers.
Now, after about 5 days of peeling skin I'm missing a layer of skin on all fingers, except on the joint parts. By the way, its mainly only on the palm side of my fingers - only a little bit on the knuckle of one finger.

I reckon that this is happening because of a job I started a few weeks ago, the job being a paintball marshall, and all the paint, oil and other general crap I get over my hands. However it only started two weeks ago and I've been working there for five (Saturdays only). No one else there has this problem so I was thinking it might be an allergic reaction.

I've been putting hand cream on and other dry skin creams since the skin first started peeling, but it doesn't seem to have had much effect.

Also, it doesn't really hurt at all, no stinging or soreness, perhaps just a little more sensitive, and when I close my fingers (like gripping) the top joint doesn't really hurt, but is more noticeable - if you know what I mean :-?

Just wondering if any one here has had a similar experience or any advice they could pass on, cheers for reading.

Rev
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Tab
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Post by Tab »

Have a look at what chemicals you handle, and really at every thing you handle as it could be a reaction to one of of those. Stick some of those thin rubber gloves in your pocket and wear them for a while when you are regularly handling odd stuff and see if that helps over a couple weeks, but if it does not settle quickly then the best thing is to proper advice on it.
A.Rev
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Post by A.Rev »

I was thinking along the same lines on the gloves, I bought a pack of disposable gloves which I'll wear most the day. My sister says cotton gloves are the best for dry skin so might get a few pairs of those.

As for chemicals I'll look into what goes into the paint we use, other then that it's just oil from cleaning the markers.
I'll probably book a doctors appointment if it doesn't start clearing up by the end of the week.

Thanks for the advice, appreciate it ;)
Doc
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Post by Doc »

some people are allergic to the thin rubber gloves, make sure if you have to wear them that they are labelled hypo-allergenic
Wholley
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Post by Wholley »

Rev.
Try some"Sun-So-Soft"Or"Gold Bond" cream
Don't wear surgical gloves that are lubricated or have talc inside.
Doc
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Post by Doc »

bloody hell Wholley, anything you want to admit? Never took you for a fetish deviant :lol: :lol: :lol:
A.Rev
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Post by A.Rev »

The gloves I've got at the moment are basically food bags with fingers, problem with these is that my hands stay moist all the time :puppydogeyes: but maybe thats a good thing?

I'll have a look for some of that cream, cheers ;)
Wholley
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Post by Wholley »

Doc.
I'm a deviant fetishist.
Entirely different...
So I'm told :o
Gloves kinda go with the job......
Stick Proofs mostly.
A.Rev
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Post by A.Rev »

Unfortunatly I couldn't find the creams that Wholley recommended, however I did get some "Oilatum" hand cream, which seems to be doing the job. I think everything that could peel off has, and now it's repairing itself. So if any one else has any skin peeling off in huge flaps ptype problems, get some Oilatum ;) works a treat.
Oh, and I got rid of gloves, they just made my hands wet all the time :roll:

Rev
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Post by A.Rev »

Argh bloody hell, I thought it was too good to be true. My hands were sorting themselves out, but now my bloody toes are peeling, didn't believe it :x
Oh well, least I can't pick my toes as easily :-?
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Post by Beast »

Could be some form of dermatitis.
If your toes are now affected, you better get yourself booked in with a doctor.
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Post by Sticky Blue »

Sounds like a fungal infection. Athletes foot can affect any part of the body.
Go to the Doctor
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Post by Noz »

Go to the doctor, sounds like an allergy.

My younger brother had a reaction like this when he was a chef. They did a load of tests and found that he was allergic to the additives they put in flour!!! :o He worked in an Italian restaurant. They did provide gloves. Cotton ones to protect against moisture and then nice latex free ones to protect the cotton ones. Eventually he just gave up making pizzas, which was a pity ‘cause they were good. :evil:

When working with oils and greases in the Navy we had to wear barrier cream.

Good luck whatever you do. It can hardly be very pleasant
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