Getting to grips with dermatitis and eczema while being a chef.

[Socks93]

Hi everyone! If anyone can read and help, I'd muchly appreciate it!!!

For my entire life I have had eczema, when I was younger my mum would cover my arms with sudocream and then put cotton socks over so the cream could soak into my skin and not onto my clothes, bedding ect... that seamed to work for me back then. But over the past the past few years it just doesn't seem to work, not all the time anyway. Just as I seem to find something that clears my skin up, it's like my skin becomes ammune to whatever it is and it stops working. And just to top it off, I became a chef... no one ever told me about the skin conditions that can come when you have bad skin anyway, so now I seem to have contracted dermatitis from the chemicals in the cleaning products we use and the extensive amount of washing my hands I have to do. (For obvious food health reasons) I have started to wear cotton gloves and rubber gloves over the top while I'm cleaning and cooking but sometimes it's to busy and I just don't have the time to be putting 2 pairs of gloves on and off. I do not wash the pots at all without my gloves anymore and I am always using the moisturiser and all the other different creams that my doctor gave me. But it just doesn't seem to fade. If it's posible I'd like to use natural products as my skin is sensitive anyway.

So if anyone at anypoint has any suggestions for both eczema and dermatitis that would be great because I'm ready to try anything. I'm just hoping it's not something I'm going to have to quit my job to save my skin.

[Daviejohn]

I tried Cotton Gloves all they did was dry my hands even more,I have for the last few years used Silk liner gloves from a company called Patra. They are light and so much easier to wear. I use Dermovate ointment for my dermatitis and when necessary the tubular Stocking bandages (available in different sizes ) for my arms. This ain't going to heal you but hopefully help you cope.

[Socks93 in reply to Daviejohn]

I will definatly have to buy some silk lined gloves. I already have some tubular bandages that I keep for times when it's bad. Thankyou!

[johnsmith]

Take Evening Primrose Oil 1000mg. This will take about a month to work. You could have a situation where fatty acids needed to produce your skin oil are not present. The evening primrose oil may provide this. You can only experiment and find out if this is true or not.

The chemicals you use strip the skin of what little skin oil it produces. Worth looking at washing in cold water without soap and the regulations concerning this.

Google "mild bleach traeatment eczema"

nationaleczema.org/eczema/t...

Bleach baths

A mild bleach and water solution helps decrease bacteria on the skin, which can lead to skin infections. Use a half-cup of household bleach for a full tub of water, one-quarter cup for a half tub. Soak up to 10 minutes, then rinse off. Best when done two to three times per week.

Try to avoid waterless, antibacterial cleansers, which often contain ingredients like alcohol and solvents that are very hard on your skin (especially during flare-ups). Remember not to scrub your skin while cleansing and to gently pat your skin dry when you’re done. As always, moisturize your skin immediately afterward.

I discovered mild bleach as a useful treatment 30 years ago after a pharmacist recommended it to me. I found it effective to stop itching. This was trialed about 5 years ago and found to be effective. It is now on the national eczema website.

Hope this is useful.

[Socks93 in reply to johnsmith]

Thankyou! I will definatly get some evening primrose oil! And I have seen online a few times about the bleach baths and how effective the results can be, but my main consern is if it hurts? When I think of bleach on my skin I instantly think of it hurting.

[johnsmith in reply to Socks93]

I have only used bleach very diluted. It stopped the itching at the time I used it. The itch scratch cycle lead to a lot of pain when I had scratched in response to the itch.

Thankfully I no longer have a problem. The hurting issue can only be investigated by trying on a little bit of skin to see if it works for you. Everyone's condition is different.

[lovesradio]

I found two good sites, one recommended by a colleague, Skinsoft, and then at the recent Allergy and Free From show, Edinburgh Skincare. The moisturiser I am using on my hands at present is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula concentrated unscented. A little goes a long way, you could keep a tube in your apron pocket? I hope you find something that helps and lets you keep your job.

[TheMChef]

Please for the love of god don't use bleach pal. ESP if you have ezcema.. let that idiot above bath away in household bleach.. me and a doctor will tell you otherwise. Try asking your doctor for some oral steroids that will help clear them up if you can stay out of work for 5-7 days.. went bandages soaked in cream wrapped around your wrist to you elbow to stop the spreading or itching, get a steroid cream for you hands..and a real greasy omilent for your hands try to keep them covered during the day and let the cool air at them at night.. if you can prevent coming in contact with that chemical they will heal. Ask your GP for a patch test to find out what chemical it is.. Your boss would respect you more for wanting to stay in the job and stay clear of hazards for your own health rather than quit catering...Im a chef for 7 years and picked up contatc dermatits just recently in a great fast paced kitchen in Belfast N.I. I know the feeling when your passionate about your job and this type of skin disorder can play huge effects on both work/social life.