Chemicals are killing my hands!

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mgm2003

mgm2003

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Do your hands break out after using car cleaning chemicals (polish, glaze, sealer, etc...)? Mine crack open, bleed, etc., which is disgusting, not to mention it's painful. For some reason I only have this reaction in the fall/winter. I suspect the dry air contributes to my problem. I've tried wearing thin painters gloves, which I don't care for b/c it makes my hands sweat. I've also used just about every off the shelf hand cream, none of them have helped.

Anyone else have this problem? What do you do?
 
You might have to wear rubber gloves, whether the Playtex variety, or the medical clear latex variety. These will probably make your hands sweat too. Oh, they've got those powder-coated latex gloves. Those may help.

Charles
 
My hands get dry and crack during every winter. The car products may have something to do with it, but it's maily the temp change I think. I try to use hand lotion as much as possible and if it's bad right before I go to bed, I put vasaline on parts on my hands.
 
I would consult a dermatologist ..I've been dealing with chemicals for a long time and neverhad any of those problems:dunno
 
Try Nitrile gloves instead of latex. Nitrile is thin like latex but is much tougher. As for sweating, I don't have as bad of a problem with nitrile as with latex. Don't ask me why, but it seems to be that way. I got my nitrile gloves from Dwayne at PAC. I didn't see them on the website last week so you may have to call.
:phone:

If you squirt a little powder in the gloves it tends to help with the sweating too. :phone:
 
My hands were peeling like crazy for a few weeks. Not sure if it was from the slight weather change, chemicals, new soaps, saltwater, or what, but they're not as bad now. I have to use hand cream 5+ times a day and they still peel a little.
 
91LSMAN, I tend to agree that the weather is the main factor. When my hands dry out and crack, the chemicals burn my hands and make them worse. I think I'm going to track down Nitrile powder coated gloves and give them a try. I've never used cornhuskers oil, and will give that a try too.
 
Blue Niltrile gloves are available at local department stores in the drug departmant or in drug stores. They are indeed very durable (compared to latex).

Another option is to have lotion on before putting on the (any) gloves. This allows the lotion to soak in while you're doing other things, yet doesn't rub it off.

As to the sweating, you could try thin cotton gloves. I've even seen them in $ stores.
 
:yeah
Niltrile gloves make a huge difference I even use them during the summer months. The cracking I can deal with but the dirt and wax build up I can't . Nothing worse than dirty wax covered fingers . Its better to sweat with gloves than have cracked bloody wax caked fingers with out them.
 
I have to agree that the dryness and cracking are most likely weather related. Hand lotions and household humidifiers will help. Wearing gloves while detailing will also help. If your hands sweat too much, consider getting a very thin pair of glove liners made from coolmax or some other similar moisture wicking fabric. Wear the liners underneath the rubber/latex/niltrile gloves.
 
Like detailing, lots of suggestions, lots of good products.
FWIW, here's one more.
Neutrogena Moisturizing Cream
Comes in a jar, similar to the S100 container.:D
I don't have nearly the problem that some people have, but this stuff has done more good for me that anything else I have ever used.
Hey, you probably have a 1/2 dozen waxes, just as well have a 1/2 dozen hand lotions, right?

Charles
 
also using the lotions, before using the chemicals will help create a barrier for the skin, the only chemical that has really torn up my hands is castrol super clean
 
Jug Head said:
Try corn huskers lotion-- it should clear it up in a couple of weeks :)

http://www.skinhelp.com/conaffairs/cornhuskers.shtml
Click to expand...

my gf has a condition called Renaud's. Uneven circulation in her hands & fingers results in some cracking & this usually occurs in the winter when your body will naturally "call in" blood from the extremities to keep the trunk of your body (where the organs are) warm.

If this is a seasonal issue for everyone, think about being tested for Renaud's. In the meantime, she gets here best relief from Cornhusker's Lotion.


This is a bit off-topic but if you don't like getting product residue under your fingernails (tough to scrub-out completely) drag your fingernails across a bar of soap. Old mechanic's trick learned when doing a really grimmy job.

Fill that area with soap & your fingernails will be good as new at scrub-up time.
 
The things you learn here. Simply amazing. My hands are feeling better already :) For me, putting up with chapped/sore hands in the winter is a 100x worse than washing the car when it's near freezing. I have several good suggesstions to combat the problem this year!

I picked up 6 pairs of niltrile gloves last night and will give them a go this evening.
 
I too have the Renauds syndrom, but in my case I don't suffer from any drying of the skin. My fingers just turn white. I run them under hot water to get the blood back into them. Funny part is if I do this a couple of times I'm fine with no further problem that day.

We had some stuff, I don't remember what it's called, but it amounts to a chemical glove. It looks like a lotion that you just work into your hands and it's supposed to act like a glove. In some cases this may be all you need. Also, latex won't last with anything petroleum so you almost have to use the nitril. Some folks have an allergic reaction to latex too. It's actually quite common.
 
Thomas,

I read up on Omega-3 last night -very interesting.

I'm going to ask my Dr. about it. Thanks!
 
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