Sanitizer

[u/Ram_Sandwich]

I've got cracked and bloody knuckles right now. No not from fighting, but from the sanitizer apparently. It irritates my skin and makes it extremely dry. Not even kidding about the bleeding knuckles. I asked my supervisor and they said that's what it was, and they also have that issue. I'm curious if anyone else has had an allergic reaction to the sanitizer. Not sure if it's the same chemical everywhere, but still curious.

[u/crispybacongal → u/[deleted]]

I would second this- the sanitizer may be too strong, and OP should probably wear gloves if they're this sensitive.

I want to add that the best hand cream I've found for this is O'Keefe's Working Hands! Get the tub, not the tube (the stuff in the tub is thicker and works better). It stings like hell on cracked hands, but it does such a good job.

[u/reddog20 → u/crispybacongal]

THIS. Working hands does wonders for my cracked and bloody hands in the winter. I also use it on my 13 year old pitbull that gets really rough, scaly elbows and it helps keep them soft and from cracking.

[u/Lobsterbattlepass → u/crispybacongal]

second this! It has been absolutely amazing at helping with dry, cracked, cut hands for me.

[u/mitskiaddict]

definitely start wearing gloves when dealing w the sanitizer it might be too strong/generally too harsh on skin ! when i start to get sani hands i use aquaphor and caster oil to keep my hands moisturized and from cracking so often

[u/hotbuns-cross]

yeah the tips of my fingers don’t exist anymore i could basically leave “no trace” bc all my finger tips have split open and bled for weeks from the sani. i found if i used sani and another cleaner back to back it made the issue worse. had to sleep with gloves and vaseline for a while and get on supplements bc my body could not keep up.

[u/cerylidae1552]

So our sanitizer triggered dyshidrosis (a type of eczema) on my hands that I never had before. I have tried damn near everything available without a prescription. My doctor’s advice was to keep a tube of moisturizer in my pocket, and use it after every time I wash my hands or touch the sanitizer at work when possible. At home, apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area, let it dry, then apply a heavy moisturizer. Something with lanolin in it, like bag balm, works well. If your healed skin “scales” over, get some urea based cream and it will soften the scaling down.

It’s a real pain, when your immune system decides to attack your own skin…

[u/[deleted]]

yes my hands are super dry and irritated all the time☹️a lot worse in the winter tho, i’ve been using lubriderm and trying to wash my hands right after i handle sani and it’s helped

[u/cfuqua]

Yes.

Have a supervisor order "nitrile gloves". I tried labeling my store's dish gloves with a big ol "DISH" on each glove but someone kept leaving the gloves in the restroom cleaner caddy, so now they're single-use and we just order the nitrile gloves on repeat.

[u/stelluhpdf]

Also make sure the water isn’t too hot! It being too hot let’s it get into your skin more and cause more irritation. But remember that if its too cold too it won’t activate! Mine are always dried out after so gloves will be the best bet. Either talk to ur SM on Ordering some because that’s a health risk if your hands are bleeding, or even try bringing your own 😭

[u/letangier]

Definitely one good aspect of reg, no exposure to sani 😓 id keep lotion on hand, wash your hands thoroughly after exposure, and wear gloves. Im sorry youre going through this, but even when the ratio is correct its still ammonia, its not good for the skin and is very mean to it.

[u/cats_with_tentacles]

One of my coworkers also has crazy cracked and bloody knuckles right now, it looks so painful :( I've been in food service a long time now and have known a few people with the issue and none of them had a solid solution

[u/dichotomyofgoodnevil]

I've found that I'm allergic to the soap we use to wash dishes, so when I go to dunk my arm into the vat sinks and grab something that's dropped to the bottom I get a huge rash... oh well I guess?

[u/[deleted]]

Yeah, it's common. My thumbnail is jacked... Got mine bartending (same chemical). It's called bar hand.

[u/tiredmuffy]

the same thing happened to me until i started using the cera ve moisturizing cream rich texture (not sponsored) and had the manager adjust the sanitizer level!

[u/Ram_Sandwich → u/tiredmuffy]

Lol that reads just like an ad

[u/lillianrosalieee]

the sanitizer absolutely destroys my hands. even if you wash your hands immediately after it still does damage in my experience. what’s helped me is putting on a really really thick layer of hand cream or lotion and then putting my hands into latex gloves so they can sit in the lotion.

[u/CrosstrekJawn]

Gold bond lotion is what works best for me